And Gastonio was sore afraid; he quaked with fear so that his knees
wobbled, and his face paled even to the brown wart on his nose.
And the reason thereof was that his brother Alphonso was discovered.
And he lifted up his voice, and it was a heavy voice, and he roared
like unto the roar of a bull, and he cried out, “If my brother Alphonso
is discovered, I am found.”
Now Alphonso, the brother of Gastonio, was a lobster, strong in the
claw but weak in the headpiece, and he was expensive and needed much
money.
And Alphonso had a large open face with nothing behind it; but Gastonio
had a small narrow face and behind it was much.
And these two were in the service of the King--Gastonio the elder,
because he knew things, and Alphonso because his brother Gastonio was
in it.
And it came to pass that Alphonso used much public money, but gave
little service therefor. And the multitude became wise and discovered
Alphonso in his ill-doing. And Gastonio was sore afraid lest he, too,
should be separated from his breath. And so he wept and lamented that
he had closed his eye to the doings of Alphonso.
And there was a great meeting of the rulers of the people, in the House
which is called Common, because it is so. And they made inquiries into
things. And one of the things was Alphonso.
And so the Rulers called Gastonio before them and demanded of him
saying: “Where is thy brother? What doeth he? And wherefore doth he
live on the fat of the land, yet toil not, neither spin, except such
yarns as are called “smutty”?”
And Gastonio communed within himself, with fear and trembling.
“Speak,” said the rulers, “or be condemned.”
And, behold, a cunning scheme came into the mind of Gastonio, and
he spoke thusly: “Know ye my masters, that the doings of my brother
Alphonso are not to my cognizance. Some one thinking to curry favour in
my sight hath appointed him and put this money in his hand without my
knowledge or consent.”
“Then,” said the Rulers, “we must have an investigation.”
And immediately Gastonio was aware that he was saved, and he smiled a
long smile in his sleeve, for he knew that He who is Investigated is
Safe.