"And the description is correct also?"

"Absolutely."

"Ah, I am glad of that. I mentioned a reward a few minutes ago, and
I am perfectly willing to pay it. Will a hundred dollars be
sufficient?"

"It would be more than ample in the event of my having the actual
owner of the watch to deal with," in a quiet tone.

The man flushed, glared angrily at the boy, and cried excitedly:

"What do you mean by that, you young scoundrel? Do you dare to
say that I am not---" and then he stopped short, laughed, and
said in his former pleasant tones: "but this is a joke, of course."

"No, it is not, it is the truth," said the boy. "Dr. Wise, don't
give it to him. He is not the real owner of the watch. Have
you forgotten your conversation with Gabrielle this afternoon?"
to the man himself. "Well, I have not, nor has my friend, and we
both heard it. It was on the banks of a little kill that runs into
the Hudson a few miles from here, and about a mile up from the river."

Before the boy had finished the man uttered an inarticulate mutter,
and flushed deeply, dashing out of the room as the sentence was
completed.