“What shall we do with it?” asked the more practical Sinclair. “I mean, just at present. We must take care of it, at once, you know. We can’t leave it long like this.”
“There’s the old Spanish chest,” said Mrs. Hartley, indicating a good-sized affair that stood nearby. “Put it in that.”
“Just the thing,” said Bob. “Lend a hand, Clair.”
It was a strange proceeding. The old coins, many of them still bright, though of far back dates; represented a great deal of money. How much, they could not guess as yet, but it was surely a large sum. Also there were Bank of England notes, folded small that they might be pushed through the openings in the carved oak, and well-preserved, as the pocket had been carefully made damp-proof.
The boys took the money out in double handfuls and deposited it in the old Spanish chest.
“It will be quite safe there until to-morrow,” said Mrs. Hartley, “and then we must get it to the bank. But as no one yet knows of our discovery, there can be no danger of its being stolen to-night.”
“What ever made Uncle Marmaduke choose this way of concealing his fortune?” asked Bob, as he kept on transferring the money from its hiding-place to the chest.
“He had a fear of banks or investments,” said Mrs. Cromarty. “I’ve often heard him say he wouldn’t trust any of them. He said he’d rather be sure of his principal, and go without his interest.”
“Crickets!” said Bob, “if all this had been out at interest for forty years, think how it would have increased!”
“Yes,” said his mother, “but in that case it would not have been hidden, and before now, it might have all been spent.”