"Even Don John. I can recall more than one young man, who promised as well as he does, that turned out very badly; and men fully developed in character, sustaining the highest reputations in the community, have been detected in the grossest frauds. I trust Don John will realize the hopes of his friends; but we must not be too positive." "I can't believe that Don John will ever become a bad man," protested Nellie. "We don't know. 'Put not your trust in princes,' in our day and nation, might read, 'Put not your trust in young men.'" "Why do you say all this, father?" asked Nellie, anxiously. "Has Don John done anything wrong; or is he suspected of doing anything wrong?" "He is at least suspected," replied Captain Patterdale. "Why, father!" "You need not be in haste to condemn him, or even to think ill of him, Nellie." "I certainly shall not." "There is the white cross of Denmark," added the captain, holding up the bank bill which had told him such a terrible story about the boat-builder. "What is it, father? It looks like a bank note." "It is; but there is the white cross of Denmark on it." "I don't understand what you mean." "I only mean that these white slips of paper make the bill look like the flag of Denmark." Nellie took the bill and examined it. "It has been torn into four pieces and mended," said she. "That is precisely how it happens to be the white cross of Denmark. Do you think, if you had ever seen that bill before, you would recognize it again, if it fell into your hands?" added the captain. "Certainly I should." "Well, it has been in my hands before. Do you remember the day that Michael had the sun-stroke?" "Yes, sir; and your tin box disappeared that day." "Precisely so; and this bill was in that tin box. Jacob Hasbrook, of Lincolnville, paid me a note. I put the money in the box, intending to take it over to the bank before night, and deposit it the next day. I looked at the bill when I counted the money, and I spoke to Hasbrook about it. I called it the white cross of Denmark then." "Where did you get it now?" inquired Nellie, her heart in her throat with anxiety. "Mr. Leach, the sail-maker, paid it to me just before you came into the library." "Mr. Leach!" exclaimed she, permitting herself to be cheered by a ray of hope that her father was not working up a case against Donald Ramsay. "Yes; you remember who were in the library on the day I lost the tin box." "I remember very well; for all of you went out and carried Michael into the house. Besides we talked about the box ever so long. You asked me who had been in the library while you were up stairs; and I told you Mr. Hasbrook, Laud Cavendish, and Don John." "Precisely so; I remember it all very distinctly. Now, one of the bills that was in that box comes back to me." "But it was paid to you by Mr. Leach." "It was; but he had it from Don John half an hour before he paid it to me."