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Grumbling at his forgetfulness； he hurried along the street； determined to
waste no time。 On occasions he could relinquish his lazy； slouching gait；
and he would hurry always to obey the commands of the king his son。 A
pleasant smile at the thought of the pleasure his present would cause
softened the sinister mould of his lips； and he sang softly to himself as he
moved quickly cityward。
Before he had gone many yards an oath broke in upon the music； and
he darted swiftly under the shadow of a wall； for coming forward him was
Amos the Jew。 But the old man's sharp eyes detected the victim； and；
following Gregorio into his hiding…place； Amos laid his hand upon the
Greek。
〃Why do you try to hide when we have so much to say to one
another？〃
Gregorio shook himself from the Jew's touch and professed ignorance
of the necessity for speech。
〃Come； come； my friend； the money you borrowed is still owing in
part。〃
〃But you will be paid。 We are saving money； we cannot put by all we
earnwe must live。〃
〃I will be paid now； if I am not； you are to blame for the
consequences。〃
And with a courtly salute the Jew passed on。 Now Gregorio had not
forgotten his debt； nor the Jew's threats； and he fully intended to pay what
he owed。 But of course it would take time； and the man was too impatient。
He realised he had been foolish not to pay something on account； but it
hurt him to part with gold。 He determined； however； to send Amos
something when he returned home。 So good a watch had been kept； he
never doubted the child's safety。 But it would be awkward if Amos got him
put in jail。 So he reckoned up how much he could afford to pay； and；
having bought the toy； returned eagerly home。 He ran upstairs； singing a
barcarole at the top of his voice； and rushed into the room； waving the
model ship above his head。 〃See here；〃 he cried； 〃is the ship！ I have not
forgotten it。〃 But his shout fell to a whisper。 The room was empty。
With a heartbroken sob the man fell swooning on the floor。
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STORIES
IX A DISCOVERY AND A CONSPIRACY
For long he lay stretched out upon the floor in a state of half…
consciousness。 He could hear the mosquitos buzzing about his face； he
could hear； too； the sounds of life rise up from the street below； but he was
able to move neither arm nor leg； and his head seemed fastened to the
floor by immovable leaden weights。 That his son was lost was all he
understood。
How long he lay there he scarcely knew； but it seemed to him weeks。
At last he heard footsteps on the stairs。 He endeavoured vainly to raise
himself； and； though he strove to cry out； his tongue refused to frame the
words。 Lying there； living and yet lifeless； he saw the door open and Amos
enter。 The old man hesitated a moment； for the room was dark； while
Gregorio； who had easily recognised his visitor； lay impotent on the floor。
Before Amos could become used to the darkness the door again opened；
and Madam Marx entered with a lamp in her hand。 Amos turned to see
who had followed him； and； in turning； his foot struck against Gregorio's
body。 Immediately； the woman crying softly； both visitors knelt beside the
sick man。 A fierce look blazed in Gregorio's eyes； but the strong words of
abuse that hurried through his brain would not be said。
〃He is very ill；〃 said Amos； 〃he has had a stroke of some sort。〃
〃Help me to carry him to my house；〃 sobbed the woman； and she
kissed the Greek's quivering lip and pallid brow。 Then rising to her feet；
she turned savagely on the Jew。
〃It is your fault。 It is you who have killed him。〃
〃Nay； madam； I had called here for my money； and I had a right to do
so。 It has been owing for a long time。〃
〃No； you have killed him。〃
〃Indeed； I wished him well。 I was willing to forgive the debt if he
would let me take the child。〃
A horrid look of agony passed over Gregorio's face； but he remained
silent and motionless。 The watchers saw that he understood and that a
tempest of wrath and pain surged within the lifeless body。 They stooped
down and carried him downstairs and across the road to the Penny…
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STORIES
farthing Shop。 The Jew's touch burned Gregorio like hot embers； but he
could not shake himself free。 When he was laid on a bed in a room above
the bar； through the floor of which rose discordant sounds of revelry；
Amos left them。 Madam Marx flung herself on the bed beside him and
wept。
Two days later Gregorio sat； at sunset； by Madam Marx's side； on the
threshold of the cafe。 He had recovered speech and use of limbs。 With
wrathful eloquence he had told his companion the history of the terrible
night； and now sat weaving plots in his maddened brain。
Replying to his assertion that Amos was responsible； Madam Marx
said：
〃Don't be too impetuous； Gregorio。 Search cunningly before you strike。
Maybe your wife knows something。〃
〃My wife！ Not she； she is with her Englishman。 Amos has stolen the
boy； and you know it as well as I do。 Didn't he tell you he wanted the child？
I met him that night； and he told me if I did not pay I had only myself to
blame for the trouble that would fall on me。〃
〃Come； come； Gregorio； cheer up！〃 said the woman； for the Greek；
with head resting on his hands； was sobbing violently。
〃I tell you； all I cared for in life is taken from me。 But I will have my
revenge； that I tell you too。〃
For a while they sat silent； looking into the street。 At last Gregorio
spoke：
〃My wife has not returned since that night； has she？〃
〃I have not seen her。〃
〃Well； I must see her； she can leave the Englishman now。〃
Madam Marx laughed a little； but said nothing。
〃There is Ahmed；〃 cried Gregorio； as a blue…clad figure passed on the
other side of the street。 He beckoned to the Arab； who came across at his
summons。
〃You seem troubled；〃 he said； as he looked into the Greek's face； and
Gregorio retold the terrible story。
〃You know nothing