This part of the country was reported to be infested with thieves, the regular hunting grounds of the brigands.
A faint smile lurked round the corners of the old man's mouth, and there was a twinkle in his eye.
"At last," he muttered to himself, "at last!"
Just then there was a noise as of branches being pushed aside and dry twigs being crushed; and forth stepped a stalwart peasant, all in rags and tatters, and placed himself, hat in hand, before the old man.
"Hullo!" exclaimed the latter, "why, where did you come from?"
And yet his surprise looked more assumed than real.
"Charity!" replied the beggar.
"Charity!" echoed the old man, fumbling in his pockets, "by all means; take this, my honest fellow."
So saying, he dropped a piece of money into his open palm.
"Gold! Yes, a golden piece, by all the saints in the calendar."