But what was his surprise, when the little man, amid endless capers and gesticulations, informed him with an air of mystery, that it was anything but lost; that his arrears of rent had been paid for him; and that by the bounty of the upper powers, a fresh piece of coin would be forthcoming every month! In vain Philammon demanded to know who was his benefactor.

Eudaimon resolutely kept the secret and imprecated a whole Tartarus of unnecessary curses on his wife if she allowed her female garrulity--though the poor creature seemed never to open her lips from morning till night--to betray so great a mystery.
Who was the unknown friend?
There was but one person who could have done it....

And yet he dared not--the thought was too delightful--think it was she.

It must have been her father.

The old man had asked him more than once about the state of his purse.