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194 the question being put to him, whether he could give any information relative to Mr. Philimore, or the motives which detained him so long absent.

"He has not forgot you, my dear massa; me heard him say he has been about your affairs more dan once, and he has been very goot to my missus and de shildren in conducting dem to Kennington; and me tink he has been sometimes at the auction of your tings, and he did wat he could to raise de value of some tings, by bidding himself, or dey could have been knocked down at no price." He then turned to cast a look of inquiry towards the other inmates of the chamber, but finding them in close conversation, bending over a three-legged table, Robert, lowering his voice, muttered, "Alack, who would have tought it, dat dose fine paintings dat cost massa so much, and took many a hundred out of his pocket, should fall into de hands of others for less dan half deir value?—and your favourite picture, Sir, de view of Lisbon."

"What of that, Robert, and is that gone for nothing?"

"Yes, goot massa, you will never cast eye upon it again, nor me neider; I used to lub to see de spot where we lived, enjoying many a happy day. Alack! who would have tought it?"