'You know Winefred's father?'
'I know something about him. He has been Governor of a place called Tierra del Fuego, and I do not suppose his pay has been so good as that he can put his hand in his pocket and say, There are a few hundreds,—take, and I will give more when you have thrown these away.'
'But he gave the girl a gold watch.'
'How do you know that? The woman Marley says so. That watch may form part of the plunder of which you have been robbed.'
'Then, again,' said Olver, 'what inducement had the woman to offer you such a sum?'
'Because my father was kind to her and took her in.'
'Pshaw! He did that. Because he offered her his situation to be maid-of-all-work, to cook his meals, clean the house, make the fire; in return for which she was to be taken in, together with the girl, and to receive half-a-crown a week, is that it? That is no ground for such a fit of generosity coming upon her. No, no. She has stolen the captain's money, and would salve over her conscience that tortures and stings with one hundred pounds given to you. I see it clear as daylight.'
'It looks bad,' said Jack in a tone of discouragement. 'But, Olver, not a word about this to any one else.'
'You should have closed with the offer. Half a loaf is better than no bread.'