"And you think that Seth Upham—"
He interrupted me with a Latin phrase—"De mortuis nil nisi bonum."
My poor uncle!
"You four," said Arnold thoughtfully, "will need money before you once more reach Topham."
"But of course you are coming too," I cried.
"No, I fear that I should not be content to live always in Topham."
Taken aback by his words, I stared at him with an amazement that was utterly incredulous.
"You are not coming back with us?"
"No." Arnold smiled kindly and perhaps a little sadly.
Unbuckling a belt that he had worn since I first knew him, he drew it off and opened it, and I saw to my further amazement that it was full of gold coins. "This," said he, "will go far to pay your expenses."