amazing good part--not bidding me tend my own business as he
might at another time, but assenting very submissively to all my hints
of disaster, and thanking me in the end for speaking my mind so freely.
Then, seeing him so sadly downcast, I (to give a sweetmeat after a
bitter draught) bade him take the matter not too much to heart,
promising that, with a little practice, he would soon acquire a habit of
self-restraint, and so all would go well. But he made no response, save
by shaking of his head sorrowfully, and would not be comforted. When all
were abed that night, we three men met in my chamber, where I had set
the bags of money on the table, together with a dish of tobacco and a
bottle of wine for our refreshment, and then the Don, having lit him a
cigarro, and we our pipes, with full glasses beside us, I proposed we
should talk of our affairs, to which Don Sanchez consented with a solemn
inclination of his head. But ere I began, I observed with a pang of
foreboding, that Jack, who usually had emptied his glass ere others had
sipped theirs, did now leave his untouched, and after the first pull or
two at his pipe, he cast it on the hearth as though it were foul to his
taste. Taking no open notice of this, I showed Don Sanchez the gold, and
related all that had passed between Simon and me.

"Happily, Senor," says I, in conclusion, "here is just the sum you
generously offered to accept for your share, and we give it you with a
free heart, Evans and I being willing to wait for what may be
forthcoming."

"Is it your wish both, that I take this?" says he, laying his hand on
the money and looking from me to Dawson.

"Aye," says he, "'tis but a tithe of what is left to us, and not an
hundredth part of what we owe to you."

"Very good," says the Don. "I will carry it to London to-morrow."

"But surely, Senor," says I, "you will not quit us so soon."

Don Sanchez rolls his cigarro in his lips, looking me straight in the
face and somewhat sternly, and asks me quietly if I have ever found him
lacking in loyalty and friendship.

"In truth, never, Senor."

"Then why should you imagine I mean to quit you now when you have more
need of a friend in this house" (with a sideward glance as towards
Moll's chamber) "than ever you before had?" Then, turning towards Jack,
he says, "What are you going to do, Captain Evans?"

Dawson pauses, as if to snatch one last moment for consideration, and
then, nodding at me, "You'll not lea