"That's all in your eye," said Ham.
"It was all in my eye the night the mail was robbed," I replied. "I didn't do it; but I saw it done; and I know who did it, Ham Fishley."
"Humph! I shouldn't wonder if he meant to lay it to me, father!" added Ham.
"That's just what I mean to do. I saw Ham take the money out of the envelope, and then burn the letter."
"Well, that's a good one!" said Ham, laughing heartily; but his face was pale, and his laugh hollow.
Captain Fishley looked at his son earnestly. Perhaps he saw the unrealness of his mirth. Ham was extravagant in his demonstrations, and so far overdid the matter, that even his father must have been troubled with a suspicion that all was not right in relation to him.
"Buck Bradford, you have a large sum of money about you," said he. "Have you not?"
"No matter how much," I answered.
"You have forty dollars. Will you deny it?"
"I will neither own nor deny it. I have nothing to say about it."