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If he had been near enough, he would have heard a few words of

strange import; "It would be a glorious thing," said one of the

scoundrels, "without reckoning the cash, if we could tell at the

palace how we had flattened their ribs,-without the direction,

too, of Signor Griso."

"And spoil the whole work," added the other; "but see! he stops

to look at us! Oh! if it were only later! But let us turn back,

not to create suspicion. People are coming on all sides; let us

wait till they go to their rests."