"I knew you had them all the time," said Leonore laughing. "It was
dreadfully funny to see you pretend to hunt, when the guilty look on
your own face was enough to show you had them. That's why I was so
determined to find them."
Peter knew how prisoners felt when the jury says, "Not guilty."
"But how did the holes come in them?" said Leonore. "Do you have mice in
your room?" Leonore suddenly looked as worried as had Peter the moment
before.
Peter put his hand in the sachet, and produced a bent coin. "Look at
that," he said.
"Why, it's my luck-piece!" exclaimed Leonore. "And you've spoiled that
too. What a careless boy!"
"No," said Peter. "They are not spoiled to me. Do you know what cut
these holes and bent this coin?"
"What?"
"A bullet."
"Peter!"
"Yes. Your luck-piece stopped it, or I shouldn't be here."
"There," said Leonore triumphantly, "I said you weren't hurt, when the
news of the shooting came, because I knew you had it. I was so glad you
had taken it!"
"I am going to give it back to you by and by," said Peter.
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