"Martin is taking care of it in case it's wanted. And so, sir, the whole thing's as plain as anything, you see. They just diddled Jimmy, and there you are.—How came he to give you the sixpence, Jim?"
"To pay back one that I lent him a month ago."
Mr. Broad was quite satisfied of the truth of Dick's story. It cleared Hartland. Even with the marked coin before him he had somehow doubted the boy's guilt. His friend showed himself rather more sceptical; but he, too, admitted that the two stories fitted in admirably.
"We had better go to the tobacconist's," said he, "and then give information to the police. I suppose there won't be much chance of tracing the florin."
"If Curly doesn't know it's marked," said Dick, "he'll stick to it till the shilling's gone, and then I expect Bryant won't get much of a share."
"Then he mustn't be allowed to suspect anything," said Mr. Farrant.—"Broad, suppose you go along with this amateur detective and identify the shilling. I'll lock up and meet you later at the police station."
"What about Hartland?"
"Hum! If this Peters sees him with any of us the florin will soon be a minus quantity.—Can you get home without his seeing you?"
"Yes; over Cannon Hill and round by the Park. He isn't likely to be there."
"Well, I suppose we must trust you, though I don't half like it. However, take care, for your own sake, that you do not meet him."