"Captain John would have been more likely to have foreign gold; but why should he hide it in his brother's fireplace?
At any rate, to whichever of them I am indebted for it, I am most profoundly grateful.

If ever I meet him in any world, I'll thank him." Suddenly the thought occurred to Mercy, "Perhaps old Mrs.Jacobs is dead.
Then there would be nobody who had any right to the money.

But no: Stephen would have told me if she had been." Still she clung to this straw of a hope; and, when she sat down to write to Stephen, these words came first to her pen:-- "Is Mrs.Jacobs dead, Stephen?
You do not say any thing about her; but I cannot imagine your thinking for a moment of keeping that money for yourself, unless she is dead.

If she is alive, the money is hers.

Nobody but her husband or his brother could have put it there.