le this vast source of affluence and power shall
lie rusting and unused?"

The intense fervor of his voice, and his tone of self-conviction as he
spoke, had evidently impressed my mother strongly in his favor; and when
she turned over one by one the letters before her, and read passages
penned by the hand of Du Pin, the chief secretary of the Regent,
D'Argen-son, Alberoni the Cardinal, and others of like station, and then
turned to look on the feeble and wasted figure of the old man, her eyes
filled with tears of pity and compassion.

"My heart is now relieved of a weary load," said he, sighing. "Now I
shall go back to my home, and to-morrow, if I be not able to come here,
you and Jasper will visit me, for I have still much to tell you."

My mother did her utmost to detain him where he was. She saw that the
excitement of his narrative had greatly increased the symptoms of fever
upon him, and she wished to tend and watch over him; but he was resolute
in his determination, and left us, almost abruptly.

Raper and myself went several times that evening to see him, but he
would not receive us. The reply to our inquiries was, that he was deeply
engaged, and could not be disturbed. I remember well how often during
the night I arose from my bed to look out at the little window of the
tollhouse, which was that of Herr Robert's room. A light burned there
the whole night through, and more than once I could see his figure pass
between it and the window. Poor old man!--was it that he was devoting
the last few hours of his life to the weary task that had worn him to
a very shadow? Towards daybreak I sank into a heavy sleep, from which
I was suddenly awakened by Raper calling on me to get up and dress at
once.

"Herr Robert is dying!" said he, "and wishes to see you and speak with
you. Be quick, for there is not a moment to lose."

I dressed myself as speedily as my trembling limbs would permit, and
followed Raper down the stairs and into the street. My mother was
already there, waiting for us, and we hurried along towards the
toll-house without a word.

The toll-keeper's wife beckoned to us impatiently as we came in sight,
and we pressed eagerly on, and entered the little chamber where Herr
Robert lay half-dressed upon his bed. He knew us, and took each of us by
the hand as we came forward. His face was greatly flushed, and his eyes
stared wildly, and his dry, cracked lips muttered frequently and fast.
Several large packages