in that moment I saw that he thought me a fool and an idiot. He
went away, and I saw him no more. Yet I still hoped. I dreamed of
their joy at finding me, and the reward that my wealth would give
them. Perhaps I was a little weak still, perhaps a little flighty,
too, at times; but I was quite happy that year, even in my
disappointment, for I had still hope!"

He paused, and again composed his face with his paralyzed hand; but
his manner had become less excited, and his voice was stronger.

"A change must have come over me the second year, for I only
dreaded their coming now and finding me so altered. A horrible
idea that they might, like the student, believe me crazy if I spoke
of my fortune made me pray to God that they might not reach me
until after I had regained my health and strength--and found my
fortune. When the third year found me still there--I no longer
prayed for them--I cursed them! I swore to myself that they should
never enjoy my wealth; but I wanted to live, and let them know I
had it. I found myself getting stronger; but as I had no money, no
friends, and nowhere to go, I concealed my real condition from the
doctors, except to give them my name, and to try to get some little
work to do to enable me to leave the hospital and seek my lost
treasure. One day I found out by accident that it had been
discovered! You understand--my treasure!--that had cost me years
of labor and my reason; had left me a helpless, forgotten pauper.
That gold I had never enjoyed had been found and taken possession
of by another!"

He checked an exclamation from Mulrady with his hand. "They say
they picked me up senseless from the floor, where I must have