The strong box was divided into compartments. One, and the largest, was filled with rouleaux of coin, packed as closely as possible. The others contained jewels, set and unset--diamonds, emeralds, rubies, sapphires--which flashed back the flickering flame of the candle with glintings of rainbow light. 'These are all for her--all--all,' exclaimed the old man. 'They are worth a prince's ransom. Those rouleaux are all gold; those gems are priceless. They were the dowry of a princess. But they are hers now--yes, my dear, they are yours--because you spoke sweetly, and smiled prettily, and were very good to a lonely old man--and because you have my mother's face, dear, a smile that recalls the days of my youth. Lift out the box and take it away with you, if you are strong enough,--you, you,' he said, touching Lord Hartfield. 'Hide it somewhere--keep it from _her_. Let no one know--no one except your wife and you must be in the secret.' 'My dear sir, it is out of the question--impossible that my wife or I should accept one of those coins--or the smallest of those jewels.' 'Why not, in the devil's name?' 'First and foremost, we do not know how you came in possession of them; secondly, we do not know who you are.' 'They came to me fairly enough--bequeathed to me by one who had the right to leave them. Would you have had all that gold left for an adventurer to wallow in?' 'You must keep your treasure, sir, however it may have come to you,' answered Lord Hartfield firmly. 'My wife cannot take upon herself the burden of a single gold coin--least of all from a stranger. Remember, sir, to us your possession of this wealth--nay, your whole existence--is a mystery.' 'You want to know who I am?' said the old man drawing himself up, with a sudden _hauteur_ which was not without dignity, despite his shrunken form and grotesque appearence. 'Well, sir. I am----' He checked himself abruptly, and looked round the room with a scared expression. 'No, no, no,' he muttered; 'caution, caution! They have not done with me yet; she warned me--they are lying in wait; I mustn't walk into their trap.' And then turning to Lord Hartfield, he said, haughtily, 'I shall not condescend to tell you who I am, sir. You must know that I am a gentleman, and that is enough for you. There is my gift to your wife'--pointing to the chest--'take it or leave it.' 'I shall leave it, sir, with all due respect.' A frightful change came over the old man's face at this determined refusal. His eyes glowered at Lord Hartfield under the heavy scowling brows; his bloodless lips worked convulsively. 'Do you take me for a thief?' he exclaimed. 'Are you afraid to touch my gold--that gold for which men and women sell their souls, blast their lives with shame, and pain, and dishonour, all the world over? Do you stand aloof from it--refuse to touch it, as if it were infected? And you, too, girl! Have you no sense? Are you an idiot?'