"Talking about skeletons, sir," said the footman when Mr. Gramp's jaws were fully occupied, "what about the master's?"
"Ah!" said Gramp profoundly. "What indeed!"
"But whatever it is, it has to do with the West Indies," said the man.
"Lor'!" exclaimed the housemaid, "and how do you know that, Mr. Thomas?"
"From observation, Jane, my dear," Thomas smiled loftily. "A week or two afore master had the fit as took him, I brought in a letter with the West Indy stamp. He turned white as chalk when he saw it, and tore it open afore I could get out of the room. I 'ad to fetch a glass of whisky. He was struck all of a 'eap--gaspin', faintin', and cussin' orful."
"Did he show it to Miss Sophy?" asked Mrs. Crammer.
"Not as I knows of. He kept his business to hisself," replied Thomas.
Gramp was taking in all this with greedy ear's.
"Ha!" he said, "when you took in the letter, might you have looked at the postmark, my friend?"
With an access of color, the footman admitted that he had been curious enough to do so.