Shock number one. There were twenty five pound notes. No more, and no less!
CHAPTER XVI
"ALL THAT GLITTERS IS NOT GOLD!"
One hundred pounds!
A nice little sum in itself, but not one that would tempt a man to imperil his life in as many ways as it contained notes! Surely the old man had not brought me all this distance to give me one hundred pounds at the end of it? The letter would prove to be an order upon his bankers for the bulk of his fortune. The hundred was intended to cover my expenses home to England.
In so far as concerned the hundred pounds my surmise was correct enough. But the letter was not a bank order. It was a very original document, and I purpose giving it in extenso. Here it is:—
"THE PRIZE TO THE SWIFT.
"To my Heir: a message from the tomb.
"MY DEAR HEIR,—If ever you read these words it must happen after my death, because I shall take care that no man handles my money until I am in my grave. That is why I call this a message from the tomb. The dead can gain nothing by lying; therefore I give you no other assurance that what I have to say is the absolute truth.
"You have done well to come so far, whichever of my potential heirs you may be. My treasure is not here, neither are your journeys at an end.