“You sat beside me. I had noted the roll, and observed the pocket in which you placed it.”
A light was beginning to break on Diamond.
“You confounded pickpocket!” he exploded, in mingled indignation, amusement, and relief. “That was a fine trick to play on a friend, sah! Now, wasn’t it, sah?”
“Yes,” nodded Merry, “under the circumstances, I regard it as a very clever piece of business.”
“How did you dare, sah?” fumed Jack, uncertain whether to be angry or delighted. “Why did you do it, Mr. Merriwell?”
“To save you from being robbed.”
“Robbed?”
“Yes.”
“When? Where?”
“In that gambling-den. The chances were against you, and you were bound to lose there if you played long enough. It is always so, for men do not run such places for charity.”