shelves. In this volume he shut the document, whatever it was, which he
had just taken out of the bundle, and placed the book in a very silent
and as it were stealthy way back in its place. He then gave a look at
each of the other papers, and said to his partner: "Old bills, old
leases, and insurance policies that have run out. Malachi seems to have
kept every scrap of paper that had a signature to it."

"That 's the way with the old misers, always," said Mr. Penhallow.

Byles Gridley had got through reading the document he held,--or
pretending to read it. He took off his spectacles.

"We all grow timid and cautious as we get old, Mr. Penhallow." Then
turning round to the young man, he slowly repeated the lines,

"'Multa senem circumveniunt incommoda, vel quod
Quaerit et inventis miser abstinet, ac timet uti;
Vel quod res omnes timide, gelideque ministrat'

"You remember the passage, Mr. Bradshaw?"

While he was reciting these words from Horace, which he spoke slowly as
if he relished every syllable, he kept his eyes on the young man
steadily, but with out betraying any suspicion. His old habits as a
teacher made that easy.

Murray Bradshaw's face was calm as usual, but there was a flush on his
cheek, and Master Gridley saw the slight but unequivocal signs of
excitement.