‘Merciful heaven!’ exclaimed Mr. Jordan; ‘you knew all this, and never told me!’
‘I told no one,’ answered Barbara, ‘because I promised him that I would not betray him, and even now I would have said nothing about it but that you tell me that you know it as well as I. No,’ she added, after having drawn a long breath, ‘no, not even after all the provocation he has given would I betray him.’
Mr. Jordan looked as one dazed.
‘Where then are these clothes—this convict suit?’
‘In the garret. I hid them there.’
‘Let me see them. I cannot yet understand.’
Barbara left the room, and shortly returned with the bundle. She unfolded it, and spread the garments before her father. He rubbed his eyes, pressed his knuckles against his temples, and stared at them with astonishment.
‘So, then, it was he—Jasper Babb—who stole Eve’s money?’
‘Yes, papa.’
‘And he was taken and locked up for doing so—where?’