"Ah!"

     He emptied his glass, got up, and stood at the side of the fire, with his heavy brown hand on the mantel-shelf. He put a foot up to the bars, to dry and warm it, and the wet boot began to steam; but, he neither looked at it, nor at the fire, but steadily looked at me. It was only now that I began to tremble.

     When my lips had parted, and had shaped some words that were without sound, I forced myself to tell him (though I could not do it distinctly), that I had been chosen to succeed to some property.

     "Might a mere warmint ask what property?" said he.

     I faltered, "I don't know."

     "Might a mere warmint ask whose property?" said he.

     I faltered again, "I don't know."

     "Could I make a guess, I wonder," said the Convict, "at your income since you come of age! As to the first figure now. Five?"

     With my heart beating like a heavy hammer of disordered action, I rose out of my chair, and stood with my hand upon the back of it, looking wildly at him.