You're come to the wrong shop-- do you hear ?" Riddell did hear; and watching the boy's manner as he hurried out these protests, he was satisfied that he was on the right tack.
It had never occurred to him before.

Perhaps the culprit was Tom himself; perhaps it was he who, for some reason of his own, had cut the line and caused all the mischief.
If that were so, what a relief and what a satisfaction it would be! Riddell felt that if Tom himself were the wrong-doer he could almost embrace him, so great would be his joy at knowing that no Willoughby boy was guilty of the crime.

But it was too good a notion to be true, and Tom soon dispelled it.
"I tell you," continued he, vehemently, but looking down so as to avoid the captain's eye.

"I tell you I aren't done it, there.

It's no use your trying to fix it on me.