“My dear Aggett.” Ordith said, when the situation had been explained to him, “you will forgive my saying that you have made an ass of yourself.” “I asked you what I should do.” “You seem to be somewhat disarmed. Why not stop his shore leave?” “Then he’ll sit on board and write more drivel. Besides, the punishment is inadequate.” Ordith spread out his hands. “It is all you have left.” So the leave which John might have had when the ship reached harbour was stopped indefinitely. Ordith promised himself that he would make a pretty story of the occasion of the stoppage when next he met Margaret. It would be good to make Lynwood and his poetry appear ridiculous. Then, partly in generosity, and partly with a desire to irritate Aggett, Ordith said one day to John: “If you want a quiet place to write in, and Hartington is using his cabin, you can sit in mine, Lynwood, any time I’m not there.” II The end to Aggett’s persecution, which the Warrant Officer had said must soon come, came unexpectedly. The ship was out of sight of land. Divisions and Prayers were over, and, there being no Gunnery that day, the hands had been told off for their forenoon duties. Driss, who had kept the First Watch and the Morning, came up from the Gunroom at about ten o’clock. He stood on the quarter-deck, drinking in the fresh air, and wondering how many minutes he might thus spend away from the Engineering drawing which he had deserted. Because he was very tired and thought himself unobserved he was unseamanlike enough to lean on the quarter-deck rails. “Mr. Driss!” He turned to see the Captain standing a few yards away from him. He sprang to attention, and saluted. “Have you nothing to do this forenoon except lean on the quarter-deck rails?” But Driss was not afraid of the Captain. “I have nothing to do this forenoon, sir, except an Engineering sketch. I came up for a minute to get some air.” “No lecture?” “No, sir. Midshipmen engineering don’t do School. We do the sketch in our own time, sir, working it in as we like.” “So you came up to get some air?” the Captain said, looking steadily into Driss’s face. “Don’t you feel well?” But one does not betray anyone to the Captain--not even Aggett. “Yes, sir,” said Driss in such a tone of surprise as he might have used had his cheeks been rosy. “Quite well?” “Quite, sir.” “Sure?” “Yes, sir.” “When did you come off watch?” “Eight bells, sir.” “You kept the Morning?” “Yes, sir.” “And your watch previous to that?” “The First, sir.” “First and Morning? Are you making no mistake?” “No mistake, sir.” “How many midshipmen are doing Engineering duties?” “Two, sir.” “And you keep watch and watch?” “We both stand off the Afternoon, sir.” “But haven’t I seen you at a gun in the Afternoon?” “Yes, sir. The midshipman not on watch attends his gun when there is Gunnery.” “I see.... Are you undergoing any kind of--er--punishment at present, or is this the customary routine?”