"I am not deaf, Mr. Polk."
"I know what you want to do!" hissed the purser. "You want to get me into trouble. But I'll not let you do it."
"Maybe you'll get yourself into trouble."
"Bah! I am not afraid of a boy, but——" He paused and his manner changed. "See here, Thompson, you are a poor boy, aren't you?"
"I admit it."
"Well, some extra money will come in handy, won't it?"
"What do you mean, Mr. Polk?"
"I'll give you—er—five dollars for that letter."
"I haven't said that I had it yet."
"But I know you have it. Come, what do you say?"