Page:The Monk, A Romance - Lewis (1796, 1st ed., Volume 1).djvu/204

 at present shall make up for my past delay."

"On that condition," answered Baptiste, "I shall readily forgive you: but in truth, as you share equally with us in our prizes, your own interest will make you use all possible diligence. 'Twould be a shame to let such a noble booty escape us. You say that this Spaniard is rich?"

"His servant boasted at the inn, that the effects in his chaise were worth above two thousand pistoles."

Oh! how I cursed Stephano's imprudent vanity.

"And I have been told," continued the postillion, "that this baroness carries about her a casket of jewels of immense value."

"May be so, but I had rather she had stayed away. The Spaniard was a secure prey; the boys and myself could easily have mastered him and his servant, and then the two thousand pistoles would have been shared between us four. Now we must let in the band for a share, and perhaps the