diff options
Diffstat (limited to '3767-0.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 3767-0.txt | 1616 |
1 files changed, 1616 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/3767-0.txt b/3767-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..159645c --- /dev/null +++ b/3767-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1616 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Man who kept his Money in a Box, by +Anthony Trollope + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most +other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions +whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of +the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at +www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have +to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. + + + + +Title: The Man who kept his Money in a Box + + +Author: Anthony Trollope + + + +Release Date: January 16, 2015 [eBook #3767] +[This file was first posted on August 28, 2001] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MAN WHO KEPT HIS MONEY IN A +BOX*** + + +Transcribed from the 1864 Chapman and Hall “Tales of All Countries” +edition by David Price, email ccx074@pglaf.org + + + + + + THE MAN WHO KEPT HIS MONEY IN A BOX. + + +I FIRST saw the man who kept his money in a box in the midst of the +ravine of the Via Mala. I interchanged a few words with him or with his +wife at the hospice, at the top of the Splugen; and I became acquainted +with him in the courtyard of Conradi’s hotel at Chiavenna. It was, +however, afterwards at Bellaggio, on the lake of Como, that that +acquaintance ripened into intimacy. A good many years have rolled by +since then, and I believe this little episode in his life may be told +without pain to the feelings of any one. + +His name was —; let us for the present say that his name was Greene. How +he learned that my name was Robinson I do not know, but I remember well +that he addressed me by my name at Chiavenna. To go back, however, for a +moment to the Via Mala;—I had been staying for a few days at the Golden +Eagle at Tusis,—which, by-the-bye, I hold to be the best small inn in all +Switzerland, and its hostess to be, or to have been, certainly the +prettiest landlady,—and on the day of my departure southwards, I had +walked on, into the Via Mala, so that the diligence might pick me up in +the gorge. This pass I regard as one of the grandest spots to which my +wandering steps have ever carried me, and though I had already lingered +about it for many hours, I now walked thither again to take my last +farewell of its dark towering rocks, its narrow causeway and roaring +river, trusting to my friend the landlady to see that my luggage was duly +packed upon the diligence. I need hardly say that my friend did not +betray her trust. + +As one goes out from Switzerland towards Italy, the road through the Via +Mala ascends somewhat steeply, and passengers by the diligence may walk +from the inn at Tusis into the gorge, and make their way through the +greater part of the ravine before the vehicle will overtake them. This, +however, Mr. Greene with his wife and daughter had omitted to do. When +the diligence passed me in the defile, the horses trotting for a few +yards over some level portion of the road, I saw a man’s nose pressed +close against the glass of the coupé window. I saw more of his nose than +of any other part of his face, but yet I could perceive that his neck was +twisted and his eye upturned, and that he was making a painful effort to +look upwards to the summit of the rocks from his position inside the +carriage. + +There was such a roar of wind and waters at the spot that it was not +practicable to speak to him, but I beckoned with my finger and then +pointed to the road, indicating that he should have walked. He +understood me, though I did not at the moment understand his answering +gesture. It was subsequently, when I knew somewhat of his habits, that +he explained to me that on pointing to his open mouth, he had intended to +signify that he would be afraid of sore throat in exposing himself to the +air of that damp and narrow passage. + +I got up into the conductor’s covered seat at the back of the diligence, +and in this position encountered the drifting snow of the Splugen. I +think it is coldest of all the passes. Near the top of the pass the +diligence stops for awhile, and it is here, if I remember, that the +Austrian officials demand the travellers’ passports. At least in those +days they did so. These officials have now retreated behind the +Quadrilatère,—soon, as we hope, to make a further retreat,—and the +district belongs to the kingdom of United Italy. There is a place of +refreshment or hospice here, into which we all went for a few moments, +and I then saw that my friend with the weak throat was accompanied by two +ladies. + +“You should not have missed the Via Mala,” I said to him, as he stood +warming his toes at the huge covered stove. + +“We miss everything,” said the elder of the two ladies, who, however, was +very much younger than the gentleman, and not very much older than her +companion. + +“I saw it beautifully, mamma,” said the younger one; whereupon mamma gave +her head a toss, and made up her mind, as I thought, to take some little +vengeance before long upon her step-daughter. I observed that Miss +Greene always called her step-mother mamma on the first approach of any +stranger, so that the nature of the connection between them might be +understood. And I observed also that the elder lady always gave her head +a toss when she was so addressed. + +“We don’t mean to enjoy ourselves till we get down to the lake of Como,” +said Mr. Greene. As I looked at him cowering over the stove, and saw how +oppressed he was with great coats and warm wrappings for his throat, I +quite agreed with him that he had not begun to enjoy himself as yet. +Then we all got into our places again, and I saw no more of the Greenes +till we were standing huddled together in the large courtyard of +Conradi’s hotel at Chiavenna. + +Chiavenna is the first Italian town which the tourist reaches by this +route, and I know no town in the North of Italy which is so closely +surrounded by beautiful scenery. The traveller as he falls down to it +from the Splugen road is bewildered by the loveliness of the +valleys,—that is to say, if he so arranges that he can see them without +pressing his nose against the glass of a coach window. And then from the +town itself there are walks of two, three, and four hours, which I think +are unsurpassed for wild and sometimes startling beauties. One gets into +little valleys, green as emeralds, and surrounded on all sides by grey +broken rocks, in which Italian Rasselases might have lived in perfect +bliss; and then again one comes upon distant views up the river courses, +bounded far away by the spurs of the Alps, which are perfect,—to which +the fancy can add no additional charm. Conradi’s hotel also is by no +means bad; or was not in those days. For my part I am inclined to think +that Italian hotels have received a worse name than they deserve; and I +must profess that, looking merely to creature comforts, I would much +sooner stay a week at the Golden Key at Chiavenna, than with mine host of +the King’s Head in the thriving commercial town of Muddleboro, on the +borders of Yorkshire and Lancashire. + +I am always rather keen about my room in travelling, and having secured a +chamber looking out upon the mountains, had returned to the court-yard to +collect my baggage before Mr. Greene had succeeded in realising his +position, or understanding that he had to take upon himself the duties of +settling his family for the night in the hotel by which he was +surrounded. When I descended he was stripping off the outermost of three +great coats, and four waiters around him were beseeching him to tell them +what accommodation he would require. Mr. Greene was giving sundry very +urgent instructions to the conductor respecting his boxes; but as these +were given in English, I was not surprised to find that they were not +accurately followed. The man, however, was much too courteous to say in +any language that he did not understand every word that was said to him. +Miss Greene was standing apart, doing nothing. As she was only eighteen +years of age, it was of course her business to do nothing; and a very +pretty little girl she was, by no means ignorant of her own beauty, and +possessed of quite sufficient wit to enable her to make the most of it. + +Mr. Greene was very leisurely in his proceedings, and the four waiters +were almost reduced to despair. + +“I want two bed-rooms, a dressing-room, and some dinner,” he said at +last, speaking very slowly, and in his own vernacular. I could not in +the least assist him by translating it into Italian, for I did not speak +a word of the language myself; but I suggested that the man would +understand French. The waiter, however, had understood English. Waiters +do understand all languages with a facility that is marvellous; and this +one now suggested that Mrs. Greene should follow him up-stairs. Mrs. +Greene, however, would not move till she had seen that her boxes were all +right; and as Mrs. Greene was also a pretty woman, I found myself bound +to apply myself to her assistance. + +“Oh, thank you,” said she. “The people are so stupid that one can really +do nothing with them. And as for Mr. Greene, he