"'I did come!' he replied.
"'Yes--but you stopped outside. Why didn't you come inside?'
"'Because the house was empty!'
"'That's all you know.'
"'Yes,' repeated Ballingall, 'that's all I do know.'
"'There's my fortune in that house!'
"'Your fortune?'
"'Yes my fortune; all of it. I brought it home, and hid it away--after Lily went.'
"Lily was his wife's name. He spoke of her with a sort of gasp. Ballingall felt as if he had been struck.
"'What's your fortune to do with me?'