"Yes, that is true. But know you not the owners of this castle and territory possess these mines and work them?"
"I believe they do; but I thought they had discontinued working them some years."
"Oh, no! that was given out to deceive the government, who claimed so much out of its products."
"Oh! ah! aye, I see now."
"And ever since they have been working it privately, and storing bars of gold up in the vaults of this—"
"Here, in this castle?"
"Yes; beneath this very tower—it being the least frequented—the strongest, and perfectly inaccessible from all sides, save the castle—it was placed there for the safest deposit."
"I see; and there is much gold deposited in the vaults?"
"I believe there is an immense quantity in the vaults."
"And what is your motive for telling me of this hoard of the precious metal?"