is of no use at all. +You see that box, the smaller one. I have four hundred pounds’ worth of +jewellery in that, and therefore I am obliged to look after it.” + +“Indeed,” said I, rather startled at this amount of confidence on rather +a short acquaintance. “In that case I do not wonder at your being +careful. But is it not rather rash, perhaps—” + +“I know what you are going to say. Well, perhaps it is rash. But when +you are going to foreign courts, what are you to do? If you have got +those sort of things you must wear them.” + +As I was not myself possessed of anything of that sort, and had no +intention of going to any foreign court, I could not argue the matter +with her. But I assisted her in getting together an enormous pile of +luggage, among which there were seven large boxes covered with canvas, +such as ladies not uncommonly carry with them when travelling. That one +which she represented as being smaller than the others, and as holding +jewellery, might be about a yard long by a foot and a half deep. Being +ignorant in those matters, I should have thought it sufficient to carry +all a lady’s wardrobe for twelve months. When the boxes were collected +together, she sat down upon the jewel-case and looked up into my face. +She was a pretty woman, perhaps thirty years of age, with long light +yellow hair, which she allowed to escape from her bonnet, knowing, +perhaps, that it was not unbecoming to her when thus dishevelled. Her +skin was very delicate, and her complexion good. Indeed her face would +have been altogether prepossessing had there not been a want of +gentleness in her eyes. Her hands, too, were soft and small, and on the +whole she may be said to have been possessed of a strong battery of +feminine attractions. She also well knew how to use them. + +“Whisper,” she said to me, with a peculiar but very proper aspiration on +the h—“Wh-hisper,” and both by the aspiration and the use of the word I +knew at once from what island she had come. “Mr. Greene keeps all his +money in this box also; so I never let it go out of my sight for a +moment. But whatever you do, don’t tell him that I told you so.” + +I laid my hand on my heart, and made a solemn asseveration that I would +not divulge her secret. I need not, however, have troubled myself much +on that head, for as I walked up stairs, keeping my eye upon the precious +trunk, Mr. Greene addressed me. + +“You are an Englishman, Mr. Robinson,” said he. I acknowledged that I +was. + +“I am another. My wife, however, is Irish. My daughter,—by a former +marriage,—is English also. You see that box there.” + +“Oh, yes,” said I, “I see it.” I began to be so fascinated by the box +that I could not keep my eyes off it. + +“I don’t know whether or no it is prudent, but I keep all my money there; +my money for travelling, I mean.” + +“If I were you, then,” I answered, “I would not say anything about it to +any one.” + +“Oh, no, of course not,” said he; “I should not think of mentioning it. +But those brigands in Italy always take away what you have about your +person, but they don’t meddle with the heavy luggage.” + +“Bills of exchange, or circular notes,” I suggested. + +“Ah, yes; and if you can’t identify yourself, or happen to have a +headache, you can’t get them changed. I asked an old friend of mine, who +has been connected with the Bank of England for the last fifty years, and +he assured me that there was nothing like sovereigns.” + +“But you never get the value for them.” + +“Well, not quite. One loses a franc, or a franc and a half. But still, +there’s the certainty, and that’s the great matter. An English sovereign +will go anywhere,” and he spoke these words with considerable triumph. + +“Undoubtedly, if you consent to lose a shilling on each sovereign.” + +“At any rate, I have got three hundred and fifty in that box,” he said. +“I have them done up in rolls of twenty-five pounds each.” + +I again recommended him to keep this arrangement of his as private as +possible,—a piece of counsel which I confess seemed to me to be much +needed,—and then I went away to my own room, having first accepted an +invitation from Mrs. Greene to join their party at dinner. “Do,” said +she; “we have been so dull, and it will be so pleasant.” + +I did not require to be much pressed to join myself to a party in which +there was so pretty a girl as Miss Greene, and so attractive a woman as +Mrs. Greene. I therefore accepted the invitation readily, and went away +to make my toilet. As I did so I passed the door of Mr. Greene’s room, +and saw the long file of boxes being borne into the centre of it. + +I spent a pleasant evening, with, however, one or two slight drawbacks. +As to old Greene himself, he was all that was amiable; but then he was +nervous, full of cares, and somewhat apt to be a bore. He wanted +information on a thousand points, and did not seem to understand that a +young man might prefer the conversation of his daughter to his own. Not +that he showed any solicitude to prevent conversation on the part of his +daughter. I should have been perfectly at liberty to talk to either of +the ladies had he not wished to engross all my attention to himself. He +also had found it dull to be alone with his wife and daughter for the +last six weeks. + +He was a small spare man, probably over fifty years of age, who gave me +to understand that he had lived in London all his life, and had made his +own fortune in the city. What he had done in the city to make his +fortune he did not say. Had I come across him there I should no doubt +have found him to be a sharp man of business, quite competent to teach me +many a useful lesson of which I was as ignorant as an infant. Had he +caught me on the Exchange, or at Lloyd’s, or in the big room of the Bank +of England, I should have been compelled to ask him everything. Now, in +this little town under the Alps, he was as much lost as I should have +been in Lombard Street, and was ready enough to look to me for +information. I was by no means chary in giving him my counsel, and +imparting to him my ideas on things in general in that part of the +world;—only I should have preferred to be allowed to make myself civil to +his daughter. + +In the course of conversation it was mentioned by him that they intended +to stay a few days at Bellaggio, which, as all the world knows, is a +central spot on the lake of Como, and a favourite resting-place for +travellers. There are three lakes which all meet here, and to all of +which we give the name of Como. They are properly called the lakes of +Como, Colico, and Lecco; and Bellaggio is the spot at which their waters +join each other. I had half made up my mind to sleep there one night on +my road into Italy, and now, on hearing their purpose, I declared that +such was my intention. + +“How very pleasant,” said Mrs. Greene. “It will be quite delightful to +have some one to show us how to settle ourselves, for really—” + +“My dear, I’m sure you can’t say that you ever have much trouble.” + +“And who does then, Mr. Greene? I am sure Sophonisba does not do much to +help me.” + +“You won’t let me,” said Sophonisba, whose name I had not before heard. +Her papa had called her Sophy in the yard of the inn. Sophonisba Greene! +Sophonisba Robinson did not sound so badly in my ears, and I confess that +I had tried the names together. Her papa had mentioned to me that he had +no other child, and had mentioned also that he had made his fortune. + +And then there was a little family contest as to the amount of travelling +labour which fell to the lot of each of the party, during which I retired +to one of the windows of the big front room in which we were sitting. +And how much of this labour there is incidental to a tourist’s pursuits! +And how often these little contests do arise upon a journey! Who has +ever travelled and not known them? I had taken up such a position at the +window as might, I thought, have removed me out of hearing; but +nevertheless from time to time a word would catch my ear about that +precious box. “I have never taken _my_ eyes off it since I left +England,” said Mrs. Greene, speaking quick, and with a considerable +brogue superinduced by her energy. “Where would it have been at Basle if +I had not been looking after it?” “Quite safe,” said Sophonisba; “those +large things always are safe.” “Are they, Miss? That’s all you know +about it. I suppose your bonnet-box was quite safe when I found it on +the platform at—at—I forget the name of the place?” + +“Freidrichshafen,” said Sophonisba, with almost an unnecessary amount of +Teutonic skill in her pronunciation. “Well, mamma, you have told me of +that at least twenty times.” Soon after that, the ladies took them to +their own rooms, weary with the travelling of two days and a night, and +Mr. Greene went fast asleep in the very comfortless chair in which he was +seated. + +At four o’clock on the next morning we started on our journey. + + “Early to bed, and early to rise, + Is the way to be healthy, and wealthy, and wise.” + +We all know that lesson, and many of us believe in it; but if the lesson +be true, the Italians ought to be the healthiest and wealthiest and +wisest of all men and women. Three or four o’clock seems to them quite a +natural hour for commencing the day’s work. Why we should have started +from Chiavenna at four o’clock in order that we might be kept waiting for +the boat an hour and a half on the little quay at Colico, I don’t