'Yes,' he said. 'It was done well enough. But I made a little mistake which I hope you will help me to rectify for the sake of any service I may have done you all before I sold Camaldoli.'
'Willingly,' answered the Moscio, with courteous alacrity. 'But if it is for to-night, I hope you can lend me half a dozen Winchester cartridges, for I am a little short.'
Tebaldo explained briefly what he wanted. The Moscio smiled quietly.
'Nothing could be easier,' he said, when Tebaldo had finished. 'I will ride into the village to-morrow morning and get your knife. But, for another time, I should advise you to keep your weapon about you when you have used it. If you are caught, it is because you are suspected already on some good ground, and the weapon makes little difference. But if you get away quietly, you leave no evidence behind you.'
'That is true,' answered Tebaldo, thoughtfully. 'But there is no name on the knife.'
'Nevertheless, someone might recognise it as yours, if anyone had ever seen it.'
'No one ever saw it, excepting my brothers and, perhaps, my sister, when it lay on my table. But your advice is good. I might have saved myself much disquiet if I had brought it away.'
The Moscio made Tebaldo explain very exactly to him where the knife lay. He knew the village and the position of the little church well enough. They talked over the details of the matter for a while, speaking in low tones.
'I suppose you do not want the thing when I have recovered it,' observed the outlaw, with a smile.
'I should like to see it,' answered Tebaldo. 'Then I should throw it away, I suppose.'