“But you are not doing the right thing yourself, my boy,” protested O’Hara. “What kind of a way was it to put a telegraphic despatch in your pocket, and not open it? And what kind of a way was it to lave your letter unopened till it was too late to do what you were told by your guardian? Don’t your uncle Perry tell you to come home as soon as ever you can?” “He has resigned as my guardian; and the other one has not been properly appointed,” said Tom, laughing at his own ingenuity in devising an excuse. “How do you know what’s in the letter to Mr. Lowington?” demanded the lieutenant. “I have no doubt it contains an order for my discharge from the academy squadron,” replied Tom. “I would deliver it, if the principal were only here; for I have no right to keep his letters back, whatever I do with my own.” “I think you had better give the letter to the vice-principal.” “I am willing to do that.” “I am afraid the powers that be will blame you for not opening the letter before we sailed,” continued O’Hara. “I am willing to bear the blame for what I have done,” replied Tom; and, seeing the vice-principal coming up from the cabin, he delivered the letter to him as he reached the deck. “Where did you get this?” asked Mr. Pelham, surprised to see a sealed letter to the principal so soon after leaving port. “It was in a letter to me, which I did not open till just now,” replied Tom. “And why didn’t you open it before the ship sailed?” demanded Mr. Pelham, quite as much astonished as the fourth lieutenant had been. “I didn’t care to open it, sir,” answered Tom, wondering how he could get out of the scrape without telling the whole truth. “That is very strange.” “I had some idea of what the letter contained,” added Tom, with a smile. “And that was the reason you didn’t open it?” “I was not interested in it.” “There seems to be something under all this, Speers,” continued the vice-principal, looking into the honest face of the young man. “What is it?” “A telegraph despatch, sir,” replied Tom, handing the document to Mr. Pelham. Tom found, after due consideration, that there was no way out of the scrape; and he explained the whole matter in full. “I don’t care to have my shipmates know about this, sir,” said Tom, when he had told the whole story. “It is your private affair, and you have a right to keep it to yourself if you choose,” replied Mr. Pelham; “and I shall respect your wishes.” “I have told O’Hara about it, but no one else.” “But it cannot be long concealed that we have a millionnaire on board,” added the vice-principal, laughing. “Judge Rodwood will follow the squadron to Madeira.” “When I see him I hope he will permit me to remain in the Tritonia; and till that time I don’t care to have any thing said.” “Very well. But I think you ought to have opened your letter before the vessel sailed. It was hardly treating Judge Rodwood with proper respect, to take no notice of his telegraphic despatch.”