know; +but such was our destiny. There we remained an hour and a half; Mrs. +Greene sitting pertinaciously on the one important box. She had +designated it as being smaller than the others, and, as all the seven +were now ranged in a row, I had an opportunity of comparing them. It was +something smaller,—perhaps an inch less high, and an inch and a half +shorter. She was a sharp woman, and observed my scrutiny. “I always +know it,” she said in a loud whisper, “by this little hole in the +canvas,” and she put her finger on a slight rent on one of the ends. “As +for Greene, if one of those Italian brigands were to walk off with it on +his shoulders, before his eyes, he wouldn’t be the wiser. How helpless +you men are, Mr. Robinson!” + +“It is well for us that we have women to look after us.” + +“But you have got no one to look after you;—or perhaps you have left her +behind?” + +“No, indeed. I’m all alone in the world as yet. But it’s not my own +fault. I have asked half a dozen.” + +“Now, Mr. Robinson!” And in this way the time passed on the quay at +Colico, till the boat came and took us away. I should have preferred to +pass my time in making myself agreeable to the younger lady; but the +younger lady stood aloof, turning up her nose, as I thought, at her +mamma. + +I will not attempt to describe the scenery about Colico. The little town +itself is one of the vilest places under the sun, having no accommodation +for travellers, and being excessively unhealthy; but there is very little +either north or south of the Alps,—and, perhaps, I may add, very little +elsewhere,—to beat the beauty of the mountains which cluster round the +head of the lake. When we had sat upon those boxes that hour and a half, +we were taken on board the steamer, which had been lying off a little way +from the shore, and then we commenced our journey. Of course there was a +good deal of exertion and care necessary in getting the packages off from +the shore on to the boat, and I observed that any one with half an eye in +his head might have seen that the mental anxiety expended on that one box +which was marked by the small hole in the canvas far exceeded that which +was extended to all the other six boxes. “They deserve that it should be +stolen,” I said to myself, “for being such fools.” And then we went down +to breakfast in the cabin. + +“I suppose it must be safe,” said Mrs. Greene to me, ignoring the fact +that the cabin waiter understood English, although she had just ordered +some veal cutlets in that language. + +“As safe as a church,” I replied, not wishing to give much apparent +importance to the subject. + +“They can’t carry it off here,” said Mr. Greene. But he was innocent of +any attempt at a joke, and was looking at me with all his eyes. + +“They might throw it overboard,” said Sophonisba. I at once made up my +mind that she could not be a good-natured girl. The moment that +breakfast was over, Mrs. Greene returned again up-stairs, and I found her +seated on one of the benches near the funnel, from which she could keep +her eyes fixed upon the box. “When one is obliged to carry about one’s +jewels with one, one must be careful, Mr. Robinson,” she said to me +apologetically. But I was becoming tired of the box, and the funnel was +hot and unpleasant, therefore I left her. + +I had made up my mind that Sophonisba was ill-natured; but, nevertheless, +she was pretty, and I now went through some little manœuvres with the +object of getting into conversation with her. This I soon did, and was +surprised by her frankness. “How tired you must be of mamma and her +box,” she said to me. To this I made some answer, declaring that I was +rather interested than otherwise in the safety of the precious trunk. +“It makes me sick,” said Sophonisba, “to hear her go on in that way to a +perfect stranger. I heard what she said about her jewellery.” + +“It is natural she should be anxious,” I said, “seeing that it contains +so much that is valuable.” + +“Why did she bring them?” said Sophonisba. “She managed to live very +well without jewels till papa married her, about a year since; and now +she can’t travel about for a month without lugging them with her +everywhere. I should be so glad if some one would steal them.” + +“But all Mr. Greene’s money is there also.” + +“I don’t want papa to be bothered, but I declare I wish the box might be +lost for a day or so. She is such a fool; don’t you think so, Mr. +Robinson?” + +At this time it was just fourteen hours since I first had made their +acquaintance in the yard of Conradi’s hotel, and of those fourteen hours +more than half had been passed in bed. I must confess that I looked upon +Sophonisba as being almost more indiscreet than her mother-in-law. +Nevertheless, she was not stupid, and I continued my conversation with +her the greatest part of the way down the lake towards Bellaggio. + +These steamers which run up and down the lake of Como and the Lago +Maggiore, put out their passengers at the towns on the banks of the water +by means of small rowing-boats, and the persons who are about to +disembark generally have their own articles ready to their hands when +their turn comes for leaving the steamer. As we came near to Bellaggio, +I looked up my own portmanteau, and, pointing to the beautiful +wood-covered hill that stands at the fork of the waters, told my friend +Greene that he was near his destination. “I am very glad to hear it,” +said he, complacently, but he did not at the moment busy himself about +the boxes. Then the small boat ran up alongside the steamer, and the +passengers for Como and Milan crowded up the side. + +“We have to go in that boat,” I said to Greene. + +“Nonsense!” he exclaimed. + +“Oh, but we have.” + +“What! put our boxes into that boat,” said Mrs. Greene. “Oh dear! Here, +boatman! there are seven of these boxes, all in white like this,” and she +pointed to the one that had the hole in the canvas. “Make haste. And +there are two bags, and my dressing case, and Mr. Greene’s portmanteau. +Mr. Greene, where is your portmanteau?” + +The boatman whom she addressed, no doubt did not understand a word of +English, but nevertheless he knew what she meant, and, being well +accustomed to the work, got all the luggage together in an incredibly +small number of moments. + +“If you will get down into the boat,” I said, “I will see that the +luggage follows you before I leave the deck.” + +“I won’t stir,” she said, “till I see that box lifted down. Take care; +you’ll let it fall into the lake. I know you will.” + +“I wish they would,” Sophonisba whispered into my ear. + +Mr. Greene said nothing, but I could see that his eyes were as anxiously +fixed on what was going on as were those of his wife. At last, however, +the three Greens were in the boat, as also were all the packages. Then I +followed them, my portmanteau having gone down before me, and we pushed +off for Bellaggio. Up to this period most of the attendants around us +had understood a word or two of English, but now it would be well if we +could find some one to whose ears French would not be unfamiliar. As +regarded Mr. Greene and his wife, they, I found, must give up all +conversation, as they knew nothing of any language but their own. +Sophonisba could make herself understood in French, and was quite at +home, as she assured me, in German. And then the boat was beached on the +shore at Bellaggio, and we all had to go again to work with the object of +getting ourselves lodged at the hotel which overlooks the water. + +I had learned before that the Greenes were quite free from any trouble in +this respect, for their rooms had been taken for them before they left +England. Trusting to this, Mrs. Greene gave herself no inconsiderable +airs the moment her foot was on the shore, and ordered the people about +as though she were the Lady Paramount of Bellaggio. Italians, however, +are used to this from travellers of a certain description. They never +resent such conduct, but simply put it down in the bill with the other +articles. Mrs. Greene’s words on this occasion were innocent enough, +seeing that they were English; but had I been that head waiter who came +down to the beach with his nice black shiny hair, and his napkin under +his arm, I should have thought her manner very insolent. + +Indeed, as it was, I did think so, and was inclined to be angry with her. +She was to remain for some time at Bellaggio, and therefore it behoved +her, as she thought, to assume the character of the grand lady at once. +Hitherto she had been willing enough to do the work, but now she began to +order about Mr. Greene and Sophonisba; and, as it appeared to me, to +order me about also. I did not quite enjoy this; so leaving her still +among her luggage and satellites, I walked up to the hotel to see about +my own bed-room. I had some seltzer water, stood at the window for three +or four minutes, and then walked up and down the room. But still the +Greenes were not there. As I had put in at Bellaggio solely with the +object of seeing something more of Sophonisba, it would not do for me to +quarrel with them, or to allow them so to settle themselves in their +private sitting-room, that I should be excluded. Therefore I returned +again to the road by which they must come up, and met the procession near +the house. + +Mrs. Greene was leading it with great majesty, the waiter with the shiny +hair walking by her side to point out to her the way. Then came all