CHAPTER XXV
JOHN 15:13
With Stonewell's entrance came a silence that was positively painful.The commandant looked at him with undisguised loathing. In CaptainBlunt's face woe unutterable was clearly depicted. Harry Blunt, pale anduneasy, regarded him with frightened glance. Robert Drake looked atStonewell with fascinated gaze; he felt that now the end of all thingsat the Naval Academy was to happen.
Stonewell, clear-eyed and calm as usual, looked at Robert, and thenslowly his eyes traveled and rested upon each person in the room. Neverhad Stonewell appeared better. In his dignified bearing there was not asingle trace of fear or worry. No response was made to his salutation orreport. Again he glanced about the room, and getting no responseinquired, "What is the matter? Am I intruding?"
"What's the matter?" cried the commandant. "Have you the effrontery toask what the matter is?"
"I beg to be so informed," replied Stonewell coolly, after a moment'shesitation.
"Read this paper, sir. Do you not know why Mr. Drake has offered hisresignation?"
Stonewell read the paper; then looked keenly at Robert, then at CaptainBlunt and Harry; things seemed to explain themselves and he merely said,"Ah," as if it were in response to some unspoken thought of his own.
"Where were you last night at eleven o'clock, Mr. Stonewell?"
"In Washington, sir; I spent the day in Princeton, New Jersey, andreturned to Washington at seven o'clock."
An angry exclamation left the commandant's lips. Again his closed fistbanged the desk.
"Mr. Stonewell!"
"Sir?"
"Last night, shortly after eleven o'clock, Mr. Drake and this man Gricecaught two midshipmen in the act of stealing an examination. Mr. Drakeknows who these midshipmen are, but resigns rather than give theirnames. But we know them. One of these midshipmen was disguised. Mr.Blunt, put on your false beard and your hat."
Harry Blunt did so, shamefacedly enough.
"Look at this man; have you ever seen him before?" thundered thecommandant, in scornful tones, leaning over his desk.
Stonewell looked at Harry, then at Robert, and then at Captain Blunt.Again Stonewell said "Ah," and further remarked, "Now I understand."
"Answer my question, sir," fairly shouted Commander Dalton. "Did youever before see a person who looked as Mr. Blunt does now?"
"Yes, sir. The man who gave three groans for the superintendent andcommandant that night in the Colonial Theatre was evidently Mr. Blunt indisguise. I didn't know it at the time, but evidently my roommate did.This accounts for his past inveterate hostility to Mr. Blunt. He nevertold me about it, and I have been puzzled at his strong dislike for Mr.Blunt. From what you have said I imagine that Mr. Blunt was one of thetwo midshipmen caught by Mr. Drake. I now see what the trouble is. Mr.Drake will not tell because of his gratitude to Captain Blunt."
"Mr. Stonewell," burst out the commandant, "have you descended to thebottom of the pit of hypocrisy and infamy? Do you add lying to yourother crimes, sir?"
"Do I add lying to my other crimes?" repeated Stonewell. "These arestrange questions, Captain Dalton; will you please tell me in what way Ihave been infamous and a hypocrite? What are those other crimes, and inwhat respect have I lied?" Indignation with ringing force was inStonewell's voice as he looked steadily and unflinchingly at thecommandant.
"Grice," said Captain Dalton, turning to the negro, "did you and Mr.Drake see Mr. Blunt trying to steal an examination last night?"
"Yes, sir," eagerly replied Grice; "we done catched him, suh, an' MistahStonewell was with him, suh; Mistah Drake wasn't six feet from MistahStonewell when I turned on de 'lectric light, suh; dere ain't nomistake, capting. Mistah Harry Blunt was dere disguised, but I knowed'im. An' Mistah Stonewell was dere; he wuz in his unerform, goldstripes an' all."
"Mr. Drake," said the commandant turning to Robert, "I will once moreorder you either to deny that Mr. Stonewell was there last night or toadmit it."
Robert looked at his beloved friend. Never had Stonewell appeared moremanly, more forceful. Character and greatness of soul seemed to radiatefrom him, and it almost seemed that midshipman though he was, the otherspresent were dwarfed into insignificance.
With unmoved expression and with a clear, straightforward gaze Stonewellreturned Robert's look, and smiled; smiled as though to assure him thatall was well; Robert felt pity mingle with his deep affection for hiserring friend, and confused as he was and knowing that Stonewell wasguilty, there was yet something so noble, so fearless in Stonewell'sbearing that a hope leaped up in him that his friend was not withoutsome justification for his act, impossible as it was to imagine what itcould be.
"Do you deny that you detected Mr. Stonewell last night trying to stealan examination?"
"As I have resigned I respectfully request to be excused from answeringquestions," replied Robert in a breaking voice.
"Mr. Stonewell, I shall recommend your immediate dismissal forscandalous conduct, and you too, Mr. Blunt. Mr. Drake will be dismissedfor disobedience of orders. Mr. Stonewell, your crimes have found youout. You, the most esteemed midshipman of your time, have turned out tobe but a sorry hypocrite, an impostor. You, a shameful, dishonorable manto wear a naval uniform, to represent your country? Never! Oh, that Ihad never come to this place! What is to be hoped for our navy when themidshipman we are most proud of turns out to be a hypocrite and acheat?"
The commandant spoke with, warm, intense feeling. He paused for amoment, and then contemptuously said: "You are as brazen as you arefalse. Your position was so high that I cannot imagine what could haveinduced you, even though you are devoid of honor, to have so acted. Andnow that you are found out I cannot help but wonder--I would like toknow what excuse, what explanation you can offer, and what yourthoughts are at this moment."
While the commandant spoke, Stonewell stood proudly erect before him. Heneither cringed nor for a moment took his eyes from the commandant'sface. Over at one side stood Robert, now utterly collapsed.
Stonewell fearlessly looked the commandant through and through, and thenhe looked at Robert. There was almost a break in his voice when in tonesshowing not a trace of resentment for the commandant's scathing,contemptuous words, but instead full of unutterable affection, he saidsoftly to the commandant, but looking at Robert: "I cannot tell you whatmy thoughts at this moment are, sir, but I will tell Drake later."