“Your loving cup?” repeated Jack in amazement, for that cup was one of the professor’s choicest possessions, and quite valuable.
“Yes, my loving cup. You had it in that bundle, and you took it out to pawn it, in order to get money to go to that show.”
“That’s not true!” cried Jack indignantly. “All I had in that bundle was my catching glove, which I sold to Tom Berwick.”
“I don’t believe you,” said the professor stiffly. “I say you stole my loving cup and pawned it. The cup is gone from its accustomed place on my dresser. I did not miss it until this afternoon, and, when I asked my sister about it, she said she had not seen it. Then she recalled your sneaking away from the house with a bundle, and I at once knew what had become of it.”
“I say you took my cup!”
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“You couldn’t know, for there is absolutely no truth in this accusation,” replied Jack hotly.
“Do you mean to say that I am telling an untruth?” asked the professor sharply. “I say that you took my cup.”
“And I say that I didn’t! I never touched your cup! If it’s gone some one else took it!”
Jack spoke in loud and excited tones.