ly slowly and in order, small pieces at a time,
and with much expenditure of work and patience. For a man to enrich
himself at it he must labour hard and long; yet in the end I will not
deny that he may compass it. And now, since the flasks are empty and
your young comrade is nodding in his chair, it will perhaps be as well
for you to spend as much of the night as is left in repose.' He drew
several blankets and rugs from a corner and scattered them over the
floor. 'It is a soldier's couch,' he remarked; 'but ye may sleep on
worse before ye put Monmouth on the English throne. For myself, it is
my custom to sleep in an inside chamber, which is hollowed out of the
hill.' With a few last words and precautions for our comfort he withdrew
with the lamp, passing through a door which had escaped our notice at
the further end of the apartment.

Reuben, having had no rest since he left Havant, had already dropped
upon the rugs, and was fast asleep, with a saddle for a pillow. Saxon
and I sat for a few minutes longer by the light of the burning brazier.

'One might do worse than take to this same chemical business,' my
companion remarked, knocking the ashes out of his pipe. 'See you yon
iron-bound chest in the corner?'

'What of it?'

'It is two thirds full of gold, which this worthy gentleman hath
manufactured.'

'How know you that?' I asked incredulously.

'When you did strike the door panel with the hilt of your sword, as
though you would drive it in, you may have heard some scuttling about,
and the turning of a lock. Well, thanks to my inches, I was able to look
through yon slit in the wall, and I saw our friend throw something into
the chest with a chink, and then lock it. It was but a glance at the
contents, yet I could swear that that dull yellow light could come from
no metal but gold. Let us see if it be indeed locked.' Rising from his
seat he walked over to the box and pulled vigorously at the lid.

'Forbear, Saxon, forbear!' I cried angrily. 'What would our host say,
should he come upon you?'

'Nay, then, he should not keep such things beneath his roof. With a
chisel or a dagger now, this might be prized open.'

'By Heaven!' I whispered, 'if you should attempt it I shall lay you on
your back.'

'Well, well, young Anak! it was but a passing fancy to see the treasure
again. Now, if he were but well favoured to the King, this would be
fair prize of war. Marked ye not that he claimed to have been the last
Roya