"I thought so," said Rupert. "That gold piece was stolen from my mother."
"You don't tell me so!" ejaculated the grocer, opening wide his eyes in astonishment.
"It's a fact. How did she account for having so much money?"
"She said it was given her by a cousin of her late husband—a very rich man."
"That was a fiction of Mrs. Marlow's."
"It's too bad, Rupert. What do you want me to do? I can't give you the gold piece, for I gave Mrs. Marlow the change, about nine dollars. I can't afford to lose so much."
"You can help me to get back that money. When I call upon you, you can testify that she paid it to you."
"So I will, Rupert. I didn't think the woman was such a mean thief."
Five minutes later Rupert knocked at Mrs. Marlow's door.
The widow opened it herself, and when she saw her visitor she suspected his errand, but she was resolved to deny all knowledge of the money.