" Well, as I'm rather sorry for you, I don't mind
fetching it at that rate," said the gaoler, who reflected
that, if once the treasure were safely deposited in his
room, there would be no one to claim it after the old
man's death. " Where is it ? "

" Under my old bed, the third tile from the foot, on
the back line. You must lift it carefully, or you will
break the pipe."

Don Carlo had a good time of it for the next three
weeks. His keeper revelled in dreams of unbounded
wealth, and he was not ungrateful to the man by
whose diligence and secrecy he had been placed in a
position to attain the end of his desires. He insisted



DOMENICO 303

on having sardines and little birds every day for
dinner, and a plateful of such duly wandered into the
sick ward. Don Carlo was happy, but by no means
satisfied. Every time he could get his keeper into a
comer he asked him eagerly, " Have you got it yet ?
Is it come ? " And the negative answer that always
followed seemed to depress him. The gaoler was, in
truth, almost as impatient, for the room was at present
occupied by a family, who had to be warned and
turned out before he could begin to dig. But he
found a certain relaxation in inspecting a number of
carriages, one of which he thought he should be in a
position to buy in a month or so, a silk dress or two for
his wife, and a complete hunting costume for himself.
