The times., 1901-03-24

would have emptied my pockets and
pawned the kindness of ali my friends in
the world for such boon; but to pris-
oner of ten years crowns are scarce and
spell many things. How much, my
friend?"
Three crowns, senior. Surely after ten
years three crowns are none too many?"
The other stopped and a second time
picked up his crusts.
Am l a fool" he said, or Jew bank
er, that / can spend seYenty-two crowns
a day to talk, perchance, to a frouzy
serving -wench or some cut-throat scum
waiting a proper hanging. Besides he
went on, there would be regrets. Ones
taste changes, and the appetite would
grow. My crustS come cheaper-they cost
nothing and leave no craving behind. Re
grets bought at three crown are over
dear
See" said the gaoler, 81 am a humane
man, and besides. this is my birthday. so
/ will take one crown. This is not hag
Cling. you understand, but a gift OF two
crowns for loving kindness and goodwill.
One single crown, one crown, one: one
only; nor It is not a serving -wench. senor.
or a gutter rogue; no, II is Don Enrlco
Number Nine that | suggest for gossip.
a gentleman, noble as yourself. and
most worthy man. Think of his pleas
ure senor, and all for one CROWN
The prisoner let the crusts fall into his
followed hand, and then placed them
carefully out of harm 5 way in the corner
upon the stone table.
Lie YOU there" he said 'the only hon
est thing in Los Perdido. Don Enrico
Number Nine2 What other name. my
friend? To one who has lived in the
world a name at times is an open book.
This time 1t was the gaoler who laugh
ed.
How should / know? A number is
easier and all acquaintanceships are not
az long as ours. A dozen inthe year would
be a dozen names. hut the one number
covers all from January to December.
You, senior. are Don Enrieo Number
Eight"
'Oh. ohr' said Number Eight, this
grows interesting Are your rats in this
cursed hole ali Don Enrico by change?
No. senor. you two only. No offence
one forgets names at times, but numbers,
never. Now you, senor, in your proper
name of nobility are called
''Don Enrico Number Eight answer
ed the other, promptly; and henceforth
/, too, will try TO forget that the WoTid
ever knew more
Then il is agreed. senor?"
Agreed, Master Pedro"
."Ihis evening, but" and Number
Eight looked around the blackened walls,
Il cannot ask noble gentleman like Don
Number Nine TO spend an hour IN such
place as this shifting from one foot TO
another like a goose. Stretch the crown,
my friend TO cover some other accommo-
dation that neither he nor / loose our
tongues in our shame, or waste our AouT
I'm apologies.
BE content" answered Master Pedro;
when man opens his nand with gift
as 90 he should open it wide and pres
emily Number Eight heard the key rat
tie in the door across the passage.
Except that the narrow windows Of cell
Number Nine opened into the dlHey, evil
smelling courtyard Of Los PerdidO, it was
i'm no respect different from its opposite
neighbor. The tenant lay upon the mat
tress, wrapped in a thick, wall-worn COW
erlid. and only acknowledged Master Pc
dro's presence by turning his head.
Il warn YOU, ne said, that nothing
but matters of extreme Importance justi-
fy intrusion, and that for intrusion
speedy self-dismissal is the truest apollo
gy.'
Most men can be diplomatic when the
lining OF a pocket is at stake. and Master
Pedro had not Kept full cages twenty
years for nothing. To Number Nine he
was abject ard yet to the point, striking
his note of interest without delay.
Your pardon, senor, your pardon
thousand times; but Don Enrico Number
Eight earnestly desires your converse
ton for an hour
His diplomacy was rewarded with sue
cess. In sheer astonishment Number
Nine flung off the coveriid and sat up.
Then, slowly rising, he unceremoniously
took Pedro MartOYal by the chin and
turned his face to the grey light
'lIa, and when do / receive? My con-
versatiOn for an hour forsooth, By all
the saints. but this is Il new departure.
Where lies the trap. Master Pedro? Speak
up, man. ] am honest in spite OF our as
sociation. and, If it be worth my while,
viii walk into your trap with my eyes
oEen, bat never step with them shut
Nay. senor," protested the Saoler. no
trap; but Senor Enrico Number Eight
pays his way, and-and---'
Il must pay mine? Faith, it's worth it;
/ will even Don Fights reward. Article
seven of the rules of the house forbids
Intercourse. Is il. perchance, an eXpen-
sive rule to break? How much, my mas
ter2'
Taking the risk as | do senor three
crowns head Then, seeing the others
face fail he went on hastily: Think of
it, a fine room, ht for a king, not a
dogs hole like this-saVing your lord
ships presence, who have lived in il ten
years-a fire in the CRATE, chairs, tables,
iuxuries everyone; and''-with a pause
like one who said the last wOrd-"two
bottles OF wine. No bad bargain, stnor,
for three CROWNS.
"Ah!" said Number Nine, drawing his
fingers through his beard, two bottles
of wine for his three crowns and two for
mine. It's a bargain Master Pedro. Only
for conscience's sake man, let the wine be
good. and Il Senior Eight have a crown
or two left from your rapacity, and you
have a dicebox, ii will be hard e we do
not taste the worlds ways again, An