The old man had sent John to this cupboard once, when he himself was crippled with rheumatism, to fetch him a bottle of the favourite remedy of the day.

John remembered its inward aspect, with rows of dusty bottles, and on the upper shelf, rows of still more dusty papers.

What could the Skipper see to interest him in the corner cupboard?
Something, certainly! For now he was opening the cupboard, quietly, as if he knew all about it and was looking for something that he knew to be there.
"Ah!" said the Skipper; and he drew a long breath, as of relief.

"True, the words! In the corner of the parlour, a cupboard of three corners, with bottles filled, and over the bottles, papers.

Behold the cupboard, the bottles, the papers! A day of fortunes!" He bent forward, and proceeded to rummage in the depths of the cupboard; but this was too much for John's conscience.