"How can I tell?"
"I hope you did not lose much," said Mrs. Watson, in a tone of sympathy.
"I lost the wallet," said Mr. Waterbury, laughing.
"Was there nothing in it?"
"It was full of bills."
Vincent looked at Graham with new-born suspicion, but Graham looked indifferent.
"It appears to me that you take the loss cheerfully," said Mrs. Watson, puzzled.
"I have reason to. The fact is, I was prepared for the visit, and had filled the wallet with bogus bills. I fancy they won"t do my visitor much good."
The lady smiled.
"You were fortunate, Mr. Waterbury," said she. "Do you suspect any one of the theft?"
"I know pretty well who robbed me," returned Mr. Waterbury, and he suffered his glance to rest on Graham, who seemed in a hurry to get away.
"Come along, Vincent," he said sharply.
Vincent obeyed. Light dawned upon him, and he determined to verify his suspicions.
"Graham," said he, in a low voice, "you did this."
"Did what?"
"You got that wallet."
Graham concluded that he might as well make a clean breast of it, since it had become a matter of necessity.
"Well," said he, "suppose I did?"
"You were not going to let me know of it," said Vincent suspiciously.
"That is true. I was ashamed of having been imposed upon."
"When did you find out that the money was bogus?"
"Immediately."
"If it had been good, would you have shared with me honorably?"
"Of course. What do you take me for?"
Vincent was silent. He did not believe his companion. He suspected that the latter had intended to steal a march on him.
"You might have told me of it," he continued, in a tone of dissatisfaction.
"There was no need to say anything, as there was nothing to divide."
"Have you got the wallet with you now?"
"No; I threw it overboard."
"And the bills?"
"You may have them all, if you like."
"Come into the stateroom, where we can be un.o.bserved, and show them to me."
Graham complied with his suggestion.
"It would have been a good haul if they had been genuine," said Vincent, as he unfolded the roll.
"Yes, but they are not; worse luck!"
"I didn"t give the old fellow credit for being so sharp."
"Nor I. There"s more in him than I supposed there was."
"Well, what is to be done?"
"Nothing. The old man is on his guard, and, besides, he suspects me. He was probably awake when I entered the stateroom. He and the boy have probably laughed over it together. I hate that boy."
"Why?"
"Because he is a green country boy, and yet he has succeeded in thwarting me. I am ashamed whenever I think of it."
"Would you like to play a trick on him in turn?"
"Yes."
"Then give me this roll of bills."
"What do you want to do with them?"
"Put them in his pocket."
"Can you do it un.o.bserved?"
"Yes. The fact is, Graham, I served an apprenticeship as a pickpocket, and flatter myself I still have some dexterity in that line."
"Very well, it will be some satisfaction, and if the old man didn"t see me enter the stateroom, he may be brought to believe that the boy robbed him. If that could be, I should feel partly compensated for my disappointment. I should like to get that boy into trouble."
"Consider it done, so far as I am concerned. Now let us separate, so as to avoid suspicion."