"
And he wondered as he spoke if he should ever bring any of his
possessions back there again, whether, with this cloud, this
suspicion of a possible betrayal of his trust resting upon him, he
should ever return to Sylvandale school.
"But--" stammered Charlie, "I mean--Seabrooke--somebody put something
there. I--I saw him--but he did not see me here. He's playing you a
trick, I know. Do look."
Seeing that the boy was quite himself and thoroughly in earnest,
Seabrooke turned to his trunk and began taking the clothes out,
Charlie sitting up and watching him anxiously, and wondering what
would be discovered.
"It's in the left-hand corner in front," he said; and then there was
silence for a moment.
Seabrooke laid aside half-a-dozen articles, then suddenly started to
his feet with an exclamation, holding in his hand a creased and
crumpled envelope, which he hastily opened, and took from it--Percy's
hundred-dollar note!
He turned deathly pale and for a moment stood gazing at it as if
stupefied.
"What is it? Percy Neville's money?" asked Charlie, who, in common
with every other boy in the school, knew the story of Percy's lost
banknote.
"Yes," answered Seabrooke in a stern, cold tone, "did you say you saw
some one put it there?"
"Yes," said Charlie, "but you must not ask me who it was, for I
cannot tell."
"You _must_ tell me," said Seabrooke, striding up to the bed,
"you _must_ tell me. Who was it?"
"I won't, I won't; I will not," said Charlie, firmly.
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