The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-24

would have emptied my pockets and
pawned the kindness of ali my friends in
| the world for such boon; but to a pris-
| oner of ten years crowns are scarce and
friend?'
years three crowns are none too many?'
The other stopped and a second time
| picked up his crusts.
Am / fool" he said, ''or Jew bank
er, that l can spend seventy-two crowns
a day to talk, perchance, to a frouzy
! servingwench or some cut-throat scum
waiting a proper hanging. Besides he
/ went on, There would be regrets. One s
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. II am a humane
, man, and besides. this is my birthday. so
/ viii take one crown. This is not bag
Cling, you understand but gift OF two
crowns for loving kindness and goodwill
One single crown, one crown, one: one
only; nor 1t is not serving-wench. senior,
or a gutter rogue; no. II Is Don Enrico
Number Nine that / suggest for gossip
a gentleman, noble as yourself. and
most worthy man. Think Of his pleas
ure, senior, and all for one crown"
The prisoner let the crusts fall into his
carefully ont of harms way in the corner
upon the stone table.
Lie you there" he said; the only hon
est thing in Los Perdido. Don Enrico
Number Nine? What other name, my
friend? To one who has lived In the
world name at times is an open book,
This time 1t was the gaoler who laugh
ed.
How should / know7 A number Is
easier, and all acquaintanceships are not
as long as ours. A dozen inthe year would
be a dozen names. hut the one number
covers all from January to December.
Won senior are Don EnrtcO Number
Eight
"oh. OH said Number Eight. this
grows interesting. Are your rats in this
cursed hole all Don Enrico by chance?
No. senior. you two only. No offence,
one forgets names at times, but numbers.
never. Now you, senior, In your proper
name of nobility are called
Don Enrico Number Eight. answer
ed the other, promptly; land henceforth
/, too, will try TO forget that the world
ever knew more.
Then it is agreed, senor?"
Agreed. Master Pedro"
For this EVENING"?
This evening. but" and Number
Eight looked around the blackened walls,
Il cannot ask a noble gentleman like Don
Number Nine TO spend an hour in such
place as this shifting from one foot to
another like goose. Stretch the crown
my friend to cover some other accoInmo-
dalton that neither he nor 1 loose our
tongues in our shame, or waste our hour
iii apologies.
BE content" answered Master Pedro;
when a man opens his nand with gift
as ! 90 he should open it wide: and pres
entity 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 diHgy. evil
smelling courtyard OF Los Perdido 1t was
in no respect different from its opposite
neighbor. The tenant lay upon the mat
tress. wrapped in a thick. wsll-worn COW
erlid and only acknowledged Master Pc
dro's presence by turning his head.
Il warn you" he said. that nothing
but matters of extreme Importance justi-
fy intrusion, and that for intrusion
speedy self-dismissal is the truest apollo
BY"
Most men can be diplomatic when the
lining of pocket is at stake. and Master
Pedro had not kept full cages twenty
was abject, ard yet to the point, striking
his note of interest without delay.
Your pardon, senior, 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 establishment Number
Nine flung off the cOverlid aud sat up.
Then, slowly rising, he unceremoniously
took Pedro MartOYal by the chin and
turned his face to the grey light.
'Ha, and when do / receiver My con-
versation for an hour forsoothl BY all
the saints. but this is a 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.
Will walk into your trap with my eyes
oEen. but never step with them shut
NAY. senior, protested the Saoler. no
trap: but Senior Enrlco Number Eight
Pays his way, and-and--'
81 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 eXpeu-
sive rule to break? How much, my mas
ter?"
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. fit for king, not a
dogs hole like this-saVing your lord
ship . presence, who have lived in II ten
years-a fire in the crate. chairs. tables,
luNuries everyone; and'-with Il pause
like one who said the last word-''two
bottles OF wine. No bad bargain, S, nor,
for three crowns.
All" said Number Nine, drawing his
fingers through his beard, two bottles
of wine for his three crowns and two for
mine. It's 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 diceboE, IL will he hard e we do
not taste the worlds ways again. An