第33章

"When I heard them close shutter and window, I came out of my cellar, replaced my stool, and again mounted upon it.Unfastening the shutter, I opened it without noise, but the two broken panes were stopped up with the skirts of a pelisse.I heard talking, but I could see nothing; so I moved the pelisse a little, and then I could see the two lasses in bed opposite to me, and the old man sitting down with his back to where I stood."

"But the knapsack--the knapsack?--That is the most important."

"The knapsack was near the window, on a table, by the side of a lamp; I could have reached it by stretching out my arm."

"What did you hear said?"

"As you told me to think only of the knapsack, I can only remember what concerns the knapsack.The old man said he had some papers in it--the letter of a general--his money--his cross."

"Good--what next?"

"As it was difficult for me to keep the pelisse away from the hole, it slipped through my fingers.In trying to get hold of it again, I put my hand too much forward.One of the lasses saw it, and screamed out, pointing to the window."

"Dolt!" exclaimed the Prophet, becoming pale with rage, "you have ruined all."

"Stop a bit! there is nothing broken yet.When I heard the scream, I jumped down from my stool, and got back into the cellar; as the dog was no longer about, I left the door ajar, so that I could hear them open the window, and see, by the light, that the old man was looking out with the lamp; but he could find no ladder, and the window was too high for any man of common size to reach it!"

"He will have thought, like the first time, that it was the wind.You are less awkward than I imagined."

"The wolf has become a fox, as you said.Knowing where the knapsack was to be found with the money and the papers, and not being able to do more for the moment, I came away--and here I am."

"Go upstairs and fetch me the longest pike."

"Yes, master."

"And the red blanket."

"Yes, master."

"Go!"

Goliath began to mount the ladder; half-way up he stopped."Master,"

said he, "may I not bring down a bit of meat for Death?--you will see that she'll bear me malice; she puts it all down to my account; she never forgets, and on the first occasion--"

"The pike and the cloth!" repeated the Prophet, in an imperious tone.

And whilst Goliath, swearing to himself, proceeded to execute his instructions, Morok opened the great door of the shed, looked out into the yard, and listened.

"Here's the pike and the cloth," said the giant, as he descended the ladder with the articles."Now what must I do next?"

"Return to the cellar, mount once more by the window, and when the old man leaves the room--"

"Who will make him leave the room?"

"Never mind! he will leave it."

"What next?"

"You say the lamp is near the window?"

"Quite near--on the table next to the knapsack."

"Well, then, as soon as the old man leaves the room, push open the window, throw down the lamp, and if you accomplish cleverly what remains to do--the ten florins are yours--you remember it all?"

"Yes, yes."

"The girls will be so frightened by the noise and darkness, that they will remain dumb with terror."

"Make yourself easy! The wolf turned into a fox; why not a serpent?"

"There is yet something."

"Well, what now?"

"The roof of this shed is not very high, the window of the loft is easy of access, the night is dark--instead of returning by the door--"

"I will come in at the window."

"Ay, and without noise."

"Like a regular snake!" and the giant departed.

"Yes!" said the Prophet to himself, after a long silence, "these means are sure.It was not for me to hesitate.A blind and obscure instrument, I know not the motives of the orders I have received: but from the recommendations which accompany them--but from the position of him who sends them--immense interests must be involved--interests connected with all that is highest and greatest upon earth! -And yet how can these two girls, almost beggars, how can this wretched soldier represent such interests?--No matter," added he, with humility; "I am the arm which acts--it is for the head, which thinks and orders, to answer for its work."

Soon after the Prophet left the shed, carrying with him the red cloth, and directed his steps towards the little stable that contained Jovial.

The crazy door, imperfectly secured by a latch, was easily opened.At sight of a stranger Spoil-sport threw himself upon him; but his teeth encountered the iron leggings of the Prophet, who, in spite of the efforts of the dog took Jovial by his halter, threw the blanket over his head to prevent his either seeing or smelling, and led him from the stable into the interior of the menagerie, of which he closed the door.