Nat gazed at the speaker in silence. That the misshapen boy was sincere he had never a doubt. But the sudden confirmation of his own suspicions had startled him; he had spent some days with Ezra, had come to like him and so feared to follow where the facts led.
“If I were convinced,” his inward thoughts were, “I might act upon my conviction. I might point this boy out as a traitor. And, in the end, in spite of everything I’ve seen and heard, he might still be innocent.”
The Porcupine here resumed.
“Also, I told you at the beginning that the thing had to be said; and that’s why I said it. But I wouldn’t have told any one but you, for you and I are the only ones that know about him being in the plot to take Mr. Washington and the others—unless,” and there was inquiry in the speaker’s little eyes—“you’ve mentioned it to some others.”
“No,” replied Nat, hastily. “I’ve told Mr. Cooper and Ben about our adventure, as you know; but this fact of the name I’ve kept clear of. You see, Ezra is a warm friend of Ben’s, and I didn’t care to——”
“I understand,” said the other, as Nat hesitated.
“Even in the face of what you’ve told me,” resumed Nat, “I hesitate to say anything.”
“Then you believe what I’ve told you?” eagerly.
“Of course I believe you—everything happened as you’ve told it—everything! Ezra Prentiss arose in the night while we were all in bed, stole out of the house, made his way to Cliveden and was seen by you in conversation, in Mr. Chew’s office, with Mr. Dimisdale and Mr. Chew himself—both of whom are noted as friends of the British government. Now,” continued Nat, “we know all this; but are we quite sure that we know what it means?”
“I’m quite sure that I do,” spoke the dwarf, sturdily.