“I don’t care about the journey. Tell me more about the fortune. Who will leave it to me? Not my father, I hope.”
“Nay, no near relative.”
“That’s good; I don’t want my people to die. Well, anything more, Mister Hermit?”
“Beware of a dark lady——”
“Now I know you’re the real thing!” and Patty laughed merrily. “I’ve been waiting for the ‘dark lady’ and the ‘light-complected gentleman’ who always figure in fortunes. Well, what about the dark lady?”
“If the pretty miss makes the fun, there is no more fortune for her,” said the hermit, sulkily.
“I don’t mind, so long as you don’t take the money away.”
“Tell mine, then,” said Channing, as Patty resigned her place.
“You, sir, are an acrobat. You were employed in the Big Circus, the Hop—Hippodrome. When they discharged you, it was but temporary. Do not fear, you will regain your position there.”
“Why, you old wiz! How did you know that!” and Channing stared in pretended amazement; “I thought that episode in my career was a dead secret!”