"`My DEAR CAPTAIN MILLET,--

"`You will, I know, be grieved, though not surprised, to hear that your
old friend Nibsworth is dead. Poor fellow! his end came much as you and
I had anticipated when we last parted. He followed his dear Clara about
two months after her death. I suppose you know that she died three days
after you left their house.

"`My object in writing just now, however, is to convey to you a piece of
good news; namely, that Nibsworth has left you the whole of his
property, which, altogether, cannot amount to less, I should think, than
eighty thousand pounds.'"

At this point the captain paused and looked over his glasses at his
sister, who, with wide-open eyes, exclaimed--

"Brother! he must be joking!"

"Sister," returned the captain, "my friend _never_ jokes, except when in
extremely congenial society, and then his jokes are bad--so bad as to be
unworthy of repetition."

"Wonderful!" exclaimed Miss Millet.

"Singular," murmured Jeff, whose thoughts seemed to be engaged with some
far-off prospect.

"He goes on," continued the captain, reading: "`I am left the sole
executor of his affairs. Pray, therefore, write as to what you wish
done. I am not at present conversant with the precise duties of an
executor, but of course I will get the best advice possible in the
circumstances, and do the best I can. I would recommend you to do the
same at your end of the world, and let me have your instructions as soon
as possible. The enclosed statement will show you the nature of your
property. The greater part, you will observe, is in hard cash. I may
add that the house and grounds here would sell well at present, if you
feel inclined to dispose of them.

"`In conclusion, allow me to congratulate you on this piece of good
fortune--perhaps, knowing your character so well, I should have written,
this good gift from God.'"

"Ay, my friend," said the captain, folding the letter, "you might have
written, `this unexpected and undeserved gift from God.' But now,
Molly, what think ye of it all?"

"Wonderful!" exclaimed the good lady in reply; and beyond this word she
seemed unable to go for a time, save that, after a strong mental effort,
she varied it to "amazing!" Suddenly she seemed to recover, and said
with a quick, earnest look--

"Dick, what are you going to do?"

"Do?" exclaimed Captain Millet, smiting his knee and looking from his
sister to Jeff with a broad smile. "I'll run up to Lond