"Shake hands, my boy," said the old man, "and thank God with me that the
truth has at last prevailed. But tell me, Burr, we do not know all yet.
You have been very reticent. You denied the charge stoutly, but your
manner always impressed us with the belief that you knew more. Now let
us clear up this sad business once for all. You will speak out now,
will you not?"
"Yes, sir," I said huskily, and my cheeks burned with shame as I glanced
at Mercer, who was now making horrible grimaces at me to indicate his
joy.
"Then there was something?"
"Yes, sir," I said, and I glanced at my mother, whose face was now pale
with fresh alarm. "Dicksee did see me find the watch there and hide it
again."
"Yes; go on."
"Ever since Burr major had that watch, Mercer longed for it, and he was
always talking about it, and wishing he had one."
"Well, I couldn't help that, Frank," cried Mercer; "but of course I
wouldn't have taken it."
"No, Tom," I said, with a gulp, and my voice changing in spite of my
efforts to be firm, and, a thorough schoolboy and companion once more, I
blundered out, "but I was such a beast, I thought you had stolen it, and
I wouldn't speak to save myself for fear you should be expelled."
"Oh!" cried Mercer in the midst of the silence which now fell.