'Just so. Whenever Sam knew that he had a sum of money, he laid
hands on it. Nothing was safe from him that Mr. Axworthy had in the
Whitford Bank.'

'That can be proved from the accounts?'

'You recollect the little parlour between the office and my uncle's
sitting-room? There I used to sit in the evening, and to feel,
rather than hear, the way Sam used to bully the poor old man. Once--
a fortnight ago, just after that talk with Aubrey--I knew he had been
drinking, and watched, and came in upon them when there was no
bearing it any longer. I was sworn at for my pains, and almost
kicked out again; but after that Mr. Axworthy made me sit in the
room, as if I were a protection; and I made up my mind to bear it as
long as he lived.'

'Surely the servants would bear witness to this state of things?'

'I think not. Their rooms are too far off for overhearing, and my
uncle saw as little of them as possible. Mrs. Giles was Sam's nurse,
and cares for him more than any other creature; she would not say a
word against him even if she knew anything; and my uncle would never
have complained. He was fond of Sam to the last, proud of his
steeple-chases and his cleverness, and desperately afraid of him; in
a sort of bondage, entirely past daring to speak.'

'I know,' said Dr. May, remembering how his own Tom had been fettered
and tongue-tied by that same tyrant in boyhood. 'But he spoke to
you?'