"I hope we will," responded Nadine, her charming face radiant at the handsome result of their week's work. "We'll need it all before spring, and we must be very careful how we spend what we have. It won't do to be extravagant because it seems such a big sum of money to have at once. But what was that?" she cried, her face suddenly growing grave. "Did you see anything, Cæsar?"
"No," replied Cæsar, looking all about him. "I saw nothing—what was it startled you?"
"I may be mistaken," answered Nadine, speaking in a steadier tone, "but I thought I saw a face peering in at the window just as I was putting the money away, and it frightened me a little. It would be dreadful if any one tried to rob us of our money, wouldn't it?"
CHAPTER XII.
THE RASCAL'S REVENGE.
Cæsar's laughing face grew serious at what Nadine said.
"That is so, Nadine," he responded. "I hadn't thought of it before. Doubtless it is well known that our performances have been very successful, and that we have taken in a good deal of money, and it may be that some of the other mountebanks who have been less fortunate would like very well to rob us of the results of our hard work."
"Oh! Cæsar, you make me nervous!" cried Nadine with a pretty shiver. "What can we do to protect ourselves?"
"Tut! sister, I'm not in earnest," rejoined Cæsar smilingly. "There's nothing to be afraid of. There are only honest people round about us. The next vans to ours are occupied by the performers of the Sito circus, and none of them would think of doing anything so mean. Nevertheless, just to make your mind easy, I will keep guard to-night, and at the first sign of anything suspicious I will give the alarm."