"It will all end well, you may depend."
Bobby was amazed. His pardon? But it would not restore his former good name. He felt that he was branded as a felon. It was not mercy, but justice that he wanted.
"Truth is mighty, and will prevail," continued Mr. Bayard; "and this document restores your reputation."
"I can hardly believe that."
"Can't you? Hear my story then. When I read in one of the Maine papers the account of your misfortune, I felt that you had been grossly wronged. You were coupled with that Tom Spicer, who is the most consummate little villain I ever saw, and I understood your situation. Ah, Bobby, your only mistake was in having anything to do with that fellow."
"I left him at Brunswick because he began to behave badly; but he joined me again at Augusta. He had spent nearly all his money, and did not know what to do. I pitied him, and meant to do something to help him out of the scrape."
"Generous as ever! I have heard all about this before."
"Indeed; who told you?"
"Tom Spicer himself."
"Tom?" asked Bobby, completely mystified.