“It is false!” asserted Willis Ford, with a flushed face.
“It is true!” declared the telegraph boy, sturdily.
“I don't believe a word of it,” said the housekeeper3, angrily.
“It is a base conspiracy5, sir,” returned Ford, hoarsely6. “I submit, sir, that the word of a boy like that ought not to weigh against mine. Besides, these gentlemen,” indicating Jim Morrison and Tom Calder, “will corroborate7 my statement.”
“I have spoken the truth, sir, and they know it,” asserted Johnny, resolutely10.
“How much did Grant Thornton pay you for telling this lie?” demanded Willis Ford, furiously.
“I will answer that question, Mr. Ford,” said Grant, thinking it time to speak for himself. “I paid him nothing, and did not know till last evening that he had witnessed the interview between you and Mr. Morrison.”
“Your word is of no value,” said Ford, scornfully.
“That is a matter for Mr. Reynolds to consider,” answered Grant, with composure.
“Mr. Ford,” said the broker, gravely, “I attach more importance to the testimony11 of this telegraph boy than you appear to; but then it is to be considered that you are an interested party.”
“Am I to be discredited12 on account of what a wretched telegraph boy chooses to say?” asked Ford, bitterly. “Even supposing him worthy13 of credence14, my two friends sustain me, and it is three against one.”
“They are your friends, then?” asked Mr. Reynolds, significantly.
Willis Ford flushed. It was not to his credit to admit that an acknowledged gambler was his friend, yet he knew that to deny it would make Morrison angry, and perhaps lead him to make some awkward revelations.
“I have not known them long, sir,” he answered, embarrassed, “but I believe they feel friendly to me. One of them,” he added, maliciously15, “is an old friend of Grant Thornton.”
“Yes,” answered Grant, by no means disconcerted. “Tom Calder is from the same town as myself, and I wish him well.”
Tom looked pleased at this friendly declaration on the part of Grant, whom, indeed, he personally liked better than Willis Ford, who evidently looked down upon him, and had more than once snubbed him.
“You see,” said Ford, adroitly16, “that Grant Thornton's old friend testifies against him. I don't think I need say any more except to deny, in toto, the statement of that low telegraph boy.”
“I'm no lower than you are,” retorted Johnny, angrily.
“None of your impertinence, boy!” said Ford, loftily.
“I must say,” interposed the housekeeper, “that this seems a very discreditable conspiracy against my stepson. I am sure, Mr. Reynolds, you won't allow his reputation to be injured by such a base attack.”
“Mr. Ford,” said the broker, “I have listened attentively17 to what you have said. I ought to say that a telegraph boy has as much right to be believed as yourself.”
“Even when there are three against him?”
“The three are interested parties.”
“I have no doubt he is also. I presume he has an understanding with Grant Thornton, who is a suspected thief.”
“I deny that, Mr. Ford,” exclaimed Grant, indignantly.
“You are certainly suspected of stealing my stepmother's bonds.”
“And I have no doubt you took them,” declared the housekeeper, venomously.
At this time the doorbell was heard to ring.
“Excuse me for a moment,” said the broker. “I will be back directly.”
When he had left the room, the parties left behind looked at each other uncomfortably. Willis Ford, however, was too angry to keep silence.
He turned to Grant, and made an attack upon him.
“You won't accomplish anything, you young rascal18, by your plotting and contriving19! I give you credit for a good deal of cunning in bringing this boy to give the testimony he has; but it won't do you any good. Mr. Reynolds isn't a fool, and he will see through your design.”
“That he will, Willis,” said the housekeeper. “After all the kindness that boy has received in this house, he might be better employed than in stealing my bonds, and then trying to throw it upon a man like you.”
“I don't care to argue with you, Mr. Ford,” said Grant, quietly. “You know as well as I do that I didn't steal the bonds, and you know,” he added, significantly, “who did.”
“That would be a very poor argument. The truth has already come out, and I am vindicated21.”
