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"Yes, and he always wanted it. I remember when father first gave

it to me and I was working out little problems in astronomy, Nat

used to take the thing and handle it and admire it. You see the

back and edges are silver-plated and it is really quite valuable.

He tried to get his father interested, but, so far as I know,

never succeeded.

"It was a strange thing, but that simple mirror appealed to Nat

tremendously, and you know how that would act on a man of his

nature. He is and always has been utterly selfish, and if there

was any object he wanted and could not have it increased his

desire."

"But how did he get it, I wonder?" asked the girl, taking the

object and heliographing the bright sun's rays from the polished

surface. "When did you have it last?"