Dave grasped it, then saluted and turned away.
His bearing, as he went to Dalzell's quarters, was as proud as ever, though in his mind Dave Darrin knew well enough that he was still under a cloud of suspicion that would never be removed entirely from his good name unless the real culprit should be found and exposed.
"Moreover," Dave told himself, bitterly, "Cantor, if he is the one who has done this contemptible thing, may yet devise a way clever enough to convict me, or at least to condemn me in the service." At dinner, before the first course was served, Commander Bainbridge ordered the ward-room doors closed after the attendants had passed outside.

Then he stated that Captain Gales wished it understood that the finding of the telltale envelope under Ensign Darrin's mattress was the only circumstance against that officer, and that, in the captain's opinion, it was wholly likely that some one else had placed the envelope there with the intention of arousing suspicion against the officer named.

It was further stated that, in time, Captain Gales hopes to reach all the facts in the mystery.

The Captain wished it understood, stated the executive officer, that it would have been so stupid on Ensign Darrin's part to have hidden the envelope where it was found that there was no good reason for believing that Ensign Darrin was guilty of anything worse than having an enemy.
While this statement was being made Dave sat with his gaze riveted to the face of Lieutenant Cantor.

The officer looked stolid, but his stolidity had the appearance of being assumed.
There was instant applause from some of the officers.