Francisco.

Lucien at once sprang up the ladder, but looked out cautiously; for the
sudden change in the sounds above apprised him that the robbers had left
the apartment.

He saw them busy ransacking a cupboard in which the Jew had placed a
large quantity of plate, a little of which was solid, and a large
portion showy, but comparatively valueless. It had been arranged by him
in such a way as to make a superb show of wealth, in the hope that it
might tempt any who should take a fancy to rob his house to expend much
of their labour and energy on that horde, thereby creating an important
diversion from much more valuable deposits made elsewhere.

So busy were the plunderers that they left the room above the cellar
quite unguarded.

"The coast is clear," whispered Lucien, looking back. "We must act out
our part of janissary and slave, father. Quick! Shoulder this small
chest."

Francisco obeyed almost mechanically, laid down the crowbar, threw a
light chest that chanced to be near at hand on his shoulder, and
followed his son silently up the staircase to the entrance-hall of the
house, where they found two janissaries guarding the door.

"Pretend to stumble, father," whispered Lucien, on observing them.

Francisco not only pretended to, but, in his zealous obedience, actually
did stumble with such good will that he fell with a heavy crash on the
marble pavement, sending the chest violently out at the door into the
street, much to the amusement of the two sentinels.

"Scoundrel!" cried Lucien furiously, in Turkish, at the same time
flourishing his scimitar and bestowing on his submissive parent a most
unmerciful kick. "Up, out with you, and shoulder it! See that you mind
your feet better, else the bastinado shall make them tingle!"

He brushed so savagely past the sentinels that they had not time to stop
him, even if so disposed, then turning suddenly back, said--

"Your lantern, friend; one will serve you well enough, and I shall need
the other with so awkward a slave."

"Here it is, comrade," replied the man; "but who and what hast thou got
there?"

"Waste not your time in questions," said Lucien hastily; "they have
discovered heavy treasure inside, and require the aid of one of you.
Surely it needs not two to guard a Jew's door!"

He hurried off without awaiting a reply.

In perfect silence they traversed several narrow streets without meeting
any one. It was nearly dark at the time, and it was e