"
And with a courtly salute the Jew passed on. Now Gregorio had not
forgotten his debt, nor the Jew's threats, and he fully intended to
pay what he owed. But of course it would take time, and the man was
too impatient. He realised he had been foolish not to pay something on
account; but it hurt him to part with gold. He determined, however,
to send Amos something when he returned home. So good a watch had been
kept, he never doubted the child's safety. But it would be awkward if
Amos got him put in jail. So he reckoned up how much he could afford to
pay, and, having bought the toy, returned eagerly home. He ran upstairs,
singing a barcarole at the top of his voice, and rushed into the room,
waving the model ship above his head. "See here," he cried, "is the
ship! I have not forgotten it." But his shout fell to a whisper. The
room was empty.
With a heartbroken sob the man fell swooning on the floor.
IX--A DISCOVERY AND A CONSPIRACY
For long he lay stretched out upon the floor in a state of
half-consciousness. He could hear the mosquitos buzzing about his face,
he could hear, too, the sounds of life rise up from the street below;
but he was able to move neither arm nor leg, and his head seemed
fastened to the floor by immovable leaden weights.
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