At length the silence was broken by a knock on the door, and Silk entered.
He glanced hurriedly round, and seemed to take in the position of affairs with moderate readiness, though he was evidently not quite sure whether Gilks or the captain was his accuser.
The doctor, however, soon made that clear.
"Silk," he said, "Gilks accuses you of being a party to the cutting of the rudder-links of one of the boats in the race last May.

Repeat your story, Gilks." "He needn't do it," said Silk, "I've heard it already." "He says you suggested it," said the doctor.
"That's a lie," said Silk sullenly; "I never heard of it till afterwards." "You know you did," said Gilks.

"When I was turned out of the boat, and couldn't baulk the race that way, it was you suggested cutting the lines, and I was glad enough to do it." "So you were," snarled Silk, incautiously--"precious glad." "Then you did suggest it ?" said the doctor, sharply.
Silk saw his mistake, and tried to cover it, but his confusion only made the case against him worse.
"No, I didn't--he told me about it afterwards--that is, I heard about it--I never suggested it.

He said he knew how to get at the boats, and I said--" "Then you did speak about it beforehand ?" said the doctor.
"No--that is--we only said--" "Silk," said the doctor, sternly, "you're not speaking the truth.

Let me implore you not to make your fault greater by this denial." Silk gave in.