"Not to the priests," continued Augustus, and as a pause followed,
Valentine felt impelled to reply.
"No," he said, "they belonged to his family, no doubt, if they had
chosen to pick them up."
"Ah, that is what I suppose. If his father, poor wretch, or perhaps his
miserable mother, had gone into the temple that day, it would have been
a strange sight, surely, to see her gather them up."
"Yes," said Valentine faintly. The shadow of something too remote to
make its substance visible appeared to fall over him then, causing him a
vague wonder and awe, and revulsion of feeling. He knew not whether this
old man was taking leave of sober daylight reason, or whether some fresh
sense of the worthlessness of earthly wealth, more especially ill-gotten
wealth, had come to him from a sudden remembrance of this silver--or----
He tried gently to lead his thoughts away from what seemed to be
troubling him, for his head turned restlessly on the pillow.
"You have no need to think of that," he said kindly and quietly, "for as
you have just been saying, John will inherit nothing but well-earned
property.
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