I have seen it in orders, over and over again." James was silent a few minutes.
"I won't ask you who it is, though I fear I know too well.

Look here, Middleton, I should like you to tear that letter up, and say no more about it." "No, sir," the boy said, putting the paper in his pocket.

"I can't do that.

Of course I am under your orders, for this expedition; but this is not an affair in which I consider that I am bound to obey you.

This concerns the honour of the officers of my ship, and I should not be doing my duty if I did not, upon my return, place this letter in the hands of the captain.