It isn't even down on paper.

It's worth any amount of money." "'Any amount ?'" Alice said, remaining incredulous.

"Why hasn't papa sold it then ?" "Just because he's too stubborn to do anything with it at all!" "How did papa get it ?" "He got it before you were born, just after we were married.

I didn't think much about it then: it wasn't till you were growing up and I saw how much we needed money that I----" "Yes, but how did papa get it ?" Alice began to feel a little more curious about this possible buried treasure.

"Did he invent it ?" "Partly," Mrs.Adams said, looking somewhat preoccupied.