You got into the study only about a quarter of an hour before I came." Marco listened to this minute account of his adventures with eager interest, wondering how his cousin could have obtained so early and such complete information.

After Forester had concluded, he paused a moment and breathed a long sigh.

Then he laid his head down upon his pillow again, saying, "Well, I don't see how you found it out; and I am sorry that you did, for I meant to have told you all about it myself." Marco seemed really disappointed at having lost the opportunity to make his full confession, but Forester told him that he considered that he _had_ made full confession.

"You made up your mind to do it," said he, "and you did begin, and it was the beginning which required all the effort.

I only refrained from asking you about the details, from a wish to show you that I really knew all about it." "I don't see how you found it out," said Marco.