ed disk of gold, in both of which I knew
that he would take a keen interest--I had no immediate opportunity of
exhibiting to him my treasures.

As I pushed open the sacristy door, when I had knocked upon it and he
had called me to enter, he came towards me at once in excitement so
eager that his face was all lit up by it; and almost before I could
greet him he exclaimed: "You are most happily come, my friend. At this
very moment I was about to send for you; for I have found that which
will stir your heart even as it has stirred mine. Yet perhaps," and he
spoke more gravely, "it will not stir your heart in the same way that
mine is stirred by it--for if I can but find the key that will unlock
the whole of the mystery that here partly is revealed, I see before me
such opportunity to garner the Lord's vintage as comes but seldom to His
servants in these later ages of the world."

So strange was Fray Antonio's manner, and so wayward seemed his speech,
that I was half inclined to think his religious enthusiasm fairly had
landed him in religious madness; which thought must have found utterance
in my look of doubtfulness, for he smiled kindly at me, and in a quieter
tone went on:

"My wits still are with me, Don Tomas; though I do not wonder at your
thinking that I have lost them. Sit down here and listen to the story of
my discovery; and when it is ended you will perceive that I very well
may be excited by it and still be sane."

Being assured by this calmer speech that Fray Antonio had not taken
leave of his senses, I made a weak disclaimer, that he smilingly
accepted, of my too clearly expressed doubts in that direction; and so
seated myself to listen.

"You know, senor," he began, "that common report has declared that
beneath this Church of San Francisco is a secret passage that extends
under the city and has its exit in the outlying meadow-lands. I may
confide in you frankly that this passage does exist, and that I, in
common with all members of my Order who have dwelt here, know precisely
where its entrance is and where its outlet. These matters need not be
exposed, for they are not essential to my purpose. But you must know
that in the midst of this passage I found on the day preceding your
return from the mountains a little room of which the door was so well
concealed that my finding it was the merest accident. And in the room,
with other things which need not here be named, I found a chest in which
are certain a