the +luggage,—each porter carrying a white canvas-covered box. That which was +so valuable no doubt was carried next to Mrs. Greene, so that she might +at a moment’s notice put her eye upon the well-known valuable rent. I +confess that I did not observe the hole as the train passed by me, nor +did I count the number of the boxes. Seven boxes, all alike, are very +many; and then they were followed by three other men with the inferior +articles,—Mr. Greene’s portmanteau, the carpetbag, &e., &c. At the tail +of the line, I found Mr. Greene, and behind him Sophonisba. “All your +fatigues will be over now,” I said to the gentleman, thinking it well not +to be too particular in my attentions to his daughter. He was panting +beneath a terrible great-coat, having forgotten that the shores of an +Italian lake are not so cold as the summits of the Alps, and did not +answer me. “I’m sure I hope so,” said Sophonisba. “And I shall advise +papa not to go any farther unless he can persuade Mrs. Greene to send her +jewels home.” “Sophy, my dear,” he said, “for Heaven’s sake let us have +a little peace since we are here.” From all which I gathered that Mr. +Green had not been fortunate in his second matrimonial adventure. We +then made our way slowly up to the hotel, having been altogether +distanced by the porters, and when we reached the house we found that the +different packages were already being carried away through the house, +some this way and some that. Mrs. Green, the meanwhile, was talking +loudly at the door of her own sitting-room. + +“Mr. Greene,” she said, as soon as she saw her heavily oppressed +spouse,—for the noonday sun was up,—“Mr. Greene, where are you?” + +“Here, my dear,” and Mr. Greene threw himself panting into the corner of +a sofa. + +“A little seltzer water and brandy,” I suggested. Mr. Greene’s inmost +heart leaped at the hint, and nothing that his remonstrant wife could say +would induce him to move, until he had enjoyed the delicious draught. In +the mean time the box with the hole in the canvas had been lost. + +Yes; when we came to look into matters, to count the packages, and to +find out where we were, the box with the hole in the canvas was not +there. Or, at any rate, Mrs. Greene said it was not there. I worked +hard to look it up, and even went into Sophonisba’s bed-room in my +search. In Sophonisba’s bed-room there was but one canvas-covered box. +“That is my own,” said she, “and it is all that I have, except this bag.” + +“Where on earth can it be?” said I, sitting down on the trunk in +question. At the moment I almost thought that she had been instrumental +in hiding it. + +“How am I to know?” she answered; and I fancied that even she was +dismayed. “What a fool that woman is!” + +“The box must be in the house,” I said. + +“Do find it, for papa’s sake; there’s a good fellow. He will be so +wretched without his money. I heard him say that he had only two pounds +in his purse.” + +“Oh, I can let him have money to go on with,” I answered grandly. And +then I went off to prove that I was a good fellow, and searched +throughout the house. Two white boxes had by order been left downstairs, +as they would not be needed; and these two were in a large cupboard of +the hall, which was used expressly for stowing away luggage. And then +there were three in Mrs. Greene’s bed-room, which had been taken there as +containing the wardrobe which she would require while remaining at +Bellaggio. I searched every one of these myself to see if I could find +the hole in the canvas. But the hole in the canvas was not there. And +let me count as I would, I could make out only six. Now there certainly +had been seven on board the steamer, though I could not swear that I had +seen the seven put into the small boat. + +“Mr. Greene,” said the lady standing in the middle of her remaining +treasures, all of which were now open, “you are worth nothing when +travelling. Were you not behind?” But Mr. Greene’s mind was full, and +he did not answer. + +“It has been stolen before your very eyes,” she continued. + +“Nonsense, mamma,” said Sophonisba. “If ever it came out of the steamer +it certainly came into the house.” + +“I saw it out of the steamer,” said Mrs. Greene, “and it certainly is not +in the house. Mr. Robinson, may I trouble you to send for the police?—at +once, if you please, sir.” + +I had been at Bellaggio twice before, but nevertheless I was ignorant of +their system of police. And then, again, I did not know what was the +Italian for the word. + +“I will speak to the landlord,” I said. + +“If you will have the goodness to send for the police at once, I will be +obliged to you.” And as she thus reiterated her command, she stamped +with her foot upon the floor. + +“There are no police at Bellaggio,” said Sophonisba. + +“What on earth shall I do for money to go on with?” said Mr. Greene, +looking piteously up to the ceiling, and shaking both his hands. + +And now the whole house was in an uproar, including not only the +landlord, his wife and daughters, and all the servants, but also every +other visitor at the hotel. Mrs. Greene was not a lady who hid either +her glories or her griefs under a bushel, and, though she spoke only in +English, she soon made her protestations sufficiently audible. She +protested loudly that she had been robbed, and that she had been robbed +since she left the steamer. The box had come on shore; of that she was +quite certain. If the landlord had any regard either for his own +character or for that of his house, he would ascertain before an hour was +over where it was, and who had been the thief. She would give him an +hour. And then she sat herself down; but in two minutes she was up +again, vociferating her wrongs as loudly as ever. All this was filtered +through me and Sophonisba to the waiter in French, and from the waiter to +the landlord; but the lady’s gestures required no translation to make +them intelligible, and the state of her mind on the matter was, I +believe, perfectly well understood. + +Mr. Greene I really did pity. His feelings of dismay seemed to be quite +as deep, but his sorrow and solicitude were repressed into more decorum. +“What am I to do for money?” he said. “I have not a shilling to go on +with!” And he still looked up at the ceiling. + +“You must send to England,” said Sophonisba. + +“It will take a month,” he replied. + +“Mr. Robinson will let you have what you want at present,” added +Sophonisba. Now I certainly had said so, and had meant it at the time. +But my whole travelling store did not exceed forty or fifty pounds, with +which I was going on to Venice, and then back to England through the +Tyrol. Waiting a month for Mr. Greene’s money from England might be even +more inconvenient to me than to him. Then it occurred to me that the +wants of the Greene family would be numerous and expensive, and that my +small stock would go but a little way among so many. And what also if +there had been no money and no jewels in that accursed box! I confess +that at the moment such an idea did strike my mind. One hears of +sharpers on every side committing depredations by means of most singular +intrigues and contrivances. Might it not be possible that the whole +batch of Greenes belonged to this order of society. It was a base idea, +I own; but I confess that I entertained it for a moment. + +I retired to my own room for a while that I might think over all the +circumstances. There certainly had been seven boxes, and one had had a +hole in the canvas. All the seven had certainly been on board the +steamer. To so much I felt that I might safely swear. I had not counted +the seven into the small boat, but on leaving the larger vessel I had +looked about the deck to see that none of the Greene trappings were +forgotten. If left on the steamer, it had been so left through an intent +on the part of some one there employed. It was quite possible that the +contents of the box had been ascertained through the imprudence of Mrs. +Greene, and that it had been conveyed away so that it might be rifled at +Como. As to Mrs. Greene’s assertion that all the boxes had been put into +the small boat, I thought nothing of it. The people at Bellaggio could +not have known which box to steal, nor had there been time to concoct the +plan in carrying the boxes up to the hotel. I came at last to this +conclusion, that the missing trunk had either been purloined and carried +on to Como,—in which case it would be necessary to lose no time in going +after it; or that it had been put out of sight in some uncommonly clever +way, by the Greenes themselves, as an excuse for borrowing as much money +as they could raise and living without payment of their bills. With +reference to the latter hypothesis, I declared to myself that Greene did +not look like a swindler; but as to Mrs. Greene—! I confess that I did +not feel so confident in regard to her. + +Charity begins at home, so I proceeded to make myself comfortable in my +room, feeling almost certain that I should not be able to leave Bellaggio +on the following morning. I had opened my portmanteau when I first +arrived, leaving it open on the floor as is my wont. Some people are +always being robbed, and are always locking up everything; while others +wander safe over the world and never lock up anything. For myself, I +never turn a key anywhere, and no one ever purloins from me even a +handkerchief. Cantabit vacuus—, and I am always sufficiently