human
I should like to add something to my former statement, if you please, Mr. Lowington,
gpt
What do you wish to add?
human
I know now who wrote the letter to Mr. Hamblin.
gpt
Who?
human
Richard H. Linggold.
gpt
Who is he?
human
He is an old schoolmate of mine, whom I met in Antwerp the afternoon we first went ashore there,
gpt
Was he a schoolmate of Mr. Kendall also?
human
No, sir; I don't think Captain Kendall ever saw Linggold.
gpt
We are to conclude, Duncan, that you put him up to this mischief,
human
Yes, sir; I did,
gpt
Why did you virtually deny all knowledge of the letter when I appealed to the ship's company before the suspension of Captain Kendall,
human
I will explain. I met Linggold in Antwerp, and spent an hour with him at the Hôtel St. Antoine, where he was staying with his uncle. He wanted to know about the academy squadron, and I told him all about both vessels. As the trouble we had had in the Josephine was uppermost in the minds of all of us, I told him all about that.
gpt
I did, indeed. I am willing to acknowledge that I intended to join with the rest of the fellows in hazing Mr. Hamblin.
human
Are you, indeed?
gpt
I am, indeed. About a dozen of us were going to write letters to Mr. Hamblin from all the big bugs, including Louis Napoleon, the King of Holland, the King of Belgium, and all the Ministers of State whose names we could find out.
human
Were you, indeed?
gpt
We were, indeed. I told Linggold what we were going to do, and he promised to help me, being a first-rate French and German scholar; but I told him we didn't want any help, and that he would get me into a scrape if he meddled with the matter. I meant to have the letters mailed in some place where none of us ever went. I told Linggold I wanted him to take the letters and mail them at Cologne, and other places he went to in his travels; and he promised to do so. I didn't think of such a thing as his writing any letter after what I said. I left him then, and haven't seen or heard from him since till now. He must have written the letter right off, and mailed it at once, for it came on board the Josephine that night.
human
Do you mean to say that you didn't know this letter was to be written?
gpt
Yes, sir.
human
When I asked you to give me a translation of it, were you not aware that it was a forgery?
gpt
I supposed it was.
human
You knew it was!
gpt
No, sir; I did not. I had no knowledge whatever in regard to the writer. It did not occur to me, after what had passed between Linggold and me, that he wrote the letter. I believed it was done by some fellow on board. When the captain was arrested, all the fellows tried to find out who had sent the letter, but no one would acknowledge it.
human
Did you write any letters of this description, Duncan?
gpt
No, sir. I had two conversations with the captain; and when he asked me to do what I could to prevent any tricks being played upon the professor, I determined not to have anything to do with the letters, or any practical jokes of any kind. I can bring a dozen fellows to prove that I said all I could to keep them from playing any tricks.
human
What does your friend say in his letter?
gpt
He says the joke was so good he couldn't resist the temptation to send the first letter to the professor himself, and wants to know why I didn't send the letters to him that I promised?
human
Why didn't you?
gpt
After what the captain said, I persuaded the fellows not to write the letters, and I did not write any myself. This letter is on the same kind of paper as that,
human
Are you satisfied, Mr. Hamblin?
gpt
No, sir, I am not, replied the professor, decidedly.
human
It appears that there was an organized conspiracy against me in the consort.
gpt
But it does not appear that Captain Kendall had anything to do with it,
human
These boys are deceitful.
gpt
Some of them are, replied Mr. Lowington, taking his pen and writing a few lines.
human
Duncan, I am not satisfied with your conduct.
gpt
I am not satisfied with it myself, sir, answered Duncan.
human
Perhaps I ought to have known where that letter came from when Mr. Hamblin asked me to translate it; but I supposed some of the fellows on board had done it.
gpt
Didn't you recognize the writing of your friend?
human
No, sir; it is very much like that of half a dozen fellows on board.
gpt
It is very much like Mr. Kendall's,
human
Linggold, Captain Kendall, and myself, all learned to write in the same school.
gpt
Then Mr. Kendall knows this Linggold?
human
No, sir; he didn't go to the school till Captain Kendall left.
gpt
I suppose not, added the incredulous professor.
human
I am still of the opinion that Mr. Kendall wrote that letter.
gpt
I am entirely satisfied that he did not write it. Duncan, you will remain on board of the ship. Mr. Terrill, you will return to the Josephine, pipe to muster, and read this order. Captain Kendall will return with you.
human
What is the order?
gpt
Mr. Lowington, I protest--
human
I have heard you patiently, Mr. Hamblin, and have given my decision,