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


odd experience. my; faith. after ten years
| of Los Perdidoi
| Night had fallen when Pedro Martoval
threw open the door Of Number Eight for
| the second unwonted time that day. Don
| Enrico had for once abandoned his crusts
and was nervously pacing his narrow linn
fts-three strides and turn. three strides
| and turn. three strides and turn When
he saw the gaoler he halted.
| have changed my mind, Master
| Pedro he cried tEviI will come of this
! After ten years OF habit mans a fool
| to change even for the. better
| Pedro opened the door to its widest and
| waved his lantern TIL The shadows dane
ed in the passageway like 50 many black
| imps.
Come. senor." he said. persuasively
| after the second cup things will look less
| difficult. That is a way wine has. when
! one has enough. Besides, Don Enrico
| Number Nine is waiting" and he drew
him by the sleeve into the passage, locking
| the door behind.
| THE crown. senorT
Take it, answered Number Eight;
but had rather give you two and bide
! Within
MartovaI shook his head. Not for two
crowns he said. No; not for two. Four.
now: perhaps We could disappoint Senior
| Number Nine for FOUR
| "A fine price to pay for the privilege of
| a cell in Los Perdido. No man: wei on.
| At the end of the passage thin CLEAN
| lay like knife-edge across the blackness,
! j
| again hesitated. Tell me, Master Pedro
| it is long since l have been in the world
| these clothes, good enough no doubt for
gentleman's retirement. are they-eh?
Pedro Martoval held up his lantern. and
| in the circle of its light Number Eight
| turned round slowly.
| Beautiful. senior. beautiful. Not this
years fashion, perhaps. nor yet last s;
| but there is nothing to match them with
| in there, unless an overworn cassock be
counted finer than doublet and hose
| How? A cassock? Is Dor Enrlco. then
| priest? Faith, it's long since I've been
| to confession, but except lust for muir
der now and then-you pardon It, do you
not? You are chiefly concerned!-there's
| little to tell him that's new"
| Nay, senior, no priest But in retire
ment, why, a gentleman may wear what
pleases his purse best"
| My faith, yes. answered Number
| Let us in then
/ The rush of light. for all that it came
| but from two guttering candles, dazzled
| the eyes so long accustomed to greyness.
! When his sight came to him again he
! found. long, narrow room running from
| wall to wall OF the prison, with grated
smoldering midway between the win
| dows in an open hearth against the WILL,
| opposite a table and two chairs in the
/ centre of the room, and, standing by the
table, Don Enrico Number Nine.
| He was dressed Martoval had said,
| in cassock, rusty-brown through age,
| and fringed at the skirt-edge by much
| wear. If the garb was priest-like, the
man was more So though for the matter
| of that Number Eight and Number Nine
| had much in common. hair to the shout
ders, moustache to the beard, beard TO
| the breast.
a silence fell as Pedro Martoval pulled
| the door behind him turned the key
| with an ostentatious click. The saoler
| spoke first. playing the part OF master
| of ceremonies.
| Alas senors. / have forgotten your
names, and 1t is this gentleman's humor
| TO be called by the name which /, in my
| bad memory. have given you-Don Enrico
| Number Eight"
AN excellent humor in mixed COM
| pany, answered the man In the caSsock;
no offence to you. senior. So let me
| greet you'll am Enrico Number Nine,
| and your neighbor'
| While he spoke the other had approach
! ed, cycling him keeny and with some
| thing more than curiosity.
You are right. he said Identities are
! sometimes best forgotten, and at times
| too, they do not smen the better for a
| ten years burial Master host was there
| not some talk of wine In the bargain
We are thirsty, and a ten years thirst is
| i'll to quench.' 20
! "A word as to that answered Mario
! val. 1T is understood. is II not, that
there is no thought of escape
The man in the casSock looked round
at the grated windpT$ and laughed;
Take our word for that man, and the
more easily that We lose nothing by the
pledge. What Los Perdido holds Los
dido keeps"'
My thanks. senors:a but your pardon
again: in wine there is heat, and in heat
quarrel
This time 1t was he of the doublet and
hose who laughed.
Quarrel. fool? What should come be-
tween us after ten years Of Los Per
dido?'
Come, come. knave! cried Number
Nine. Have done with this chatter; the
hour slips away. The wine and the dice
box-though. by my faith. | have clean
forgotten the taste OF one and the feel
of the other. Presently this gentleman
and l may renew memories
Aye, said Number Eight. memories
enough, And now | think or It, there Is
Il game we might play
IL was IN no smooth temper that Master
Pedro Martoval went in search of the
liquor.
. Fool, said one; 'Knave.' saith the
other. and this to me, BY all the saints
but one or otherll be chapfalien ere the
hour passes. though / would l knew
which were which. Wine. IS it, Fallh,
the shadow of the block will ice the WINE
OF one for him cold enough.
When he returned the two were seated
by the table in friendly talk. but wary