Of a sudden they found themselves in a place that had been so greatly
enlarged beyond the original limits of the tunnel that a score of men
might stand in it. By the light of their uplifted torches they saw,
piled one above another, from floor to roof, on two sides of this
little chamber, a number of chests, both of wood and iron, every one of
which was inscribed with the royal arms of Spain. So heavy were these
that two strong men could not lift one of them.
Instantly recognizing their character, De Gourges exclaimed,
"As I am a knight of France, thou art in luck, Rene de Veaux! Here
thou hast unwittingly stumbled upon a treasure-vault of these Spanish
usurers. If I mistake not, there is that contained within these chests
that will place thee on an equality with the wealthiest noble of
France."
"Nay," replied Rene, "it is not mine, but thine. To the conqueror
belong the spoils. But for thee, these chests and their contents,
whatever be their nature, would still remain with those who placed them
here."
"Not so," answered De Gourges; "I came not in search of spoil, but to
punish these insolent Spaniards for their many cruelties; and besides,
but for thee I should never have dreamed of the existence of this
passage. Thou alone didst possess its secret, and to thee alone
belongs whatever it contains."
"Well," said Rene, unwilling to discuss the matter further at that
time, "it may be that we are already counting unhatched fowls.
Pages:
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191