"Only just what he has said all along. He has not been able to get it yet, but he thinks that he will. I tell you, Elgert, that I believe he is playing with us----" "What do you mean?" cried Elgert sharply. "How playing with us?" "Well, he either knows more than he pretends to, or else he suspects something. I don't think that he means to let us have that note." Horace Elgert was silent for a few moments. Evidently he found that statement very disquieting. "It will be a nice mess if it is like that," he said at last. "But it is no good worrying over it unless it comes. I will go and see him myself. You are a bit of a messer when it comes to doing anything. You don't seem to use your wits----" "Can't use my wits to make him give me a thing which he has either not got or don't mean to part with," grumbled Dobson. "You might have used your wits to make sure that he never got it. I did all the dangerous part of the work, and only left you something which was safe and easy, and you went and bungled it!" "Oh, don't begin that all over again. I am sick and tired of hearing of it. Whenever you have nothing else to grumble about you bring that up. Just drop it, or don't talk at all!" Elgert saw that his companion was getting really cross; and though he despised Dobson at heart, he could not afford to quarrel with him, for the boy knew too much of his evil ways; so he affected to laugh at the angry words. "Don't lose your temper," he said. "I never came near such a surly chap! A fellow can't speak to you without your taking offence." "Well, then, drop it. I don't like having things thrown in my face like you throw that. It is done, and it can't be undone, so what is the good of talking of it?" "You will find there will be some talking about it if ever it comes to light," was the grim answer. And Dobson looked miserable. How he wished now that he had never had anything to do with the wretched business. "I wonder," mused Elgert, "what became of that fellow Charlton?" "We'd best let that alone," retorted Dobson. "We have got ourselves disliked quite enough over it." "What do I care for that? If only I knew where he was, do you think that I would hesitate to tell? I would do it, if it was only to spite Rexworth." "It would not hurt him," answered Dobson. "It is not his father." "No, but it is his chum's, and he would be sure to feel it. I only wish I knew where he was." "But you don't," remarked Dobson. "But I might find out. I only wish that I could!" "Talk of angels and see their wings," said Dobson; and at this apparently vague proverb Elgert turned excitedly. "Where? What do you mean? Not the man?" "No," answered Dobson, with a shake of the head. "I don't see Rexworth or Charlton." And Elgert stared round. "Bother it! Don't stand grinning there like a monkey. Tell me what you mean." "Only that there goes Charlton's mother," said Dobson, nodding in the direction of the common.