'No. He would have informed me if he had. He did nothing of importance without advising with me. But you may take this as the expression of his last wishes, and I can swear to every word. Jane Marley was present, saw him write, and because she spited me has cleaned out the scribble――all but the beginning. What has your father left?' 'I do not know――except debts.' 'Debts! but there is plenty of money for wiping them out.' Jack shook his head. 'I say there must be.' 'Then where is it?' 'That is just what I supposed you knew. He did not tell me, though we were so intimate.' 'I have no idea as to what he was worth, and where he placed what he had.' 'My dear boy, he never spent one-tenth of what he made. He has been a hoarding man ever since I knew him, close and frugal. On himself he spent nothing.' 'But he never stinted me; and that is how the money went.' 'Fiddlesticks! He ordered you a cutter, that don't cost a trifle.' 'But it is not paid for.' 'He was not the man to order when he had not the money in hand wherewith to pay.' 'There were fifteen pounds in a bag in his pocket,' said Jack; 'I know of no more. That will meet the cost of the funeral, but not leave much over.' Dench went to the window seat, lifted it, and took out a flask of spirits. 'I don't understand. There must be money.' 'To be frank with you,' said Jack, 'I have no faith in money made in the way he has been speculating. It may come in freely, but it runs out again as freely. It is drawing water in a leaky bucket. I have heard Mrs. Marley say that her father died as poor as a rat, and he had been in the business since he was a boy of fifteen. It has been the same with my father.' 'But you have heard him boast that he intended to make a gentleman of you.' 'Yes, precisely because, like a gambler, he reckoned on his next throw being successful.' 'He has spent a lot of money on your education.' 'Yes, and he has ventured a lot of money in the trade――of late he has not been able to realise. The look-out has been so sharp that he has had no returns. You know how this last affair has ended.' 'Nothing has been confiscated.' 'No――but nothing has been sold.' 'I am not satisfied. On the whole he has been a lucky man, and, by the foot of Pharaoh, a man like him is not ruined by a bad job. Let us look round. If we find anything, you know what was his last desire, that you should intrust it to me――make me your banker. You see this slate? He was vastly against you keeping it yourself. He knew how thoughtless and wasteful young men are.' 'We will talk of the disposal of the money when we have found it,' said Jack. 'I will go round with you, and we will search, but I have formed no very great expectations, so shall not be downcast if we find nothing.' Every candle was lighted, and Jack and Olver thoroughly explored the house together. This was now the third time it had been searched; but on this occasion the ferryman was not hurried. He had the whole night before him.