"Yes--yes, sir," stammered Bart. "You said--that is--I--er--I was the one who took the collection of reptiles," blurted out the uneasy lad. "But I didn't take the diamond bracelet! We didn't see anything of it! I hope you'll believe me! You don't know how unpleasant it is to be accused. At one time I--that is my chums and I--were accused of blowing up the school tower with dynamite, and----"