vacuus. +Perhaps it is that I have not a handkerchief worth the stealing. It is +your heavy-laden, suspicious, mal-adroit Greenes that the thieves attack. +I now found out that the accommodating Boots, who already knew my ways, +had taken my travelling gear into a dark recess which was intended to do +for a dressing-room, and had there spread my portmanteau open upon some +table or stool in the corner. It was a convenient arrangement, and there +I left it during the whole period of my sojourn. + +Mrs. Greene had given the landlord an hour to find the box, and during +that time the landlord, the landlady, their three daughters, and all the +servants in the house certainly did exert themselves to the utmost. Half +a dozen times they came to my door, but I was luxuriating in a +washing-tub, making up for that four-o’clock start from Chiavenna. I +assured them, however, that the box was not there, and so the search +passed by. At the end of the hour I went back to the Greenes according +to promise, having resolved that some one must be sent on to Como to look +after the missing article. + +There was no necessity to knock at their sitting-room door, for it was +wide open. I walked in, and found Mrs. Greene still engaged in attacking +the landlord, while all the porters who had carried the luggage up to the +house were standing round. Her voice was loud above the others, but, +luckily for them all, she was speaking English. The landlord, I saw, was +becoming sulky. He spoke in Italian, and we none of us understood him, +but I gathered that he was declining to do anything further. The box, he +was certain, had never come out of the steamer. The Boots stood by +interpreting into French, and, acting as second interpreter, I put it +into English. + +Mr. Greene, who was seated on the sofa, groaned audibly, but said +nothing. Sophonisba, who was sitting by him, beat upon the floor with +both her feet. + +“Do you hear, Mr. Greene?” said she, turning to him. “Do you mean to +allow that vast amount of property to be lost without an effort? Are you +prepared to replace my jewels?” + +“Her jewels!” said Sophonisba, looking up into my face. “Papa had to pay +the bill for every stitch she had when he married her.” These last words +were so spoken as to be audible only by me, but her first exclamation was +loud enough. Were they people for whom it would be worth my while to +delay my journey, and put myself to serious inconvenience with reference +to money? + +A few minutes afterwards I found myself with Greene on the terrace before +the house. “What ought I to do?” said he. + +“Go to Como,” said I, “and look after your box. I will remain here and +go on board the return steamer. It may perhaps be there.” + +“But I can’t speak a word of Italian,” said he. + +“Take the Boots,” said I. + +“But I can’t speak a word of French.” And then it ended in my +undertaking to go to Como. I swear that the thought struck me that I +might as well take my portmanteau with me, and cut and run when I got +there. The Greenes were nothing to me. + +I did not, however, do this. I made the poor man a promise, and I kept +it. I took merely a dressing-bag, for I knew that I must sleep at Como; +and, thus resolving to disarrange all my plans, I started. I was in the +midst of beautiful scenery, but I found it quite impossible to draw any +enjoyment from it;—from that or from anything around me. My whole mind +was given up to anathemas against this odious box, as to which I had +undoubtedly heavy cause of complaint. What was the box to me? I went to +Como by the afternoon steamer, and spent a long dreary evening down on +the steamboat quays searching everywhere, and searching in vain. The +boat by which we had left Colico had gone back to Colico, but the people +swore that nothing had been left on board it. It was just possible that +such a box might have gone on to Milan with the luggage of other +passengers. + +I slept at Como, and on the following morning I went on to Milan. There +was no trace of the box to be found in that city. I went round to every +hotel and travelling office, but could hear nothing of it. Parties had +gone to Venice, and Florence, and Bologna, and any of them might have +taken the box. No one, however, remembered it; and I returned back to +Como, and thence to Bellaggio, reaching the latter place at nine in the +evening, disappointed, weary, and cross. + +“Has Monsieur found the accursed trunk?” said the Bellaggio Boots, +meeting me on the quay. + +“In the name of the—, no. Has it not turned up here?” + +“Monsieur,” said the Boots, “we shall all be mad soon. The poor master, +he is mad already.” And then I went up to the house. + +“My jewels!” shouted Mrs. Greene, rushing to me with her arms stretched +out as soon as she heard my step in the corridor. I am sure that she +would have embraced me had I found the box. I had not, however, earned +any such reward. “I can hear nothing of the box either at Como or +Milan,” I said. + +“Then what on earth am I to do for my money?” said Mr. Greene. + +I had had neither dinner nor supper, but the elder Greenes did not care +for that. Mr. Greene sat silent in despair, and Mrs. Greene stormed +about the room in her anger. “I am afraid you are very tired,” said +Sophonisba. + +“I am tired, and hungry, and thirsty,” said I. I was beginning to get +angry, and to think myself ill used. And that idea as to a family of +swindlers became strong again. Greene had borrowed ten napoleons from me +before I started for Como, and I had spent above four in my fruitless +journey to that place and Milan. I was beginning to fear that my whole +purpose as to Venice and the Tyrol would be destroyed; and I had promised +to meet friends at Innspruck, who,—who were very much preferable to the +Greenes. As events turned out, I did meet them. Had I failed in this, +the present Mrs. Robinson would not have been sitting opposite to me. + +I went to my room and dressed myself, and then Sophonisba presided over +the tea-table for me. “What are we to do?” she asked me in a +confidential whisper. + +“Wait for money from England.” + +“But they will think we are all sharpers,” she said; “and upon my word I +do not wonder at it from the way in which that woman goes on.” She then +leaned forward, resting her elbow on the table and her face on her hand, +and told me a long history of all their family discomforts. Her papa was +a very good sort of man, only he had been made a fool of by that +intriguing woman, who had been left without a sixpence with which to +bless herself. And now they had nothing but quarrels and misery. Papa +did not always got the worst of it;—papa could rouse himself sometimes; +only now he was beaten down and cowed by the loss of his money. This +whispering confidence was very nice in its way, seeing that Sophonisba +was a pretty girl; but the whole matter seemed to be full of suspicion. + +“If they did not want to take you in in one way, they did in another,” +said the present Mrs. Robinson, when I told the story to her at +Innspruck. I beg that it may be understood that at the time of my +meeting the Greenes I was not engaged to the present Mrs. Robinson, and +was open to make any matrimonial engagement that might have been pleasing +to me. + +On the next morning, after breakfast, we held a council of war. I had +been informed that Mr. Greene had made a fortune, and was justified in +presuming him to be a rich man. It seemed to me, therefore, that his +course was easy. Let him wait at Bellaggio for more money, and when he +returned home, let him buy Mrs. Greene more jewels. A poor man always +presumes that a rich man is indifferent about his money. But in truth a +rich man never is indifferent about his money, and poor Greene looked +very blank at my proposition. + +“Do you mean to say that it’s gone for ever?” he asked. + +“I’ll not leave the country without knowing more about it,” said Mrs. +Greene. + +“It certainly is very odd,” said Sophonisba. Even Sophonisba seemed to +think that I was too off-hand. + +“It will be a month before I can get money, and my bill here will be +something tremendous,” said Greene. + +“I wouldn’t pay them a farthing till I got my box,” said Mrs. Greene. + +“That’s nonsense,” said Sophonisba. And so it was. “Hold your tongue, +Miss!” said the step-mother. + +“Indeed, I shall not hold my tongue,” said the step-daughter. Poor +Greene! He had lost more than his box within the last twelve months; +for, as I had learned in that whispered conversation over the tea-table +with Sophonisba; this was in reality her papa’s marriage trip. + +Another day was now gone, and we all went to bed. Had I not been very +foolish I should have had myself called at five in the morning, and have +gone away by the early boat, leaving my ten napoleons behind me. But, +unfortunately, Sophonisba had exacted a promise from me that I would not +do this, and thus all chance of spending a day or two in Venice was lost +to me. Moreover, I was thoroughly fatigued, and almost glad of any +excuse which would allow me to lie in bed on the following morning. I +did lie in bed till nine o’clock, and then found the Greenes at +breakfast. + +“Let us go and look at the Serbelloni Gardens,” said I, as soon as the +silent meal was over; “or take a boat over to the Sommariva Villa.” + +“I should like it so much,” said Sophonisba. + +“We will do nothing of the kind till I have found my property,” said Mrs. +Greene. “Mr. Robinson, what arrangement