SAM. No man more so, so don't stand staring as if you was afraid, woman--who's the wiser? We're not going to pick holes in each other's coats, I suppose? OMNES. No, indeed! we should hope not! MRS. M. Who's the worse for the loss of a few things like these? Not a dead man, I suppose? OMNES. (_Laughing._) No, indeed! SAM. If he wanted to keep 'em after he was dead, a wicked old screw, why wasn't he natural in his life time? MRS. M. If he had been, he'd have had somebody to look after him when he was struck with death, instead of lying, gasping out his last, alone there by himself--it's a judgment upon him! Open that bundle, old Joe, and let me know the value of it. SAM. Stop! I'll be served first, to spare your blushes, though we pretty well knew we were helping ourselves, and no sin neither! (_Gives trinkets to JOE._) JOE. Two seals, pencil case, brooch, sleeve buttons! (_Chalking figures on wall._) Five bob! Wouldn't give more, if you was to boil me! Who's next? (_MRS. DIBLER offers bundle which he examines._) There's your money! (_Chalks on wall._) I always give too much to ladies--it's my weakness, and so I ruin myself. If you asked for another penny, and made it an open question, I'd repent of being so liberal, and knock off half a-crown! (_Examines MRS. MILDEW'S bundle upon his knees._) What do you call this? bed curtains? You don't mean to say you took 'em down, rings and all, with him lying there? MRS. M. Yes. I do! Why not? JOE. You were born to make your fortune, and you'll certainly do it! Blankets! his blankets? MRS. M. Whose else's? He won't take cold without 'em! JOE. I hope he didn't die of anything catching! MRS. M. No, no! or I'd not have waited on such as he! There, Joe, that's the best shirt he had--they'd ha' wasted it, but for me! JOE. What do you call wasting it? MRS. M. Putting it on him to be buried, to be sure! Somebody was fool enough to do it, but I took it off again! If calico ain't good enough for such a purpose, it ain't good enough for anybody! It's quite as becoming to the body! He can't look uglier than he did in that one! SCR. I listen to their words in horror! JOE. There is what I will give you! (_Chalks on wall, then takes out a small bag, and tells them out their money._) MRS. M. Ha, ha! This is the end of it, you see--he frightened every one away from him when he was alive, to profit us when he was dead--ha, ha, ha! (_All laugh._) SCR. (_Shuddering._) Spirit, I see--I see! The case of this unhappy man might be my own--my life tends that way now. Let us be gone. (_The SPIRIT points onward. The Scene changes._) SCENE IV.--_A chamber. Curtain drawn over recess. The SPIRIT points to it--then approaches it, followed by SCROOGE trembling. The curtain is withdrawn--a bed is seen--a pale, light shows a figure, covered with a sheet upon it._