The old man chuckled and said:
"You are here to rob me, I suppose; but, Mr. Burglar, there is nothing left for you. The scoundrels who came here before took everything—yes, everything."
"I did not come here to rob—I came here to aid you."
"To aid me?"
"Yes."
"I don't need aid; if I do there is aid at hand."
"You don't understand me."
"Well, let me understand you."
"I came here as your friend."
The old man chuckled again, and said: