k at Scheffer, that penetrated like fire to the
heart of the man.

'There,' said he, 'that's my pet. That's the Rachel of this Jacob. Look
close, and see what you'll do with it, supposing you turn lockpick some
day.'

It was a veritable lock. He drew out a chain of keys, a hundred of
them.

'Now,' said he, in a low voice, 'you may ransack the town, as I've done,
and get all your keys together. I want to see if you can find one, or
contrive one with any locksmith's help, that will fit into that lock.
I'll give you a month to try it. I'd give another man six. But you'll do
the work of six in a sixth of the time. It's a lock on a new principle,
and the principle is mine, because I applied it first. Eh? Hang it! If I
had the money I wouldn't be so beggarly poor as I am. But I've had to
beg and borrow, and almost steal, to get these things, that were in my
brain, into a decent shape, as you see them. When I get started,
Scheffer, you shall inspect all my inventions.'

'Then you are started,' said August. 'Don't say that again, I'd mortgage
my stock but you should have what you need to help you. Have you any
tools to work with, my son?'

'Oh, yes; that is, my neighbor has. He keeps a carpenter's shop, you
know. I'm a capital hand at borrowing.'

'Have you got a room at home where you can work?'

'Acres of room! You've seen the house.'

'I've walked past it sometimes,' answered Scheffer, with a smile.

'Well, it isn't such a mite of a place as you'd think. There's room
enough.'

'It looks pretty and snug. I have often admired those flower beds; the
place don't look much like others in the same row: one might know that.
Paul, I've seen the time when I'd thought the man who offered me help
was an angel. I'm older than you are. Of course you must experiment, and
where's the merit of carrying plans about in your head a dozen years,
waiting a chance to prove whether they're worth anything or not? Tell me
now, do you want any money?'

'No,' Paul answered quickly, yet with inward hesitation. 'I'll come to
you, though,' he added, 'when I do. I'll let you know the very day. But
I I have something to study out yet. I'm going to get patents, you
know.'

VI.

Paul returned home, and in a musing mood seated himself under the
grapevine that grew on the brick wall in the rear of the cottage, the
sole ornament and pride of the narrow yard. He may have been here an
hour, when he heard strange noises in the house, then a hea