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the two brothers sat at the window a whole day watching for the right
man to give it to.
When they saw me, they agreed that I answered the
requirements to be an honest intelligent and poor stranger; so I was
called in. They began to ask me questions about myself; finally one of
them handed me an envelope and said that 1 must take it to my
lodgings, and look it over carefully. They didn't want to discuss the
matter any more; so I left.
As soon as I was out of sight of that house I opened my
envelope and saw that it contained money I lost not a moment, but
put the letter and the money into my vest pocket and rushed to the
nearest cheap-house. Well, and I did eat! When at last I could't eat
any more, I took out my money and unfolded it, took one glimpse and
nearly fainted. One million pounds! Why, it made my head swim.
The first thing I noticed when I raised my eyes was the
proprietor. His eye was on the note, and he was frozen. He was
worshipping, with all his body and soul, but he looked as if he
couldn't move hand or foot.
"Give me the change, please", I said carelessly.
Then he was back to his normal condition, and made a
thousand apologies for not being able to break the bill. He didn't want
to touch it. He wanted to look at it, but he refused to touch it as if it
were something sacred.
He said; he wanted to let the trifling cost of the meal to stand
over till another time. He could wait, and moreover, I could have
anything I wanted, any time I chose, and let the account run as long
as 1 pleased. He said he wasn't afraid to trust such a rich gentleman,
merely because I was a merry person, and liked to play jokes on the
public being dressed as a pauper. By this time another customer was
entering, and the proprietor hinted to me to put the monster out of
sight; then he bowed me all the way to the door, and I went straight
for the house of those brothers to correct the mistake which had been
made.
The servant, who appeared when I rang at the door, said that
the two gentlemen were gone on a month-long journey.
So I had to go away. What a riddle it all was! I was likely to
lose my mind. Oh, I had forgotten the letter; I got it out and read it.
This is what it said;