Of course it is difficult for me to form an estimate, but I should judge
that what I saw to-day--house, pictures, jewels, books, and so on--could
never have been bought under twenty millions, and I am sure that that
figure is entirely an under-statement."
"I never knew but one Haw," said old McIntyre, drumming his fingers on
the table; "he was a foreman in my pin-fire cartridge-case department.
But he was an elderly single man. Well, I hope he got it all honestly.
I hope the money is clean."
"And really, really, he is coming to see us!" cried Laura, clapping her
hands. "Oh, when do you think he will come, Robert? Do give me
warning. Do you think it will be to-morrow?"
"I am sure I cannot say."
"I should so love to see him. I don't know when I have been so
interested."
"Why, you have a letter there," remarked Robert. "From Hector, too, by
the foreign stamp. How is he?"
"It only came this evening. I have not opened it yet. To tell the
truth, I have been so interested in your story that I had forgotten all
about it. Poor old Hector! It is from Madeira." She glanced rapidly
over the four pages of straggling writing in the young sailor's bold
schoolboyish hand. "Oh, he is all right," she said.
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