surely, go to bed at half past ten?"

"I do when I travel. Travel is SO exhausting. Good-night! Don't let
anybody disturb themselves to come with me."

He bowed languidly to the company, and disappeared with a yawn
gracefully disguised into a parting smile.

"Well!" said Cousin Jane, drawing a long breath.

"I don't believe it's your Uncle Sylvester at all!" said Marie
vivaciously. "It's some trick that Gabriel is playing upon us. And he's
not even a good actor--he forgets his part."

"And, then, five trunks for one single man! Heavens! what can he have in
them" said Cousin Emma.

"Perhaps his confederates, to spring out upon us at night, after
everybody's asleep."

"Are you sure you remembered him, papa?" said Kitty sotto voce.

"Certainly. And, my dear child, he knows all the family history as well
as you do; and"--continued her father with a slight laugh that did not,
however, conceal a certain seriousness that was new to him--"I only wish
I understood as much about the property as he does. By the way, Amos,"
he broke off suddenly, turning to the young man, "he seemed to know your
people."

"Most men in the financial world do," said Gunn a little superciliously.