_Of the daring enterprize which Guzman and Sayavedra formed
together in the city of Milan._
We passed the first three days in walking about the streets, examining
the different articles with which the shops were decked out, without
thinking as yet of turning our genius to advantage. Happy times for the
citizens of Milan!
As we were strolling as usual one morning, a young man, tolerably well
dressed, accosted Sayavedra who was behind me. I always walked first,
and did not perceive him until I had got about a hundred paces on. I
then looked attentively at this young man who had stopped my confidant,
and there was something mettlesome and cunning in his appearance which
I did not like. Oh, oh! thought I, who can this chap be; what business
can they have together? This is what I must know; but how can I possibly
learn? Were I to call Sayavedra, and ask him the subject of this
conversation, he would not fail to frame a lie in an instant, and I
should not be a bit the wiser. All I can do then is to keep quiet, let
them go on their own way, betray no suspicion of Sayavedra, but keep a
sharp eye over him.
Their conversation lasted above a quarter of an hour; after which, the
young man took his leave of my confidant, who rejoined me with a
thoughtful air, which by no means dissipated my suspicions. I was in
hopes that he would have explained the rencontre to me; but he said not
a word about it, still remaining in a reverie. I kept silence also until
after dinner, when finding myself alone with him, and being able no
longer to contain myself: “Mr. Sayavedra,” said I, smiling, “may I
presume to ask who that young man might be with whom you had so serious
a conversation this morning? I think I have seen him at Rome. Is not his
name Mendocia?” “No Sir,” replied he, “he is named Aguilera, and I
assure you very appropriately so called; for he shews himself a true
eagle whenever he has occasion to use his claws. He is a good companion,
has a tolerable share of wit, and is very clever in many respects. We
have known each other for a long time, have travelled in company, and
have suffered a great deal together. His head is at present full of a
scheme, which, if it succeed, will make his fortune. He proposed to me
to be a party to it, offering me half the profits. I told him that I
would undertake nothing, without first apprising you of it. I even went
so far as to add that you were so extremely kind to me, that I felt
assured you would not refuse us your advice in an affair of such
consequence.” “No,” said I, “undoubtedly I would not: on the contrary,
my friend, I am well disposed to assist you both. Let me know what is
the subject in debate.” “Sir,” replied he, “Aguilera is to call here
this afternoon, when you can speak to him yourself. He will disclose his
whole project to you, and if there be any alteration required in his
plan, you can adjust it to perfection.”
He had no sooner said these words, than he was informed that a young man
wished to speak with him. We had no doubt but this was Aguilera, for we
knew no one else at Milan. Sayavedra ran to meet him; and after having
prepared him for the conversation we should have together, he introduced
him to me. We saluted each other with much politeness. Aguilera was a
well looking young man, and appeared to me to possess good sense. He
confirmed every thing my confidant had told me, and related to me in an
agreeable manner several of their exploits together. He then informed
me, that having come to Milan in the hope of making some good hit, he
had found means to introduce himself to the service of a rich banker,
with whom he had lived about six months as his clerk: that he had by his
assiduity and fidelity entirely gained the confidence of his patron,
waiting patiently until he found a good opportunity of robbing him: that
such a one now presented itself; but, that he had occasion for a second
to avail himself of it, and that in meeting Sayavedra, he looked upon
him as a man sent from heaven for that express purpose, being well
acquainted with his abilities that way. I asked him, “if there would be
any difficulty in the execution of his design.” “Not a great deal,”
replied he, “but you shall judge for yourself. The banker has within
these few days deposited in his strong box a large shamois leather
purse, containing one thousand good pistoles. It is my intention to take
possession of these on Sunday morning, while my patron is at mass, and
to join Sayavedra at a certain place, where he shall have two horses in
waiting. We shall be off in an instant, and ride our hacks so vigorously
that we shall be far enough from the city, before the banker can
discover the copious bleeding his strong box shall have sustained.”
