Ben looked sober, but his appetite did not appear to be affected.
"Your course is about run, young man!" thought Mrs.Hill.
"I should like to see you after supper, Conrad," said Mrs.Hamilton.
"Come into my sitting room." "I wonder if she is going to give me Ben's place," thought Conrad, hardly knowing whether he wished it or not.
With a jaunty air and a self-satisfied smile, he followed Mrs.
Hamilton into her "private office," as she sometimes called it.
"Shut the door, Conrad," she said.
He did so.
"I have heard news of the opera glass," she commenced.
"Mother gave me a hint of that," said Conrad.
"It was stolen and pawned at Simpson's on the Bowery." "It's a great shame!" said Conrad, thinking that a safe comment to make.
"Yes, it was a shame and a disgrace to the one who took it." "I didn't think Ben would do such a thing," continued Conrad, growing bolder.
"Nor I," said Mrs.Hamilton.
"After all you have done for him, too.

I never liked the boy, for my part." "So I suspected," said Mrs.Hamilton dryly.

"However, I will tell you what I want of you.

I am going down to Simpson's to-morrow to redeem the glass, and want you to go with me." "You want me to go with you!" ejaculated Conrad, turning pale.
"Yes; I don't care to go to that part of the City by myself, and I will take you to keep me company." "But I must go to the office," faltered Conrad.
"I will send Ben to say that you can't go to-morrow." "Why don't you take Ben to Simpson's, or the detective ?" suggested Conrad, in great alarm, bethinking himself that it would hardly do to take Ben, since the attendant would certify that he was not the one who pawned the glass.
"Because I prefer to take you.

Have you any objection to go!" "Oh, no, of course not!" answered Conrad, not daring to make any further objection.
In the morning Mrs.Hill came to Mrs.Hamilton, and said: "Poor Conrad has a terrible toothache! He is afraid he won't be able to go with you to Simpson's.