"A million of money!" muttered the old bailiff; "if he had half as much as that he would never think of shutting himself up in an out-of-the-way village like this."
"If he had twice as much," said old father Nicholas, with an air of irony, "he would not have it long, if he is anything like what he used to be. Ah, I remember him well: I was at school with him, and if ever there was a spendthrift in the world, one who did not even seem to know there was such a word as 'save,' believe me, he is the man."
In short, every one had something to say on the subject, in spite of the fact that no one knew anything about it; and after a great deal had been said, they came to the conclusion that there was nothing for it but to wait and see what would happen.
While all this was going on in the village, the captain had sent down to the inn at Aurbach, where he had left his luggage, and ordered it to be sent to Dornbach, to his new house, which the bailiff had put into good repair for him. He had also borrowed some necessary furniture from his good friend the pastor, until he could get some of his own from the neighbouring town. When the cart arrived with his boxes and portmanteaus in it, the curiosity of the villagers received a fresh impetus. "What can he have in that strong-looking box?" said one. "If it were money, two men could could never carry it. And look what a number of packages besides! I can't think what a single man can want with so much luggage."
"How do you know he is single?" answered another: "he may, for all we know, have a wife and family, who will come down here when his house is ready for them."
"Well, well, perhaps that is it," said a third, who stood opposite; "we must wait and see."
Willie and his sister Mary were quite as curious as any one else, and kept asking their papa what all those boxes contained. "I really do not know," was his answer; "perhaps when he has unpacked them he will show you some day, if you are good children."
The captain soon set to work unpacking, but for more than a week he did not ask any of his friends to go and look at his treasures. Even the old servant whom he had engaged was not allowed to go into the room where most of his boxes were, so that for a time every one's curiosity remained unsatisfied. As it was only a few steps through his garden (which joined that of the pastor) to the parsonage, he had made arrangements with the pastor's wife to dine with them regularly, so that he might not be troubled with the duties of housekeeping.
CHAPTER III.
Invitation to Tea—Negroes—Curiosities—The Fable of the Grasshopper and the Ant—The Explanation.