“Indeed!” exclaimed Jack, mystified.
“Yes; you see I have found it out. Such things do not escape me.”
“I don't know what you mean,” returned Jack, perplexed.
“No doubt, no doubt,”, said Foley, cunningly. “Of course, if I should tell you that I was in the coining business, it would be altogether new to you.”
“On my honor,” said Jack, “this is the first I knew of it. I never saw or heard of you before I came into this house.”
“Could Peg be mistaken?” thought Foley. “But no, no; he is only trying to deceive me. I am too old a bird to be caught with such chaff.”
“Of course, I won't dispute your word, my young friend,” he said, softly; “but there is one thing certain; if you didn't know it before you know it now.”
“And you are afraid that I shall denounce you to the police.”
“Well, there is a possibility of that. That class of people have a little prejudice against us, though we are only doing what everybody wants to do, making money.”
The old man chuckled and rubbed his hands at this joke, which he evidently considered a remarkably good one.