“I don't know whether you expect Mr. Reynolds to shield you or not, but, if my mother takes my advice, she will have you arrested, whatever happens.”
“I intend to,” said the housekeeper, nodding spitefully. “If you had returned the bonds, I did not mean to let the matter drop, but since you have tried to throw suspicion on my son, who has always been devoted22 to me, I mean to punish you as severely23 as the law allows.”
“I think you will change your mind, Mrs. Estabrook, and let the thief go unpunished,” said Grant, in no ways disturbed.
“Not unless you make a full confession24; and even then I think you ought to suffer for your base wickedness.”
“You are making a mistake, Mrs. Estabrook. I referred to the thief.”
“That is yourself.”
Grant shrugged25 his shoulders. He was spared the necessity of answering the attack, for just then the door opened, and Mr. Reynolds re-entered. He did not enter alone, however.
All present looked at him in surprise. Who was this man, and what had he to do with the matter that concerned them all?
“Mr. Graham, gentlemen!” said the broker, with a wave of the hand.
The detective bowed courteously28.
“Mr. Graham, permit me to ask,” continued the broker, “if you have seen any of these gentlemen before?”
“Yes,” answered Graham, and he indicated Grant Thornton, Jim Morrison and Tom Calder.
“When did you see them, and where?”
“At the Fifth Avenue Hotel this morning.”
“What passed between them?”
“They were talking about some bonds, which that gentleman,” indicating Morrison, “acknowledged giving to the boy to sell. He asked for the proceeds, but the boy told him there was something wrong about the bonds, and his employer wouldn't allow him to pass over the money. Upon this, Morrison, as I understand him to be called, said they were given him by a party that owed him money, and threatened that, if he had played a trick upon him, it would be the worse for him.”
“Who is that man, Mr. Reynolds?” asked Ford, in nervous excitement.
“One of the best known detectives in the city,” quietly answered the broker. “What have you to say to his evidence?”
“That it doesn't concern me. I may be wrong about the boy taking the bonds, but that doesn't involve me. There may have been another party.”
“You forget the testimony of the telegraph boy—that he saw you give the bonds to your friend there.”
“The boy told a falsehood!”
“I am in a position to confirm the boy's testimony,” said the detective.
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1
Ford
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| n.浅滩，水浅可涉处；v.涉水，涉过 | |
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alleged
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| a.被指控的，嫌疑的 | |
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housekeeper
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| n.管理家务的主妇，女管家 | |
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broker
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| n.中间人，经纪人；v.作为中间人来安排 | |
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conspiracy
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| n.阴谋，密谋，共谋 | |
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hoarsely
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| adv.嘶哑地 | |
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corroborate
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| v.支持，证实，确定 | |
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8
blustered
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| v.外强中干的威吓( bluster的过去式和过去分词 )；咆哮；（风）呼啸；狂吹 | |
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liar
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| n.说谎的人 | |
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resolutely
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| adj.坚决地，果断地 | |
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testimony
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| n.证词；见证，证明 | |
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12
discredited
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| 不足信的，不名誉的 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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credence
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| n.信用，祭器台，供桌，凭证 | |
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maliciously
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| adv.有敌意地 | |
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adroitly
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| adv.熟练地，敏捷地 | |
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17
attentively
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| adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神 | |
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rascal
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| n.流氓；不诚实的人 | |
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contriving
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| （不顾困难地）促成某事( contrive的现在分词 )； 巧妙地策划，精巧地制造（如机器）； 设法做到 | |
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impudent
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| adj.鲁莽的，卑鄙的，厚颜无耻的 | |
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vindicated
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| v.澄清（某人/某事物）受到的责难或嫌疑( vindicate的过去式和过去分词 )；表明或证明（所争辩的事物）属实、正当、有效等；维护 | |
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22
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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confession
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| n.自白，供认，承认 | |
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shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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attired
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| adj.穿着整齐的v.使穿上衣服，使穿上盛装( attire的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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28
courteously
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| adv.有礼貌地，亲切地 | |
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gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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