lied the cravings of
her appetite with a gusto that was a revelation to her, and which would
have evoked a profound rebuke from the wretched creature on the bed.

It was therefore with secret misgiving and a qualified delight she heard
her brother at last call feebly: "Sarah!"

In answer to the exhausted interrogation in his utterance of the name,
his sister hastened to recount to him the incident of his collapse and
his subsequent unconsciousness.

Little by little his intelligence began to resume its abandoned
functions, and at last he recalled the whole evil situation.

"Where's Robert?" he said. "I want him."

"I will send him to you," exclaimed his sister, and she hastened from
the room.

"Well, uncle!" exclaimed Robert as he entered with a cheerfulness he was
far from feeling as he witnessed that emaciated countenance; "better, I
see."

"I congratulate you upon your imagination," replied Raikes, with a
feeble attempt at his customary incivility; "but lock the door and
listen to me carefully."

These instructions complied with, Robert seated himself in the chair
just vacated by the spinster, which provided his uncle an unobstructed
view of the embonpoint and general aspect of well-being which were so
obnoxious to the singular man on the bed.

"In the first place," resumed Raikes weakly, "move the bed around so
that I can see the register in the wall."

The wondering Robert did as he was ordered.

"Take hold of the button that moves the valves and pull it toward you."

Robert followed these instructions minutely, and to his astonishment and
the miser's consternation the radiator itself swung away from the wall.

"What!" cried the startled invalid as he beheld this confirmation of his
fear that he had neglected to spring the catch that held the radiator
on the occasion of the mishap which resulted in his confinement to the
bed, "Look within. Is the inner compartment closed?"

"No!" replied Robert.

"My God!" groaned Raikes as he realized that his treasury had been thus
unguarded during his illness. "Tell me how many bags there are."

Robert removed them one by one, and deposited them on the table.

As the miser followed the movements of his nephew with anxious notation,
a sigh of unutterable relief welled from the innermost depths of his
bosom.

The bags had been untouched!

There was no further loss, and the clinking weight assured him that his
nocturnal visitor had made no more of his gross