did you make yesterday with the +police at Como?” + +“The police at Como?” I said. “I did not go to the police.” + +“Not go to the police? And do you mean to say that I am to be robbed of +my jewels and no efforts made for redress? Is there no such thing as a +constable in this wretched country? Mr. Greene, I do insist upon it that +you at once go to the nearest British consul.” + +“I suppose I had better write home for money,” said he. + +“And do you mean to say that you haven’t written yet?” said I, probably +with some acrimony in my voice. + +“You needn’t scold papa,” said Sophonisba. + +“I don’t know what I am to do,” said Mr. Greene, and he began walking up +and down the room; but still he did not call for pen and ink, and I began +again to feel that he was a swindler. Was it possible that a man of +business, who had made his fortune in London, should allow his wife to +keep all her jewels in a box, and carry about his own money in the same? + +“I don’t see why you need be so very unhappy, papa,” said Sophonisba. +“Mr. Robinson, I’m sure, will let you have whatever money you may want at +present.” This was pleasant! + +“And will Mr. Robinson return me my jewels which were lost, I must say, +in a great measure, through his carelessness,” said Mrs. Greene. This +was pleasanter! + +“Upon my word, Mrs. Greene, I must deny that,” said I, jumping up. “What +on earth could I have done more than I did do? I have been to Milan and +nearly fagged myself to death.” + +“Why didn’t you bring a policeman back with you?” + +“You would tell everybody on board the boat what there was in it,” said +I. + +“I told nobody but you,” she answered. + +“I suppose you mean to imply that I’ve taken the box,” I rejoined. So +that on this, the third or fourth day of our acquaintance, we did not go +on together quite pleasantly. + +But what annoyed me, perhaps, the most, was the confidence with which it +seemed to be Mr. Greene’s intention to lean upon my resources. He +certainly had not written home yet, and had taken my ten napoleons, as +one friend may take a few shillings from another when he finds that he +has left his own silver on his dressing-table. What could he have wanted +of ten napoleons? He had alleged the necessity of paying the porters, +but the few francs he had had in his pocket would have been enough for +that. And now Sophonisba was ever and again prompt in her assurances +that he need not annoy himself about money, because I was at his right +hand. I went upstairs into my own room, and counting all my treasures, +found that thirty-six pounds and some odd silver was the extent of my +wealth. With that I had to go, at any rate, as far as Innspruck, and +from thence back to London. It was quite impossible that I should make +myself responsible for the Greenes’ bill at Bellaggio. + +We dined early, and after dinner, according to a promise made in the +morning, Sophonisba ascended with me into the Serbelloni Gardens, and +walked round the terraces on that beautiful hill which commands the view +of the three lakes. When we started I confess that I would sooner have +gone alone, for I was sick of the Greenes in my very soul. We had had a +terrible day. The landlord had been sent for so often, that he refused +to show himself again. The landlady—though Italians of that class are +always courteous—had been so driven that she snapped her fingers in Mrs. +Greene’s face. The three girls would not show themselves. The waiters +kept out of the way as much as possible; and the Boots, in confidence, +abused them to me behind their back. “Monsieur,” said the Boots, “do you +think there ever was such a box?” + +“Perhaps not,” said I; and yet I knew that I had seen it. + +I would, therefore, have preferred to walk without Sophonisba; but that +now was impossible. So I determined that I would utilise the occasion by +telling her of my present purpose. I had resolved to start on the +following day, and it was now necessary to make my friends understand +that it was not in my power to extend to them any further pecuniary +assistance. + +Sophonisba, when we were on the hill, seemed to have forgotten the box, +and to be willing that I should forget it also. But this was impossible. +When, therefore, she told me how sweet it was to escape from that +terrible woman, and leaned on my arm with all the freedom of old +acquaintance, I was obliged to cut short the pleasure of the moment. + +“I hope your father has written that letter,” said I. + +“He means to write it from Milan. We know you want to get on, so we +purpose to leave here the day after to-morrow.” + +“Oh!” said I thinking of the bill immediately, and remembering that Mrs. +Greene had insisted on having champagne for dinner. + +“And if anything more is to be done about the nasty box, it may be done +there,” continued Sophonisba. + +“But I must go to-morrow,” said I, “at 5 a.m.” + +“Nonsense,” said Sophonisba. “Go to-morrow, when I,—I mean we,—are going +on the next day!” + +“And I might as well explain,” said I, gently dropping the hand that was +on my arm, “that I find,—I find it will be impossible for me—to—to—” + +“To what?” + +“To advance Mr. Greene any more money just at present.” Then +Sophonisba’s arm dropped all at once, and she exclaimed, “Oh, Mr. +Robinson!” + +After all, there was a certain hard good sense about Miss Greene which +would have protected her from my evil thoughts had I known all the truth. +I found out afterwards that she was a considerable heiress, and, in spite +of the opinion expressed by the present Mrs. Robinson when Miss Walker, I +do not for a moment think she would have accepted me had I offered to +her. + +“You are quite right not to embarrass yourself,” she said, when I +explained to her my immediate circumstances; “but why did you make papa +an offer which you cannot perform? He must remain here now till he hears +from England. Had you explained it all at first, the ten napoleons would +have carried us to Milan.” This was all true, and yet I thought it hard +upon me. + +It was evident to me now, that Sophonisba was prepared to join her +step-mother in thinking that I had ill-treated them, and I had not much +doubt that I should find Mr. Greene to be of the same opinion. There was +very little more said between us during the walk, and when we reached the +hotel at seven or half-past seven o’clock, I merely remarked that I would +go in and wish her father and mother good-bye. “I suppose you will drink +tea with us,” said Sophonisba, and to this I assented. + +I went into my own room, and put all my things into my portmanteau, for +according to the custom, which is invariable in Italy when an early start +is premeditated, the Boots was imperative in his demand that the luggage +should be ready over night. I then went to the Greene’s sitting-room, +and found that the whole party was now aware of my intentions. + +“So you are going to desert us,” said Mrs. Greene. + +“I must go on upon my journey,” I pleaded in a weak apologetic voice. + +“Go on upon your journey, sir!” said Mrs. Greene. “I would not for a +moment have you put yourself to inconvenience on our account.” And yet I +had already lost fourteen napoleons, and given up all prospect of going +to Venice! + +“Mr. Robinson is certainly right not to break his engagement with Miss +Walker,” said Sophonisba. Now I had said not a word about an engagement +with Miss Walker, having only mentioned incidentally that she would be +one of the party at Innspruck. “But,” continued she, “I think he should +not have misled us.” And in this way we enjoyed our evening meal. + +I was just about to shake hands with them all, previous to my final +departure from their presence, when the Boots came into the room. + +“I’ll leave the portmanteau till to-morrow morning,” said he. + +“All right,” said I. + +“Because,” said he, “there will be such a crowd of things in the hall. +The big trunk I will take away now.” + +“Big trunk,—what big trunk?” + +“The trunk with your rug over it, on which your portmanteau stood.” + +I looked round at Mr., Mrs., and Miss Greene, and saw that they were all +looking at me. I looked round at them, and as their eyes met mine I felt +that I turned as red as fire. I immediately jumped up and rushed away to +my own room, hearing as I went that all their steps were following me. I +rushed to the inner recess, pulled down the portmanteau, which still +remained in its old place, tore away my own carpet rug which covered the +support beneath it, and there saw—a white canvas-covered box, with a hole +in the canvas on the side next to me! + +“It is my box,” said Mrs. Greene, pushing me away, as she hurried up and +put her finger within the rent. + +“It certainly does look like it,” said Mr. Greene, peering over his +wife’s shoulder. + +“There’s no doubt about the box,” said Sophonisba. + +“Not the least in life,” said I, trying to assume an indifferent look. + +“Mon Dieu!” said the Boots. + +“Corpo di Baccho!” exclaimed the landlord, who had now joined the party. + +“Oh—h—h—h—!” screamed Mrs. Greene, and then she threw herself back on to +my bed, and shrieked hysterically. + +There was no doubt whatsoever about the fact. There was the lost box, +and there it had been during all those tedious hours of unavailing +search. While I was suffering all that fatigue in Milan, spending my +precious zwanzigers in driving about from one hotel to another, the box +had been safe, standing in my own room at Bellaggio, hidden by my