"What is't?" asked the old man, curiously and eagerly.
"It's something we must keep still about. I'm going to make my fortune out of it, and yours too."
"What do you want to keep still for, ef you ain't go'n' to steal it?"
"I see it's no use to talk with you," said Dock, petulantly. "If you think I'd steal, I can't depend upon you, or you upon me. So there's an end of it."
Dock rose from his seat, looked at The Starry Flag, which was just coming to anchor, and then began to walk up the Point; but he expected to be called back, and he was not disappointed.
"Why don't you tell me on't, so I can know what you're go'n' to do?" demanded the miser.
"I shall not say anything to you. I don't think I can trust you. The business isn't all regular; but it isn't stealing," protested Dock.
"You can trust me, Cap'n Vincent, jest as long as you can trust anybody. You know I never says nothin' to nobody about business. I allers keeps things to myself," whined Mr. Fairfield.
"Will you keep this to yourself?"
"Sartin, I will."