Gilbert did not lose sight of the little flower-girl whom he had befriended. Even when his fortunes were at the lowest, he never failed to buy a bouquet of her daily. More than this he did not feel able to do then. But as soon as he obtained the position of Fred’s teacher, he again visited Mr. Talbot in his poor lodgings, and gave him more substantial assistance. The sick man improved steadily in health and spirits. It did him great good to feel that he had a friend, though that friend was only a boy, dependent on his earnings for support.

On the day after he had heard of Mr. Briggs’ return from Europe, Gilbert made a hurried call during his dinner-hour.

“How are you to-day, Mr. Talbot?” he asked.

329“I am better,” said the sick man. “I hope I shall soon be well enough to go to work again.”

“I think you will,” said Gilbert, cheerfully. “I must try to see what I can find for you to do, among my business friends.”

“Thank you; do you know many business men?”

“No,” answered Gilbert. “I wonder,” he said, half to himself, “whether my guardian couldn’t give you work.”

“Your guardian!” repeated Mr. Talbot, in surprise.

“Yes,” said Gilbert, smiling; “but you mustn’t think because I have a guardian that I have any property.”

“Who is your guardian?”

“Mr. Richard Briggs, a New York merchant. He only got home from Europe yesterday.”

“Richard Briggs!” exclaimed the sick man in evident excitement.

“Yes; do you know anything of him?”

“His name is very familiar to me. Tell me, are 330you the son of James Greyson, formerly a merchant in the West Indies?”

It was Gilbert’s turn to be excited.

“My father died in the West Indies,” he answered; “but I know very little of him. Did you know him, Mr. Talbot?”

“I ought to know him. I was his book-keeper up to the time of his death.”

“Is it possible?” ejaculated Gilbert. “How glad I am to meet you! I know nothing of my father except what Mr. Briggs has told me.”

“One thing I do not understand,” continued the sick man. “You say you have no property; but this cannot be. Your father left seventy-five thousand dollars.”

“Seventy-five thousand dollars! Are you sure, Mr. Talbot?”

“No one can be surer. I knew all about your father’s business and the extent of his property.”

“Was this money entrusted to my guardian?” asked Gilbert, quickly.

“It was. Your father and Richard Briggs were 331schoolmates, so I have heard him say; and he felt sufficient confidence in him to confide you to his care.”

It is not a pleasant moment when for the first time we are led to suspect those in whom we have confided; and important and welcome as the intelligence otherwise was, Gilbert felt sober at the treachery of Mr. Briggs. The latter, as we have seen, had been kinder to him than his wife or son, and Gilbert had felt grateful. Even now he could not rid himself of a certain feeling of kindness to his guardian, false as he had been to his trust.

“I am sorry to hear this,” he said, gravely.

“Sorry to hear that your father left you a fortune?”

“I don’t mean that. I am sorry that my guardian has been wicked enough to attempt to cheat me out of it.”

“What sort of a man is Mr. Briggs?”

“At first I was not prepossessed in his favor; but he improved on acquaintance. When his wife and son spoke against me, he always took my part. When 332I was charged with dishonesty, he refused to believe it.”

“I think it quite possible that he is a naturally kind-hearted man,” said the sick man; “but human nature is sometimes inconsistent. I think it may have been in a moment of embarrassment that he appropriated your fortune. If he has since prospered, it may be possible for you to recover it.”

“Are you sure it was as much as seventy-five thousan............