“A wallet, with a large amount of money in it!”
“Perhaps there is a hole in your pocket,” suggested Jim.
“A hole—large enough for my big wallet to fall through! Don’t be such a fool!”
“Excuse me, uncle,” said Jim, meekly; “of course that is impossible. When do you remember having it last?”
Of course Socrates told the story, now familiar to us, and already familiar to his nephew, though he did not suspect that.
Jim struck his forehead, as if a sudden thought had occurred to him.
“Could it be?” he said, slowly, as if to himself; “no, I can’t believe it.”
“Can’t believe what?” demanded Socrates, impatiently; “if you have any clew, out with it!”
“I hardly like to tell, Uncle Socrates, for it implicates one of the boys.”
“Which?” asked Mr. Smith, eagerly.