"You are, or were, in perturbation about half a crown," said he.

"There, sir, is a twenty-pound note, oblige me with nineteen pounds seventeen shillings and sixpence.

Should your resources be unequal to such a demand, meet me at the 'Green Cat and Brown Frogs,' after dinner, when you shall receive your half-crown, and drink another upon the occasion of my sudden accession to unbounded affluence." The postman was staggered by the sentence and overawed by the note, and chose the "Cat and Frogs," and liquid half-crown.
Triplet took his wife down the road and showed her the letter and inclosure.

The letter ran thus: "SIR--We beg respectfully to inform you that our late friend and client, James Triplet, Merchant, of the Minories, died last August, without a will, and that you are his heir.
"His property amounts to about twenty thousand pounds, besides some reversions.

Having possessed the confidence of your late uncle we should feel honored and gratified if you should think us worthy to act professionally for yourself.
"We inclose twenty pounds, and beg you will draw upon us as far as five thousand pounds, should you have immediate occasion.
"We are, sir, "Your humble servants, "JAMES AND JOHN ALLMITT." It was some time before these children of misfortune could realize this enormous stroke of compensation; but at last it worked its way into their spirits, and they began to sing, to triumph, and dance upon the king's highway.
Mrs.Triplet was the first to pause, and take better views.