“As soon as you have received the money bring it to me at Don Rebiera’s—then give the powder: as soon as it is given you must let me know, for you must not remain in Palermo. I will myself conduct you to a place of safety.”
Mesty then quitted the cell and was shown out of the monastery.
“By de holy poker he one damn rascal!” muttered Mesty, as he was once in the open air. “But stop a little.”
The Ashantee soon arrived at the barracks, and repeated the whole of the conference between him and the Friar Thomaso.
“It must be poison, of course,” observed Gascoigne; “suppose we try it upon some animal?”
“No, Massa Gascoigne,” replied Mesty, “I try it myself, by-and-bye. Now what we do?”
“I must give you the order for the thousand dollars, Mesty,” replied Jack. “The rascal here writes to me that for that sum he will consent not only not to oppose me, but agrees to assist my cause; but the great question is, whether he will keep his word with you, Mesty; if not, I shall lose my money. So therefore we must now have another palaver and argue the point.”
The point was argued between Jack and Gascoigne. A thousand dollars was a large sum, but Jack’s father was a philosopher. After many pros and cons, it was as last decided that the money should be given to Mesty; but that Mesty should state, when he took the money to the friar, that he had administered the powder, and claim it when he presented it.
The next day the order for the money was given to Mesty, and he went to the Friar Thomaso with it. The friar hastened with Mesty to the monastery and sent for the interpreter.
“You have given it?” inquired the friar.