In the evening the banker’s clerk stole from his master to join us: “Well, Aguilera,” said I, “your patron was doubtless very much surprised at not having seen me again this morning.” “In truth he was,” replied he: “after having waited above an hour expecting you, he began to fear that you would return no more. As he cannot be ignorant of his bad repute at Milan, he thinks that some person has been charitable enough to caution you against him, and I could perceive that he was extremely mortified.” “Did the three gentlemen who were with him when I called this morning, stay long after I was gone?” said I. “No,” answered Aguilera, “nor did any one else drop in during the whole of the morning.” I was much pleased at this circumstance, and assured my companions, that in three or four days, at latest, we should bring this piece to a finale. The banker’s confidential gentleman, overjoyed with this prospect, wished me good night; but before we parted I desired that he would not call again at the inn, representing the consequences to him, and arranging between us that every day at a certain hour he should repair to a certain place, where Sayavedra should meet him and bring instructions from me.
My false keys were brought home two days after this. Aguilera, who was soon informed of this, told his friend he should have an opportunity of making use of them on the following Sunday after dinner, while the banker was amusing himself, as was his custom, at a game of chess, with one of his neighbours. I then let Sayavedra completely into the secret, in order that he might the better give his friend his instructions; and, on the Saturday evening I despatched him to the rendezvous, entrusting to his care the two false keys, and the casket, in which I put ten quadruples, thirty Roman crowns, and some slips of manuscript, instead of the lead which it before contained. As for the bag of money, I begged leave to keep that at home, having besmeared it with ink, and tied it up with red ribbon, merely that it might be exhibited to our landlord and his wife in that state, that they might testify to having seen it; so I had only put the lead into the casket to make it heavy, and to make these good folks believe that it was full of gold.
As soon as my confidant saw Aguilera, he said to him: “now my friend, listen to me with the utmost attention, and be particular in remembering what I tell you. Take these keys, and to-morrow, when you open the strong box, take out the shamois leather purse which is in it, and empty it into this casket; but be sure you take thirty pistoles out of the thousand you will find there, and substitute these ten quadruples in their place. You will not fail also to put this manuscript in, which contains a specification of the sum, and declares that it is the property of Don Juan Osorio, which is the name my master has assumed in this affair. This other slip of paper,” continued he, “you must thrust into the bag in which you say there are three hundred and thirty crowns, and which is stained with ink, and tied up with a red ribbon. You will at the same time extract from this bag thirty of these crowns, and slip in these thirty Roman crowns in their stead. I have but one thing now to tell, and which is most important of all; that is, to open the press in which your patron keeps his account books, and write in his journal the words you will find on this third paper, taking good care to let it be under the name of Don Juan Osorio, which you will find there entered, and also to imitate with your utmost dexterity the hand-writing of Signor Plati. Signor Don Guzman, my master,” added he, “requires nothing more of you but what will be the easiest part of the performance, namely: that on Monday, at the wind up of the scheme, you affect to be a most zealous servant, call him all the vile names you can think of, and even strike him to make the scene more natural.”
Aguilera here interrupted his friend. “Enough,” said he; “I see plainly the whole of the project, and that the master you serve is indeed a thorough-bred thief. You may assure him that I shall do every thing he has prescribed for me, and it shall not be my fault if his plans be defeated.” Sayavedra thereupon delivered up to him the casket with the three papers, the ten quadruples, and thirty Roman crowns, which Aguilera carried home and hid, until the time came to make use of them.
CHAP. XLI.
What was the success of this stratagem.
I did not pass the Sunday without some uneasiness, fearing lest some untoward circumstance might defeat our enterprise; but my confidant having been to the usual place of rendezvous in the evening, returned full of joy to announce to me that every thing had been executed as I desired, and that Aguilera was preparing himself to play his part well the next day. This news restored my spirits, and I waited patiently for the hour when I should appear before the banker.
No sooner had it arrived, than I repaired to his house; he was alone in his counting-house. After saluting him very politely, I told him I had called to request that he would return me what I had brought him a few days before. He inquired with astonishment what I had brought him. “Zounds!” said I, “why the gold and silver specie which I deposited in your hands.” “What gold and silver,” answered he. “Oh, oh!” replied I, “what you affect to joke? Upon my soul, this is not bad.” “Much more of a joke,” rejoined he, “that you should expect me to refund what has never been given to me.” “Let us have no more jesting, however,” said I, “on matters of business, which, I assure you, is by no means to my taste.” “Surely,” said he, “it must be you that jest: I recollect well enough that a few days since you called upon me, and promised that within an hour you would bring me twelve thousand franks; but you forfeited your word.” “Rather,” answered I, “confess that you have lost your memory. I protest that I delivered that sum into your own hands, and will not quit this house until it be refunded in the very same coins in which I paid it to you.” “Go about your business,” replied he, “or I shall grow impatient with your nonsense. I neither know any thing of you, nor have I ever had any thing that belongs to you. Go and get your money from those to whom you entrusted it.”
As the banker and I began now every moment to assume a higher tone, all the passers-by stopped to listen to our conversation, very anxious to know the subject of our dispute. That they might not be long in suspense I cried aloud, “Oh, traitor and infamous thief! may the justice of God and man unite to punish you! When I entrusted you with my money you received me most obsequiously, but now I am come to reclaim it you affect not to know who I am, and with the most bare-faced effrontery deny the deposit! Cause the money to be counted out to me on this table instantly, or I will tear your soul out!” The banker on his side called me all the names I deserved, until from abusing each other we insensibly came to action, and he endeavoured to push me out of the room by his shoulders; but I repulsed him with such a blow as laid him sprawling on the floor. Aguilera then rushed upon me with a furious air, and gave me a few fisticuffs, which I returned in such sort, that several of the spectators entered to separate us. The confidential clerk finding himself restrained from rejoining me, pretended to struggle with those who held him, like a madman; while on my side, with my eyes glittering and my mouth foaming with rage, I defied him to approach me.
The affray had already lasted an hour, when the Bargello, by chance, or perhaps from some one’s having told him what was going on, made his appearance. The first thing he did was to ask the subject of our quarrel, and the struggle now was which of us should speak first. He desired us both to hold our tongues; then having informed himself which of us was the complainant, he desired me to speak first, after which he would hear what my adversary had to say. At these words a profound silence succeeded, and every one present listened attentively. “Six days since,” said I, “I came into this counting-house, and requested this same Signor Plati to allow me to deposit in his hands a considerable sum of money which I had brought to Milan with me, and which I did not think sufficiently secure at the inn where I lodge. He answered with much politeness that I had only to send him the money, and he would take care of it as long as I thought proper. I accordingly returned home immediately, and returned an hour after with my servant, who carried in a gilt casket a thousand pistoles in gold, and in a bag stained with ink and tied with a red ribbon three hundred and thirty crowns, thirty of which were Roman. The banker counted and weighed the coin, which he put with their specification in the casket and bag again, and then locked them altogether in his strong box.”