"If you took one of these, Mr. Richardson," he said, "you would never
have another, at any rate. Now, tell me, sir, how you came by them!"
"I know nothing about--" the young man began.
"Don't lie to me, sir," Wingrave said sharply. "I have been wondering
what the --- you meant by hanging around after me, giving the deck
steward five shillings to put your chair next mine, and pretending to
read, while all the time you were trying to overhear any scraps of
conversation between my secretary and myself. I thought you were
simply guilty of impertinent curiosity. This, however, rather alters
the look of affairs."
"What does?" Richardson asked faintly. "That box ain't mine."
"Perhaps not," Wingrave answered, "but you found it in my state room
and filled it up with its present contents. My servant saw you coming
out, and immediately went in to see what you had stolen, and report
you. He found nothing missing, but he found this box full of lozenges,
which he knows quite well was half full before you went in. Now, what
was your object, Mr. Richardson, in tampering with that box upon my
shelf?"
"I have--I have never seen it before," Richardson declared. "I have
never been in your state room!"
The deck steward was passing. Wingrave summoned him.
"I wish you would ask my servant to step this way," he said. "You will
find him in my state room."
The man disappeared through the companion way.
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