Then Claudius applied himself to rearranging the contents of his box; and the Duke walked up and down the room, glancing from time to time at the Doctor.

He stopped suddenly in his walk.
"But--goodness gracious! why have you kept this a secret ?" he asked, as if suddenly recollecting himself.
"My mother," said Claudius, "was too proud to come forward and claim what my father, but for his untimely death, would have given her in a few months.

As for me, I have been contented in my life, and would have been unwilling to cause pain to any one by claiming my rights.

My mother died when I was a mere child, and left these papers sealed, directing me not to open them until I should be twenty-one years old.

And so when I opened them, I made up my mind to do nothing about it." "It is not easy to understand you, Claudius; but I will swear to anything you like." "Thank you; I am very grateful." "Do not speak of that.