own +rug. And now that it was found everybody looked at me as though it were +all my fault. + +Mrs. Greene’s eyes, when she had done being hysterical, were terrible, +and Sophonisba looked at me as though I were a convicted thief. + +“Who put the box here?” I said, turning fiercely upon the Boots. + +“I did,” said the Boots, “by Monsieur’s express order.” + +“By my order?” I exclaimed. + +“Certainly,” said the Boots. + +“Corpo di Baccho!” said the landlord, and he also looked at me as though +I were a thief. In the mean time the landlady and the three daughters +had clustered round Mrs. Greene, administering to her all manner of +Italian consolation. The box, and the money, and the jewels were after +all a reality; and much incivility can be forgiven to a lady who has +really lost her jewels, and has really found them again. + +There and then there arose a hurly-burly among us as to the manner in +which the odious trunk found its way into my room. Had anybody been just +enough to consider the matter coolly, it must have been quite clear that +I could not have ordered it there. When I entered the hotel, the boxes +were already being lugged about, and I had spoken a word to no one +concerning them. That traitorous Boots had done it,—no doubt without +malice prepense; but he had done it; and now that the Greenes were once +more known as moneyed people, he turned upon me, and told me to my face, +that I had desired that box to be taken to my own room as part of my own +luggage! + +“My dear,” said Mr. Greene, turning to his wife, “you should never +mention the contents of your luggage to any one.” + +“I never will again,” said Mrs. Greene, with a mock repentant air, “but I +really thought—” + +“One never can be sure of sharpers,” said Mr. Greene. + +“That’s true,” said Mrs. Greene. + +“After all, it may have been accidental,” said Sophonisba, on hearing +which good-natured surmise both papa and mamma Greene shook their +suspicious heads. + +I was resolved to say nothing then. It was all but impossible that they +should really think that I had intended to steal their box; nor, if they +did think so, would it have become me to vindicate myself before the +landlord and all his servants. I stood by therefore in silence, while +two of the men raised the trunk, and joined the procession which followed +it as it was carried out of my room into that of the legitimate owner. +Everybody in the house was there by that time, and Mrs. Greene, enjoying +the triumph, by no means grudged them the entrance into her sitting-room. +She had felt that she was suspected, and now she was determined that the +world of Bellaggio should know how much she was above suspicion. The box +was put down upon two chairs, the supporters who had borne it retiring a +pace each. Mrs. Greene then advanced proudly with the selected key, and +Mr. Greene stood by at her right shoulder, ready to receive his portion +of the hidden treasure. Sophonisba was now indifferent, and threw +herself on the sofa, while I walked up and down the room +thoughtfully,—meditating what words I should say when I took my last +farewell of the Greenes. But as I walked I could see what occurred. +Mrs. Greene opened the box, and displayed to view the ample folds of a +huge yellow woollen dressing-down. I could fancy that she would not +willingly have exhibited this article of her toilet, had she not felt +that its existence would speedily be merged in the presence of the +glories which were to follow. This had merely been the padding at the +top of the box. Under that lay a long papier-maché case, and in that +were all her treasures. “Ah, they are safe,” she said, opening the lid +and looking upon her tawdry pearls and carbuncles. + +Mr. Greene, in the mean time, well knowing the passage for his hand, had +dived down to the very bottom of the box, and seized hold of a small +canvas bag. “It is here,” said he, dragging it up, “and as far as I can +tell, as yet, the knot has not been untied.” Whereupon he sat himself +down by Sophonisba, and employing her to assist him in holding them, +began to count his rolls. “They are all right,” said he; and he wiped +the perspiration from his brow. + +I had not yet made up my mind in what manner I might best utter my last +words among them so as to maintain the dignity of my character, and now I +was standing over against Mr. Greene with my arms folded on my breast. I +had on my face a frown of displeasure, which I am able to assume upon +occasions, but I had not yet determined what words I would use. After +all, perhaps, it might be as well that I should leave them without any +last words. + +“Greene, my dear,” said the lady, “pay the gentleman his ten napoleons.” + +“Oh yes, certainly;” whereupon Mr. Greene undid one of the rolls and +extracted eight sovereigns. “I believe that will make it right, sir,” +said he, handing them to me. + +I took the gold, slipped it with an indifferent air into my waistcoat +pocket, and then refolded my arms across my breast. + +“Papa,” said Sophonisba, in a very audible whisper, “Mr. Robinson went +for you to Como. Indeed, I believe he says he went to Milan.” + +“Do not let that be mentioned,” said I. + +“By all means pay him his expenses,” said Mrs. Greene; “I would not owe +him anything for worlds.” + +“He should be paid,” said Sophonisba. + +“Oh, certainly,” said Mr. Greene. And he at once extracted another +sovereign, and tendered it to me in the face of the assembled multitude. + +This was too much! “Mr. Greene,” said I, “I intended to be of service to +you when I went to Milan, and you are very welcome to the benefit of my +intentions. The expense of that journey, whatever may be its amount, is +my own affair.” And I remained standing with my closed arms. + +“We will be under no obligation to him,” said Mrs. Greene; “and I shall +insist on his taking the money.” + +“The servant will put it on his dressing-table,” said Sophonisba. And +she handed the sovereign to the Boots, giving him instructions. + +“Keep it yourself, Antonio,” I said. Whereupon the man chucked it to the +ceiling with his thumb, caught it as it fell, and with a well-satisfied +air, dropped it into the recesses of his pocket. The air of the Greenes +was also well satisfied, for they felt that they had paid me in full for +all my services. + +And now, with many obsequious bows and assurances of deep respect, the +landlord and his family withdrew from the room. “Was there anything else +they could do for Mrs. Greene?” Mrs. Greene was all affability. She had +shown her jewels to the girls, and allowed them to express their +admiration in pretty Italian superlatives. There was nothing else she +wanted to-night. She was very happy and liked Bellaggio. She would stay +yet a week, and would make herself quite happy. And, though none of them +understood a word that the other said, each understood that things were +now rose-coloured, and so with scrapings, bows, and grinning smiles, the +landlord and all his myrmidons withdrew. Mr. Greene was still counting +his money, sovereign by sovereign, and I was still standing with my +folded arms upon my bosom. + +“I believe I may now go,” said I. + +“Good night,” said Mrs. Greene. + +“Adieu,” said Sophonisba. + +“I have the pleasure of wishing you good-bye,” said Mr. Greene. + +And then I walked out of the room. After all, what was the use of saying +anything? And what could I say that would have done me any service? If +they were capable of thinking me a thief,—which they certainly +did,—nothing that I could say would remove the impression. Nor, as I +thought, was it suitable that I should defend myself from such an +imputation. What were the Greenes to me? So I walked slowly out of the +room, and never again saw one of the family from that day to this. + +As I stood upon the beach the next morning, while my portmanteau was +being handed into the boat, I gave the Boots five zwanzigers. I was +determined to show him that I did not condescend to feel anger against +him. + +He took the money, looked into my face, and then whispered to me, “Why +did you not give me a word of notice beforehand?” he said, and winked his +eye. He was evidently a thief, and took me to be another;—but what did +it matter? + +I went thence to Milan, in which city I had no heart to look at anything; +thence to Verona, and so over the pass of the Brenner to Innspruck. When +I once found myself near to my dear friends the Walkers I was again a +happy man; and I may safely declare that, though a portion of my journey +was so troublesome and unfortunate, I look back upon that tour as the +happiest and the luckiest epoch of my life. + + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MAN WHO KEPT HIS MONEY IN A +BOX*** + + +******* This file should be named 3767-0.txt or 3767-0.