The paper had come off the bottom of the wall and hung there in tatters.

He began stuffing all the things into the hole under the paper: "They're in! All out of sight, and the purse too!" he thought gleefully, getting up and gazing blankly at the hole which bulged out more than ever.

Suddenly he shuddered all over with horror; "My God!" he whispered in despair: "what's the matter with me?
Is that hidden?
Is that the way to hide things ?" He had not reckoned on having trinkets to hide.

He had only thought of money, and so had not prepared a hiding-place.
"But now, now, what am I glad of ?" he thought, "Is that hiding things?
My reason's deserting me--simply!" He sat down on the sofa in exhaustion and was at once shaken by another unbearable fit of shivering.

Mechanically he drew from a chair beside him his old student's winter coat, which was still warm though almost in rags, covered himself up with it and once more sank into drowsiness and delirium.