Far from wasting away. Spike was the equivalent of at least two boys
combined in one body. He had plenty to live on, should there be a famine.
Miss Huddy chattered away about the Boer war, and how many mice she'd seen
on the verandah, and whether some aunt or other was good at singing when
she was five...

Spike ate as much as he could and stood up.

"Well" he said, "I'd better collect a few of those things and get going.
Thanks for the food."

Miss Huddy followed him to the room. By the time she got there Spike had
already made one trip out of the house. He'd taken a bronze statue of a
horse and dropped it in the back seat. He nearly skipped with joy as he
came back down the hall. That was worth at least ten thousand.

His second trip to the car he took an ornate clock, with gold face and
sides, all attached to a polished marble plinth. It was very heavy. He
came back puffing, and looked about greedily for a third object to take.

"What about these paintings?" suggested Miss Huddy, "I've never really
liked them. And now I can't see them! It makes me giddy when I tilt my
head backwards!"

She steadied herself against the piano and stroked one of her cats.

"I'll just take three of them," said Spike, "I can always come back next
week for some more!"

"Oh good idea" agreed Miss Huddy, "What a fine lad you are."

Spike laughed inwardly at the complement. "If only she knew." he thought.

When the three large paintings were stacked in the back seat of the car.
Spike got into the driver's seat and smiled. Miss Huddy came over and
kissed him again.

"Dear child," she said, "You don't know what your visit has meant to me.
I've never had so much fun in years!"

Spike took it as a complement and thanked her. He waved cheerily as he put
the car into gear and drove slowly down the long, curving driveway.

"Never had so much fun!" he thought, "No, neither have I!"

He looked ruefully at the acres of wild garden each side as the gates came
towards him. There was plenty of work left. How much could he take from
the old lady? How gullible was she? Would he end up with everything? The
house? The Estate? And what was in the other buildings around the house?
And what was in the rooms upstairs? More treasures? More millions for him?