"Excuse me, Duncan, if I decline to do so. You, aided by Pultzer and others, stole them from your father's library, and then threw suspicion on me."
"I didn't throw suspicion on you. My father did that himself."
"You had nothing to do with that handkerchief?"
"I took the handkerchief by accident."
"Then I beg your pardon for having said so," I said heartily.
"Never mind, let that pass. I'll tell you what I'll do. Give me the papers and I will restore them to my father and tell him the truth."
"I must decline your offer."
"Why? Don't you believe I'll confess? If you don't I'll give you a written confession."
"No, it isn't that. I am going to keep the papers because they are valuable to me."
"What do you mean by valuable?" asked Duncan, his curiosity increasing.