"Four hundred dollars is a good price to pay for a pleasure-boat," continued Mr. Newcombe. "I think the Mystery is quite large enough, and fast enough, to answer your purpose."
"O no, she isn't, father," drawled Tom; "I am going to be a trader!"
"You are? How do you expect to carry on your business? With that sloop, your expenses will be considerable, and you have no money that I know of."
"But I am going to get some," said Tom. "I'll be rich in two weeks more. I'll be worth five thousand dollars."
Mr. Newcombe opened his eyes when he heard this. He had learned the particulars of the matter from Mr. Graves, as far as the latter knew them, but he was satisfied that he had not heard all the story, and that Tom had some secret the boat-builder knew nothing about. Knowing Tom as well as he did, he had made up his mind to listen to something ridiculous, but he was not prepared to hear that he expected soon to be a rich man.
"Where are you going to get so much money?" he asked.
"O, now, I know!" drawled Tom.
"Well, then, tell me; I would like to know something about it also."
"O, isn't it enough for you to know that I am going to get it honestly, and that I don't intend to cheat any body?" whined Tom.