Remember; he is but my servant; thee'rt my son--my only son." Alas! my poor father, it was hard enough for him to have such an "only son" as I.
In the middle of the night--or else to me, lying awake, it seemed so--there was a knocking at our hall door.

I slept on the ground flat, in a little room opposite the parlour.

Ere I could well collect my thoughts, I saw my father pass, fully dressed, with a light in his hand.

And, man of peace though he was, I was very sure I saw in the other--something which always lay near his strong box, at his bed's head at night.

Because ten years ago a large sum had been stolen from him, and the burglar had gone free of punishment.