"Well, then," said Gray. "I suppose you know Sinjin had taken a great fancy to you."
"I thought at one time he liked me."
"At one time? I'll wager my head he was liking you the most when he appeared to the least—he's such a queer old cove! I've heard he was disappointed in love once, and that some friend of his proved traitor to him; and that's what has made him so shy of showing any thing like affection for any body. Well, he heard of your gambling, and went to talk with you about it, and you said something to him that wounded him so I think he couldn't bear the sight of you afterwards."
The boy's heart was wrung by this revelation. What reason, he demanded to know, had Gray for thinking thus?
"Because I know the man, and because I know something which I think you ought to know." Gray drew Frank confidentially aside. "He may anathematize me for betraying his secret; but I think it is time to do him justice, even against his will. Frank, it was Old Sinjin who gave you the watch."
Frank's heart leaped up, but fell again instantly, convulsed with pain and regret.
"Are you sure, Gray?"
"Sure as this: I was with him when he bought the watch in Annapolis. I helped him to do it up in the wrappers. And it was I that pitched it into the tent at you Thanksgiving-day evening. That is being pretty sure—isn't it?"
"And he knows that I lost it?" said Frank.
"He had just heard so when he went to speak with you about gambling."