“Twenty-two dollars,” was the answer of the young man behind the counter.
As he spoke he drew from his vest pocket a roll of bills, and began to count off the requisite sum.
Herbert was surprised. He had supposed that Eben was merely making inquiries about the price of tickets. He had not imagined that he was really going.
“Can Mr. Graham have given him money to go?” he asked himself.
“When can I start?” asked Eben, as he received a string of tickets from the clerk.
Eben seemed well pleased with this reply. He carefully deposited the tickets in an inside vest pocket, and turned to go out of the office. As he emerged from it he caught sight of Herbert, who had not yet started to go. He looked surprised and annoyed.
“Herbert Carr!” he exclaimed. “How came you here?”
Mingled with his surprise there was a certain nervousness of manner, as Herbert thought.
“I came to Boston with Mr. Melville,” said Herbert, coldly.
“Oh!” ejaculated Eben, with an air of perceptible relief. “Where is Mr. Melville?”
“He has gone to the office of his physician, on Tremont Street.”
“Look out you don't get lost!” said Eben, with affected gayety. “I am here on a little business for the old man.”
Herbert did not believe this, in view of what he had seen, but he did not think it necessary to say so.
“Good-morning!” said Herbert, in a tone polite but not cordial.
“Good-morning! Oh, by the way, I have just been inquiring the cost of a ticket to St. Louis,” said Eben, carelessly.
“Indeed! Do you think of going out there?”
“Yes, if the old man will let me,” said Eben.
“Do you prefer St. Louis to Chicago?” asked Herbert, watching the face of Eben attentively.
Eben's face changed, and he looked searchingly at our hero, but could read nothing in his face.
“Oh, decidedly!” he answered, after a slight pause. “I don't think I would care for Chicago.”
“And all the while you have a ticket for Chicago in your pocket!” thought Herbert, suspiciously, “Well, that's your own affair entirely, not mine.”
“What train do you take back to Wayneboro?” asked Eben, not without anxiety.
“I may be on the train with you,” said Eben, “though possibly I shall get through in time to take an earlier one.”
“He is trying to deceive me,” thought Herbert.