Mr. Bunker looked relieved.

"Because, you see, I know now what you got."

Mr. Bunker turned very pale.

"What do you know?"

"I know exactly what you got when I was taken away."

Mr. Bunker said nothing; yet there was in his eyes a look as if a critical moment long expected had at last arrived, and he waited.

"When my mother died and you became my guardian, I was not left penniless."

"It's a lie—you were."

"If I had been, you would have handed me over to your brother-in-law, Coppin, the builder; but I had property."

"You had nothing."