r? Suppose I return
to the factory to execute this good thought? Impossible! Signor Turchi
would be enraged; besides, I have no confidence in him. I will inquire,
when in Germany, if she still lives, and if she be in want I will send her
money."

He took up twenty crowns, one by one, from the table, counted them,
regarded them wistfully, and said, as he dropped them into his pocket:

"Twenty crowns! that is a large sum; but it may make my blind old mother
happy. I will put her portion by itself."

His eye again rested on the glittering coin. The sight appeared to deject
him.

"How visibly it has diminished!" he said, sighing. "I believed my treasure
inexhaustible, and by one thought the twentieth part has disappeared. Will
it not go as fast in Germany? Will not gambling and drinking deprive me of
the whole in a few months and leave me in misery? What sombre thoughts! A
moment ago, and everything wore a smiling aspect; now, my mind is tortured
by fear and anxiety. But why need I be troubled? When I have spent the two
hundred crowns, Signor Turchi will send me more. But it is not well to
rely too much upon that; his head may fall under the axe of the
executioner. In that case I would be as badly off myself. The discovery
would drive me from Germany into Netherlands or Italy. Instead of living
in luxury, I would infallibly fall into the lion's jaw, and the gallows or
the wheel would be my well-merited fate. But if the murderer of Geronimo
be not discovered, I can return quietly, and my master would receive me
kindly for fear I would betray his secret. That depends in a great measure
upon my care in acquitting myself of the task entrusted to me. I will
accomplish it loyally and well. The sight of this gold no longer gives me
pleasure. A full cup of wine first, and then to work bravely!"

He uncorked one of the bottles and half emptied it; then muttering a few
words as to the strength and energy imparted by the liquor, he took the
lamp, and fixing his eye on the bottle, said:

"It will take me only a few minutes to throw the body into the grave and
fill it up; but the rest of the work will require more than an hour. That
is a long time to be separated from you, is it not? To keep me company, I
will take the half-empty bottle; that will not hinder me from doing my
duty properly; on the contrary, it will give me courage and strength. Now
to work!"

He re-corked the bottle, put it inside of his doublet, took the lamp, an