Don't you think I am entitled to your full confidence ?" "Indeed you are," said Hugh, quickly, "and you shall hear the whole story.

Both of us are right now tingling with satisfaction and delight because our worst fears have proved ungrounded." Then he went on to explain just how Thad had by accident become a temporary guest under the roof of the Rookery, after having helped old Mr.Dugdale to the house when he was seized with a sudden attack of sciatica in one of his lower limbs.

It did not take Hugh, with an occasional sentence of explanation from his eager chum, who wanted to be set right in the eyes of the good madame, long to tell how Thad chanced to discover the spoon among many other things in Owen's "den," and what a host of fears its presence there had aroused in their breasts.
Then he reached the point in his narrative where Thad conceived the bold idea of appropriating the spoon during Owen's absence, and letting the old lady see the same, knowing full well that if she recognized it as one of her missing souvenir mementoes, the case would look exceedingly dark for Owen.
Madame Pangborn's face took on a radiant look after she had learned all.
"I have never been able to believe that boy could be guilty of such an atrocious deed," she hastened to say, emphatically.

"I flatter myself that I can read boys as well as any one, and in his eyes there lies only truth, and an ardent desire to accomplish great things that have long been burning in his soul.

But, nevertheless, the circumstantial evidence was so strong that it has caused me some sleepless nights.
Now I know Owen is innocent, I shall be satisfied.