y:'

'Several times I was disturbed in my occupation, to look round to
inquire the cause of a crash, every now and then, like the
breaking of glass; and at length I caught a glimpse of Reymes,
slyly jerking a pebble, under his arm, through one of the windows.
I recollected twice, in walking home with him, late at night, from
the theatre, his quietly taking a brick-bat from out of his
coat-pocket and deliberately smashing it through the casement of
the Town Hall, and walking on and continuing his conversation as
if nothing had happened. Crack! again. I began to suspect an
abberration of intellect, and said:

''Reymes, for heaven's sake what are you doing?'

''Showing my gratitude,' said he; and crack! went another.

''Showing the devil!' said I; 'you're breaking the church
windows.'

''Why, I know it--certainly; what do you stare at?' said the
eccentric. 'I broke nearly every pane three weeks ago; I couldn't
hit them all. After you have broken a good many, the stones are
apt to go through the holes you've already made. They only
finished mending them the day before yesterday; I came out and
asked the men when they were likely to get done;' and clatter!
clatter! went another.

''That's excellent!' said he, in great glee. 'I hit the frame just
in the right place; I knocked out two large ones that time.'

''Reymes,' said I, with temper, 'if you don't desist, I must leave
off my drawing.'

''Well,' said he, 'only this one,' and crack! it went; 'there!
I've done. Since it annoys you, I'll come by myself to-morrow and
finish the job; it's the only means in my power of proving my
gratitude.'

''Proving your folly,' said I. 'Why, Reymes, you must be out of
your senses.'

''Why, did I never tell you?' said he. 'Oh! then I don't wonder at
your surprise. I thought I had told you. I had an uncle, a
glazier, who died, and left me twenty pounds, and this
mourning-ring; and I therefore have made it a rule to break the
windows of all public places ever since. The loss is not worth
speaking of to the parish, and puts a nice bit of money in the
pocket of some poor dealer in putty, with probably a large family
to support. And now I've explained, I presume you have no
objection to my proceeding in paying what I consider a debt of
gratitude due to my dead uncle.'