" Dr. Beauregard touched the sleeping man
contemptuously with the toe of his boot. "I myself have been--shall
we say?--fortunate. I have emptied, or assisted to empty, two caches
of treasure in this island. A third remains, of which you have the
secret, and I believe it to be the richest of all. But before you
attempt it, I have a mind to tell you something of the other two,
that at least you may not attempt it unwarned."
"You may spare yourself the pains, sir," said Miss Belcher,
decisively; "since our minds are made up. You might, I doubt not,
succeed in frightening us; but since you will not deter us, I suggest
that the less we hear the better."
The Doctor bowed. "Ah, madam," sighed he, "if only Fate had timed
your adventure two years ago; or if, departing with the treasure, you
could even now leave me to regrets--in peace!"
"My good sir," said Miss Belcher, sharply, "I haven't a doubt you
mean something or other; but what precisely it is, I cannot
conceive."
"You will go, madam, leaving my island twice empty. That is Fate,
and I consent with Fate. But the devil of it is, ma'am--if I may use
the expression--your removing the treasure will not prevent others
coming to look for it, and annoying an old age which has ceased to
set store on wealth, or on anything that wealth can purchase.
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