After a pause Anderson said, “You know, Tom, that she has left you all that she had.  She told me before that such was her intention, although I said nothing to you about it; but I thought it as well that Mr. Wilson should make out a paper for her to put her name to, which she did.  Ben and I witnessed it, but as for what she has left you I cannot imagine it can be much; for we examined and found no money except about seven pounds, in two small boxes; and then in her will she has left your sister Virginia ten pounds.  Now, when that comes to be paid, I’m sure I don’t know whether the things in the shop will fetch so much money as will pay your sister’s legacy and the expenses of her funeral.”

“It’s of no consequence,” replied I, smiling; “but we shall see.  At all events all her debts shall be paid, and her funeral shall be decent and respectable.  Good-by now, Anderson, I must go up and see my mother and sister.”

Old Nanny’s remains were consigned to the tomb on the following Monday.  Her funeral was, as I had desired it to be, very respectable, and she was followed to the grave by Anderson, my father, Ben, and me.  As soon as it was over, I requested Anderson to walk with me to Mr. Wilson’s.

“I’m afraid, Tom,” said Mr. Wilson, “you’ll find, like a great many other residuary legatees, that you’ve not gained much by the compliment.”

“Nevertheless, will you oblige me by walking down with Anderson and me to her house?”

“And take off the seals, I presume, in your presence?  But the fact is, Tom, that not thinking the property quite safe there, even under seal, I have kept it all in my own pocket.”

“Nevertheless, oblige me by coming down.”

“Oh, with all my heart, since you do not like to take possession unless in due form.”

As soon as we arrived at the hovel I went into the bedroom and threw open the window.  I then, to their great astonishment, went to the fire-grate, threw out some rubbish which was put into it, pulled up the iron back, and removed the bricks.  In a short time I produced two small boxes, one of them very heavy.  There was nothing else in the hole.

“Here,” said I, “Mr. Wilson, is a portion of the property which you have overlooked.”

“No wonder,” replied he.  “Pray let us see what it is.”

I opened the boxes, and, to their surprise, made up in a variety of packages, I counted out gold coin to the amount of four hundred and twenty pounds.

“Not a bad legacy,” said Mr. Wilson.  “Then you knew of this?”

“Of course; I have known it some time—­ever since the attempt to rob her.”

“But what are those papers?”

On one was written “Arsenic—­Poison;” on the other, “Receipt for Toothache.”

“Nothing of any value,” said I, “by the outside.”

I opened them, and found, to my surprise, bank-notes to the exact amount of two hundred pounds.