“What explanation, then, can you offer? Your case looks bad.”
“The six dollars I saved from my wages, at the rate of two dollars a week. The twenty dollars is a part of the money I was robbed of. I succeeded in recovering forty dollars of it yesterday.”
Here, Herbert related the circumstances already known to the reader.
“A likely story,” said Tom, scornfully.
“Be silent, Thomas,” said Mr. Godfrey. “Your story does not seem probable,” he proceeded, speaking to Herbert.
“It is true, sir,” said our hero, firmly.
“What could he have done with your wallet, however?” said the merchant, turning to Mr. Walton.
“He has been out to the post office since,” said Tom. “He might have thrown it away.”
This unfortunately for Herbert, was true. He had been out, and, of course, could have disposed of the wallet in the way mentioned.
“I don't know what to think, Mr. Walton,” said Mr. Godfrey. “I'm afraid the boy's guilty.”