“Why didn’t he tell all this to the other interpreter?” Agnes demanded.
“I can answer that last question first,” replied the Chinese student, “by saying that Hop Wong could not understand the other interpreter’s talk very well. They were at cross purposes, neither one comprehending the other.”
“Then why didn’t that court interpreter say so?” demanded Ruth.
“I suppose he thought he wouldn’t be paid his fee if he had to admit failure,” suggested Luke. “Anyhow, we’re getting the straight of it now.”
“It’s only the beginning,” said Neale. “Have him go on. Where in the cellar is the box of gold?”
“And why in the world did Uncle Peter hide his money there?” asked Ruth. “He wasn’t a miser if he was queer. He left us the Corner House in his will, why should he conceal part of his money in an iron box, like a miser?”
“I’ll ask Hop Wong about that,” volunteered Charlie Sing.
There was another session of talk, and at its conclusion the Chinese collegian said:
“Hop Wong really knows only what he overheard. These men, Rother and Meggs, never took him into their confidence, so of course you must accept what Hop Wong says with a dash of pepper.”
“I guess you mean a grain of salt,” suggested Luke, with a smile.