"You heard all this?" said he, biting his lips.
"I heard it."
"You dreamed it."
"No, I didn't dream it. I heard a great deal more than this. You wanted to destroy the will; but your father said he dared not do it."
"Pray, where were you, when you heard all this?"
"On the top of the bay window of the library. The upper sash was pulled down, so as to let the air in."
"Then you are an eaves-dropper as well as a thief."
"I was on the eaves of the bay window, and I dropped down about the time you went up stairs to look for me. Now you know all about it—and so do I. You may tell me my father died in Newgate, and that you never heard of any will. I shall believe just as much of it as I please, and no more. You think I'm a boy, Mr. Tom Thornton; but I've got brains enough to know chalk from cheese."
Tom wiped his forehead. He did not like my style; but he could not do anything. He dared not take any decided step. After observing the feebleness of his position, I made up my mind that I had won the victory. He was afraid to arrest me, and I felt as safe as though I had been in London then. But there was one more point I wanted to impress upon him.
"I have no doubt, Ernest, that you have some paper which you think is valuable; something which has the form of a will," said Tom, after he had fidgeted about in his seat for some time.