Page 185 - A Jacobite Exile

"I understand," the other sneered. "You don't want anyone to know where it
is buried, so as to be able to bring it up against you."

"You attend to your own business," the Jew said angrily. "Why should I

care about what they say? At any rate, there are some matters between you
and me, and there is no fear of your speaking."

"Not until the time comes when I may think it worth my while to throw
away my life, in order to secure your death, Ben Soloman."

"It is of no use talking like that," the Jew said quietly. "We are useful to
each other. I have saved your life from the gibbet, you have done the work I

required. Between us, it is worse than childish to threaten in the present
matter. I do not doubt that you will do your business well, and you know

that you will be well paid for it; what can either of us require more?"

Charlie would have given a good deal to understand the conversation, and

he would have been specially glad to learn that Stanislas had escaped with
his life; for he had taken a great fancy to the young Lithuanian, and was

grieved by the thought that he had probably lost his life in his defence.

Three days passed. His head was now clear, and his appetite returning, and

he found, by quietly moving at night, when his guard was asleep, that he
was gaining strength. The third day, there was some talking among several

men who entered the room; then he was lifted, wrapt up in some cloths, and
put into a large box. He felt this being hoisted up, it was carried downstairs,
and then placed on something. A minute afterwards he felt a vibration,

followed by a swaying and bumping, and guessed at once that he was on a
cart, and was being removed, either to prison or to some other place of

confinement. The latter he considered more probable.

The journey was a long one. He had no means of judging time, but he

thought that it must have lasted two or three hours. Then the rumbling
ceased, the box was lifted down, and carried a short distance, then the lid

was opened and he was again laid down on some straw. He heard the sound
of cart wheels, and knew that the vehicle on which he had been brought