Returning to our stateroom to dress, I came upon Arnold Lamont lying wide awake.
"Joe," said he, when I was pulling on my clothes, "I am surprised to hear that Seth Upham ever believed Neil Gleazen to be aught but penniless."
I turned and looked at him. How could Arnold have learned of the quarrel between Uncle Seth and Gleazen and Matterson, which only I had witnessed? Or, if he had not learned of the quarrel and what transpired in the course of it, where had he heard the story of Gleazen's empty chests?
Perceiving my amazement, he smiled. "I know many things that happen on board this vessel, Joe," he said.
"How much," I demanded, "do you know about what happened yesterday?"
"Everything," said he.
"But how?" I cried. I was at my wit's end with curiosity.
"Listen!"
I heard a quick step.
"Joe," he whispered, "you must never tell. Crawl under your blankets and cover your head so no one can see that you are there."