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Gilbert had died insane and in abject poverty at the charity hospital of the
Hotel Dieu in Paris； and compared his miserable end with that of
Chatteron； it seems likely that Vigny； whose book appeared while Susan
Fenimore Cooper was studying in Paris； was her source for this reference
to Gilbert。 In fact； Gilbert was not impoverished； and died of injuries after
falling from his horse｝
〃Better； Hopkinsdoing well。 But what have you here？ I never see old
papers but I have an inclination to look them over。 If a man has leisure； he
may often pick up something amusing among such rubbish。 Don't you
ever read the papers that pass through your hands？〃
〃No； sirI 'as no time for that； sir。 And then I was never taught to read
writing； and these 'ere papers is all written ones。 We puts them that's
written for one trunk； and them that's printed for another； as you see； sir；
one must have a heye to the looks of the work。〃
〃Why yesyou seem to manage the job very well； and I have a trunk；
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by the bye； that wants patching up before my boy carries it off with him；
I'll send it round to you； Hopkins。 But staywhat's this？〃 and the doctor
took up a soiled； yellow sheet of paper； from the heap rejected by the
workman； it contained a scrawl which proved to be the identical letter of
the poor poet； the Lumley autograph； though in what manner it became
mingled with that heap of rubbish has never been satisfactorily
ascertained。
〃Here's a poor fellow who had a hard fate； Hopkins；〃 said the
benevolent man； thoughtfully。 〃It is as good as a sermon on charity to read
that letter。〃
The trunk…maker begged to hear it。
〃Well； poor journeyman as I be； I was never yet in so bad a way as that；
sir。〃
〃And never will be； I hope； but this was a poet； Hopkinsand that's but
an indifferent trade to live by。 I'll tell you what； my good friend；〃 said the
doctor； suddenly； 〃that letter is worth keeping； and you may paste it in the
trunk I'll send round this afternoonput it in the lid； where it can be read。〃
The trunk was sent； and the letter actually pasted in it as part of the
new lining。 Dr。 H…； who； as we have observed； was rather eccentric in
his ways； had a son about to commence his career as a soldier； and the
worthy man thought the letter might teach the youth a useful lesson of
moderation and temperance； by showing him every time he opened his
trunk； the extreme of want to which his fellow beings were occasionally
reduced。 What success followed the plan we cannot say。 The trunk；
however； shared the young soldier's wandering life； it carried the cornet's
uniform to America； it was besieged in Boston； and it made part of the
besieging baggage at Charleston。 It was not destined； however； to remain
in the new world； but followed its owner to the East Indies； carrying on
this second voyage； a lieutenant's commission。 At length； after passing
five…and…twenty years in Bengal； the trunk returned again to Southampton；
as one among some dozen others which made up the baggage of the
gallant Colonel H…； now rich in laurels and rupees。 The old trunk had
even the honorable duty assigned it of carrying its master's trophies；
doubtless the most precious portion of the colonel's possessions； though at
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the same time the lightest； as for the rupees； the old worn…out box would
have proved quite unequal to transporting a single bag of them； for it was
now sadly unfit for service； thanks to the ravages of time and the white
ants； and； indeed； owed its preservation and return to its native soil solely
to the letter pasted in the lid； which； in the eyes of Colonel H…； was a
memento of home； and the eccentric character of a deceased parent。
｛cornet = the lowest officer rank in a British cavalry regiment； below
that of Lieutenant； now obsolete｝
The time had now come； however； when the Lumley autograph was
about to emerge forever from obscurity； and receive the full homage of
collectors； the hour of triumph was at hand； the neglect of a century was to
be fully repaid by the highest honors of fame。 The eye of beauty was about
to kindle as it rested on the Lumley autograph； jeweled fingers were to be
raised； eager to snatch the treasure from each other； busy literati stood
ready armed for a war of controversy in its behalf。
It happened that Colonel H… was invited to a fancy ball； and it also
happened that the lady whom he particularly admired； was to be present
on the occasion。 Such being the case； the most becoming costume was to
be selected for the evening。 What if the locks of the gallant colonel were
slightly sprinkled with gray？ He was still a handsome man； and knew very
well that the dress of an eastern aymeer was particularly well suited to his
face and figure。 This dress； preserved in a certain old trunk in the garret；
was accordingly produced。 The trunk was brought down to the dressing…
room； the costume examined piece by piece； pronounced in good
condition by the valet； and declared very becoming by the military friend
called in as counsellor。
｛aymeer = Emir； a Muslim title signifying commander in Arabic｝
〃But what a queer old box this is； H…；〃 said Major D…； eyeing the
trunk through his glass。
〃It's one I've had these hundred years；〃 replied the colonel。 〃So you
think this trumpery will do； D…？〃
〃Do？ To be sure it will； my dear fellowit gives your Milesian skin the
true Nawaub dye。 But I was just trying to make out an old letter pasted in
the lid of your trunk； under my nose here。 Is this the way you preserve
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your family archives？〃
｛Milesian = slang term for Irish； from Milesius； mythical Spanish
conqueror of Ireland； Nawaub = from Nabob； Anglo…Indian slang for one
who has returned home from India with a large fortune｝
〃That letter is really a curiosity in its way；〃 said the colonel； turning
from the glass and relating its history； so far at least as it was known to
himself。
His friend spelt it through。