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 him all of a sudden of something that had troubled me the whole night through.

"Hildebrand," said he, "it's badly off for money I am, let me tell you. I've not fifty in the world. I was looking for Oakley's check to his daughter to get through Saturday."

Now, when he said this, something came quickly into my head that was not there before; and when I'd thought of it a minute, I told him.

"One thing you're forgetting, sir," said I; "there's the things which Mr. Oakley give you—you wouldn't be leaving them behind."

"What things do you mean?" said he; "not the girl's wedding presents?"

"Well, not exactly those, sir, but the things given to you. Gifts are gifts, and not to be taken back, I think."

"You scoundrel," said he, springing up from his chair with his fist clenched, "would you make a housebreaker of me?"

"I don't know," said I, quite calmly; "but one thing I would do, Sir Nicolas"

"And what is that, pray?" cried he, standing white with passion.

"Keep you out of the hands of the police!" I replied, while I turned to put his things away.

What he did when he heard this I don't know, since I had my back to him. But he said nothing for a long time, and when he spoke there was no more bluster about him.