Volume I Part 14 (1/2)
CHAPTER XIV
THE RAT-KING
The days at the Bagnio passed 's aree as Benedetto was excited, Ansel of the 24th of February, the young ot himself sohim with death
”Come, come,” said Ansel yourself you had better be calm and tell me what relation it has with the million”
”That means,” hissed Benedetto, ”I should tell you ; ”reet the million without my aid, and therefore leave off your sulks and speak”
”You are always right,” growled Benedetto ”You have my fate in your hands and I must speak The million, of course, ine that the eon,” interrupted Anselht to this million?”
”Certainly,” replied Benedetto; ”if the rasp, I should look uponrobbed”
”Really--who is the thief?”
”A woe of the letter?”
”The same”
”And you must be set free punctually on the 24th?”
”Yes, on the 25th the money would be irredeemably lost”
”H'e it”
”You arrange it? Are you ever going to tell me how you intend to set us free?”
Ansel in the corners, and the other prisoners, as it was Sunday, were a themselves with the rat, which ran fro the most difficult tricks
”I will call our savior at once,” whispered Ansel to him
The rat immediately came to its master and climbed upon his knee
Anselmo took the animal in his hand, put it on its back, and took from under its thick, hairy skin a s ”cow's tail”
Benedetto uttered a cry of astonishment Anselmo waved before his comrade's eyes a narrow little tooth-saw
”Do you believe in my promise now?” the ex-priest triumphantly exclaimed: ”the jailers call our little anihed aloud Anselmo placed the instru ahile Benedetto looked at him deaf and dumb with astonish deeply, ”and now you shall hear how the ot A lady will come here on the 24th--”