Slowly they comprehended that Twitchett was in a condition which, according to a faithful proverb, effectually precluded the telling of tales; then they gazed solemnly into each other’s faces, and each man placed his dexter forefinger upon his lips. Then Boylston Smith whispered:
“Virtue is its own reward—hey, Sam?”
“You bet,” whispered Mr. Baker, in reply. “It’s on the square now, between us?”
“Square as a die,” whispered Boylston.
“When’ll we go for it?” asked Sam Baker.
“Can’t go till after the fun’ril,” virtuously whispered Boylston. “’Twould be mighty ungrateful to go back on the corpse that’s made our fortunes.”
“Fact,” remarked Mr. Baker, holding near the nostrils of Old Twitchett a pocket-mirror he had been polishing on his sleeve. After a few seconds he examined the mirror, and whispered:
“Nary a sign—might’s well tell the boys.”
The announcement of Twitchett’s death was the signal for an animated discussion and considerable betting. How much dust he had washed, and what he had done with it, seeing that he neither drank nor gambled, was the sole theme of discussion. There was no debate on the deceased’s religious evidences—no distribution of black crape—no tearful beating down of the undertaker; these accessories of a civilized deathbed were all scornfully disregarded by the bearded men who had feelingly drank to Twitchett’s good luck in whatever world he had gone to. But when it came to deceased’s gold—his money—the bystanders exhibited an interest which was one of those touches of nature which certifies the universal kinship.
Each man knew all about Twitchett’s money, though no two agreed. He had hid it—he had been unlucky, and had not found much—he had slyly sent it home—he had wasted it by sending it East for lottery tickets which always drew blanks—he had been supporting a benevolent institution. Old Deacon Baggs mildly suggested that perhaps he only washed out such gold as he actually needed to purchase eatables with, but the boys smiled derisively—they didn’t like to laugh at the deacon’s gray hairs, but he was queer.