"
"I sha'n't try to do anybody else a kindness agin, if that's wot you
mean," I ses, looking at 'im.
"No, you'd better not," he ses. "This partickler bit o' kindness 'as
cost you four pounds fifteen, and that's a curious thing when you come to
think of it. Very curious."
"Wot d'ye mean?" I ses.
"Why," he ses, grinning like a madman, "it's just wot we lost between us.
I lost a watch and chain worth two pounds, and another couple o' pounds
besides; Joe lost ten shillings over 'is di'mond ring; and Charlie lost
five bob over a pipe. 'That's four pounds fifteen--just the same as
you."
Them silly fools stood there choking and sobbing and patting each other
on the back as though they'd never leave off, and all of a sudden I 'ad a
'orrible suspicion that I 'ad been done.
"Did you see the sovereigns in the box?" I ses, turning to the skipper.
"No," he ses, shaking his 'ead.
"'Ow do you know they was there, then?" ses I.
"Because you took charge of 'em," said the skipper; "and I know wot a
clever, sharp chap you are. It stands to reason that you wouldn't be
responsible for a box like that unless you saw inside of it. Why, a
child o' five wouldn't!"
I stood there looking at 'im, but he couldn't meet my eye.
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