I have only a word or two to add. I am afraid to declare what that box of gold realized. The sum, anyhow, was so large as to enrich us all. A great part of its treasures was distributed into the cabinets of collectors, the beautiful chalice finding its way, I believe, at an immense figure, into the museum of a famous cardinal and virtuoso in Rome. From the total proceeds Joshua handsomely presented to Harry the equivalent of a comfortable income, which was the means of helping my dear friend to the very satisfactory position to which he attained a few years later in London. For me he held the residue nominally in trust till I was come of age, when he proposed to establish himself and Uncle Jenico as pensioners on my bounty. The question was one merely of terms. We made, in fact, our common home together until the end, even after I had so far neglected Mr. Quayle’s advice as to bother my head very much indeed about one girl, and to wive her into the bargain.
We had left Dunberry soon after the events narrated above, taking Mrs. Puddephatt with us for housekeeper, and not forgetting Fancy-Maria. For some time, I understand, after our departure, the famous crypts were a gazing-stock, attracting so many visitors that in the end Mr. Sant’s dearest wish was realized, and a popular watering-place established on the foundations of the old smugglers’ haunt. But long before that the vaults had been closed, as unsafe, by councillors’ authority; and at this day only a deep depression in the soil above denotes the spot under which the tragedy of Abel Pilbrow was enacted.
So the old order changes—all, that is to say, but Uncle Jenico, who is engaged at this moment, very bent and white, in demonstrating to my little boy the method of his latest machine for solving the riddle of perpetual motion.
THE END
TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES.
Minor spelling inconsistencies (e.g. drowzily/drowsily, schoolhouse/school-house, barn-door/barn door, etc.) have been preserved.
Alterations to the text:
Assorted punctuation corrections.
[Part I/Chapter I]
Change “mamma said we must restrench, and cried” to retrench.