Ned Brooke could n't do such a thing -- oh , no ! The poor injured boy at whom everyone has such an unlawful pick ! I wonder if this will convince them . '' `` Do you think they can get it all back ? '' I asked . `` It 's not likely he would have dared to use any of it yet . '' `` I do n't know . We 'll have a try , anyhow . How long before this plate will be dry enough to carry down to the Carrolls as circumstantial evidence ? '' `` Three hours or thereabouts , '' I answered , `` but perhaps sooner . I 'll take two prints off when it is ready . I wonder what the Carrolls will say . '' `` It 's a piece of pure luck that the plate should have turned out so well after the slap-dash way in which it was taken and used . I say , Amy , is n't this quite an adventure ? '' At last the plate was dry , and I printed two proofs . We wrapped them up carefully and marched down to Mr. Carroll 's . You never saw people so overcome with astonishment as the Carrolls were when Cecil , with the air of a statesman unfolding the evidence of some dreadful conspiracy against the peace and welfare of the nation , produced the plate and the proofs , and held them out before them . Mr. Carroll and Cecil took the proofs and went over to the Brooke shanty . They found only Ned and his mother at home . At first Ned , when taxed with his guilt , denied it , but when Mr. Carroll confronted him with the proofs , he broke down in a spasm of terror and confessed all .
His mother produced the pocketbook and the money -- they had not dared to spend a single cent of it -- and Mr. Carroll went home XXXXX triumph .
At after as before if in of off that with