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/7/6/3767 + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will +be renamed. + +Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright +law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, +so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United +States without permission and without paying copyright +royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part +of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm +concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, +and may not be used if you charge for the eBooks, unless you receive +specific permission. If you do not charge anything for copies of this +eBook, complying with the rules is very easy. You may use this eBook +for nearly any purpose such as creation of derivative works, reports, +performances and research. They may be modified and printed and given +away--you may do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks +not protected by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the +trademark license, especially commercial redistribution. + +START: FULL LICENSE + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full +Project Gutenberg-tm License available with this file or online at +www.gutenberg.org/license. + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or +destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your +possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a +Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound +by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the +person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph +1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this +agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the +Foundation" or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection +of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual +works in the collection are in the public domain in the United +States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the +United States and you are located in the United States, we do not +claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, +displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as +all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope +that you will support the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting +free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm +works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the +Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with the work. You can easily +comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the +same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg-tm License when +you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are +in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, +check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this +agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, +distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any +other Project Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no +representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any +country outside the United States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other +immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear +prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work +on which the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, +performed, viewed, copied or distributed: + + This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and + most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no + restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it + under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this + eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the + United States, you'll have to check the laws of the country where you + are located before using this ebook. + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is +derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not +contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the +copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in +the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are +redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply +either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or +obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg-tm +trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any +additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms +will be linked to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works +posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the +beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including +any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access +to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format +other than "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official +version posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site +(www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense +to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means +of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original "Plain +Vanilla ASCII" or other form. Any alternate format must include the +full Project Gutenberg-tm License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +provided that + +* You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed + to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he has + agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project + Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid + within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are + legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty + payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project + Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in + Section 4, "Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg + Literary Archive Foundation." + +* You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all + copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue + all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg-tm + works. + +* You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of + any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of + receipt of the work. + +* You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work or group of works on different terms than +are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing +from both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and The +Project Gutenberg Trademark LLC, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm +trademark. Contact the Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project +Gutenberg-tm collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may +contain "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate +or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other +intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or +other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or +cannot be read by your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium +with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you +with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in +lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person +or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second +opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If +the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing +without further opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO +OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT +LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of +damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement +violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the +agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or +limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or +unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the +remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in +accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the +production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, +including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of +the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this +or any Project Gutenberg-tm work, (b) alteration, modification, or +additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any +Defect you cause. + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of +computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It +exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations +from people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future +generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see +Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at +www.gutenberg.org + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by +U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is in Fairbanks, Alaska, with the +mailing address: PO Box 750175, Fairbanks, AK 99775, but its +volunteers and employees are scattered throughout numerous +locations. Its business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, Salt +Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up to +date contact information can be found at the Foundation's web site and +official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact + +For additional contact information: + + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND +DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular +state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To +donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project +Gutenberg-tm concept of a library of electronic works that could be +freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and +distributed Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of +volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in +the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not +necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper +edition. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search +facility: www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + |