"I believe you did," said I, prevaricating.
"Is that the coin?"
"Why, Cludde," says I, "there are thousands of crown pieces in the world."
"Is it?" he persisted.
"Why should you suppose it is?" I said.
"Why did you keep it? Come, I must know."
"Oh, confound you, Cludde," I said, "why don't you let me go to sleep?"
"You had some design in keeping that coin," he said; "I want to know what it was."
"Well, if you insist," I said, "I meant to keep it until I could return it to you with interest. But Fate, you see, has found a better use for it."
"Bold," says he, after a silence, "you're a good fellow and a generous--"