“May the gold procure you happiness—­such happiness as you desire!” said Lala Roy.

“It will nearly pay the quarter’s rent.  And that’s about happiness enough for one morning.”

Joe was sitting in his room alone, half asleep.  In fact, he had a head upon him.  He sprung to his feet, however, when he saw Lala Roy.

“Hallo!” he cried.  “You here, Nig?  How the devil did you find out my address?”

There was not only astonishment, but some alarm upon his countenance.

“Never mind.  I want a little conversation with you, Mr. Joseph.”

“Well, sit down and let us have it out.  I say, have you come to tell me that you did sneak those papers, after all?  What did you get for them?”

“I have not come to tell you that.  I dare say, however, we shall be able, some day, to tell you who did steal the papers—­if any were stolen, that is.”

“Quite so, my jolly mariner.  If any were stolen.  Ho, ho! you’ve got to prove that first, haven’t you?  How’s the old man?”

“He is ill; he is feeble with age; he is weighed down with misfortune.  I am come, Mr. Joseph, to ask your help for him.”

“My help for him?  Why, can’t he help himself?”

“Four or five years ago he incurred a debt for one who forged his name.  He needed not to have paid that money, but he saved a man from prison.”

“Who was that?  Who forged his name?”

“I do not name that man, whose end will be confusion, unless he repent and make amends.  This debt has grown until it is too large for him to pay it.  Unless it is paid, his whole property, his very means of living, will be sold by the creditor.”

“How can I pay him back?  It is three hundred and fifty pounds now,” said Joseph.

“Man, thou hast named thyself.”

Joseph stammered but blustered still.

“Well—­then—­what the devil do you mean—­you and your forgery?”

“Forgery is one crime:  you have since committed, perhaps, others.  Think.  You have been saved once from prison.  Will any one save you a second time?  How have you shown your gratitude?  Will you now do something for your benefactor?”

“What do you mean, I say?  What do you mean by your forgery and prison?  Hang me, if I oughtn’t to kick you out of the room.  I would, too, if you were ten years younger.  Do you know, sir, that you are addressing an officer and a gentleman?”

“There is sometimes, even at the very end, a door opened for repentance.  The door is open now.  Young man, once more, consider.  Your grandfather is old and destitute.  Will you help him?”

Joseph hesitated.

“I don’t believe he is poor.  He has saved up all his money for the girl; let her help him.”

“You are wrong.  He has saved nothing.  His granddaughter maintains herself by teaching.  He has not a penny.  You have got from him, and you have spent all the money he had.”