`` I am tired to death of living in this cold , dark , windy , smoky , creaking , groaning , dismal old house . I shall feel like a younger man when we get into my splendid brick mansion , as , please Heaven , we shall by this time next autumn . You shall have a room on the sunny side , old Tabby , finished and furnished as best may suit your own notions . '' `` I should like it pretty much such a room as this kitchen , '' answered Tabitha . `` It will never be like home to me till the chimney-corner gets as black with smoke as this , and that wo n't be these hundred years . How much do you mean to lay out on the house , Mr. Peter ? '' `` What is that to the purpose ? '' exclaimed Peter , loftily . `` Did not my great-grand-uncle , Peter Goldthwaite , who died seventy years ago , and whose namesake I am , leave treasure enough to build twenty such ? '' `` I ca n't say but he did , Mr. Peter , '' said Tabitha , threading her needle . Tabitha well understood that Peter had reference to an immense hoard of the precious metals which was said to exist somewhere in the cellar or walls , or under the floors , or in some concealed closet or other out-of-the-way nook of the old house . This wealth , according to tradition , had been accumulated by a former Peter Goldthwaite whose character seems to have borne a remarkable similitude to that of the Peter of our story . Like him , he was a wild projector , seeking to heap up gold by the bushel and the cart-load instead of scraping it together coin by coin . Like Peter the second , too , his projects had almost invariably failed , and , but for the magnificent success of the final one , would have left him with hardly a coat and pair of breeches to his gaunt and grizzled person . Reports were various as to the nature of his fortunate speculation , one intimating that the ancient Peter had made the gold by alchemy ; another , that he had conjured it out of people 's pockets by the black art ; and a third -- still more unaccountable -- that the devil had given him free access to the old provincial treasury . It was affirmed , however , that some secret impediment had debarred him from the enjoyment of his riches , and that he had a motive for concealing them from his heir , or , at any rate , had died without disclosing the place of deposit . The present Peter 's father had faith enough in the story to cause the cellar to be dug over . Peter himself chose to consider the legend as an indisputable truth , and amid his many troubles had this one consolation -- that , should all other resources fail , he might build up his fortunes by tearing his house down . Yet , unless he felt a lurking distrust of the golden tale , it is difficult to account for his permitting the paternal roof to stand so long , since he had never yet seen the moment when his predecessor 's treasure would not have found plenty of room in his own strong-box . But now was the crisis .
Should he delay the search a little longer , the house would pass XXXXX the lineal heir , and with it the vast heap of gold , to remain in its burial-place till the ruin of the aged walls should discover it to strangers of a future generation .
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