“No, Massa Gascoigne,” replied Mesty, “I try it myself, by-and-by. 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 at 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.
“Yes— not one hour ago. Here de order for de money.”
“You must run for the money before he is dead, for the powder is very rapid.”
“And me,” replied Mesty, apparently much alarmed, “where am I to go?”
“As soon as you bring the money here, you must go back to the barracks. Remain there till he is dead, and then return here. I will have all ready, and take you, as soon as it is dusk, to a monastery of our order in the mountains, where no one will think of looking for you, till the affair is blown over; and then I will find you a passage in some vessel out of the island.”
Mesty hastened for the money, and taking it in a large bag to the monastery, delivered it to the friar’s charge, and then returned to the barracks to Easy and Gascoigne. It was agreed that he should go with the friar, who would probably remain away some time; indeed Mesty insisted upon so doing. Mesty stayed two hours, and then returned about dusk to the monastery, and reported the death of our hero. He remained there until it was dark, and then the friar ordered him to tie the bag of dollars to his saddle- bow. They mounted two mules, which stood already caparisoned, and quitted Palermo.
In the morning Don Philip, as usual, made his appearance, and told our hero that the friar had been summoned away by the abbot, and would not return for some time.
“I came to tell you this news,” said Don Philip, “as I thought it would please you; the sooner you are now well, the better. I mean to propose your both being removed to my father’s palazzo, and then you can recover your lost ground during the confessor’s absence.”
“And I have the means,” replied Jack, showing the friar’s letter. Don Philip read it with astonishment, but was still more surprised when he heard the whole story from Jack. He was for a time silent: at last he said,—
“I am sorry for your poor black.”
“Why so?” replied Jack.
“You will never see him again, depend upon it. A thousand dollars would sign the death warrant of a thousand blacks; but there is another reason— they will put him out of the way that he may not give evidence. Where is the powder?”
“Mesty has it; he would not part with it.”