After having listened to Aguilera very attentively, I told him that his
undertaking was of a much more delicate nature than he himself seemed to
imagine: that, being known in the town as the confidential clerk of the
banker, he might meet some person on the road, who, surprised to see him
travelling on a post horse, would naturally suspect him of some roguery,
and immediately communicate his suspicions to his master: that the
banker on his return from mass would perhaps immediately discover that
he had been robbed; that this report would soon spread itself about the
town, and that it would soon be ascertained that Aguilera had set off
with post horses: the consequence of which would be, that his patron
would have him pursued by certain persons well mounted, whom it might be
rather difficult to escape. I urged many other objections, which
convinced him that his plan was but ill-conceived. He confessed this,
but told me at the same time, that he should nevertheless execute it, as
he saw no better way. I have to do, continued he, with a man who never
leaves his house, except on Sundays to hear mass, and then immediately
on his return shuts himself up as before in the room in which he keeps
his papers and money.
“It matters nothing,” replied I, “be he never so vigilant, ’twill be
easy enough to get this same shamois leather purse into our hands,
without exposing yourself to the danger you are willing to rashly to
incur. In good faith, gentlemen, if you know no better than this, you
are as yet but apprentices to your trade. I will shew you a genius
superior to that of many besides you. I will take upon myself, if it so
please you, the charge of conducting this enterprise, and without
implicating you in any misfortune that may happen to me in consequence;
even though fortune be adverse to me, I will answer for the thousand
pistoles, provided they remain in the strong box eight days longer.”
Sayavedra and his friend laughed heartily at this speech, at which they
were almost as much delighted as if the pistoles were already in their
hands. They thanked me for the offer, and readily left the conducting of
this affair to me; well persuaded, particularly Sayavedra, that I should
not talk in this strain without being well assured of the event. “Give
yourselves no further trouble about it then, gentlemen,” added I, “you
shall see that one who has been a page five or six years is somewhat
wiser than a Roman bandit.” This hit at Sayavedra redoubled their mirth,
and we were all very merry together. I then proceeded to question this
confidential clerk of the banker’s more particularly.
“By what means,” said I, “did you intend to get the purse out of the
strong box; you have not the key of it?” “Certainly not,” replied he,
“for my patron will trust it to nobody. He occasionally gives it to me
when I happen to be with him in his private room, and some person
happens to come in, when he is himself engaged, for the payment of a
bill. He throws me the key to take out a bag of which he tells me the
number, and while I am counting the money, he keeps one eye on what he
is writing and the other on me.” “This being the case,” continued I, “it
would be very difficult to take an impression of the key.” “Much less
so, perhaps, than you imagine,” answered Aguilera. “I have, God be
praised, a pretty dexterous hand, and will undertake to bring you the
impression of it; and also, if you think proper, that of the press, in
which the banker locks up his account-books and his daily cash.” At
these words, which delighted me, I told him that if he could procure
both the impressions, we should be much more sure of success.
I did not forget to ascertain the situation of the room; the manner in
which the bags were tied up; their marks; in fact every particular that
I considered necessary, of which I wrote down a circumstantial account.
I then sent Aguilera home to his master, telling him that I would give
him timely notice of the part he would have to play. After his
departure, I told my confidant that I had put his friend to a difficult
trial, and that I doubted much whether he would procure the impressions
of the keys. But Sayavedra, who had a better opinion of his talents,
thought otherwise, and he was certainly right. Within two days after
Aguilera kept his word, and informed me, also, where I might find a
locksmith who would make me two false keys, provided I paid him
handsomely. “I have but one more question to ask you,” said I, “at what
hour is your master to be seen? for bankers are generally particular.”
Aguilera answered, “that the best time was between ten o’clock and
noon.” “Good,” said I, “return home then, and remember well what I now
tell you: I shall not fail to be at the banker’s house by ten o’clock
to-morrow morning; arrange it so that you be with him at that time, and
be sure you lose not a word of my conversation with him, in order that
you may be brought forward as a witness, if necessary.”
Every thing being so far arranged, I carried the impressions to the
honest locksmith I had been recommended to, and whom I found in reality
the man for my business. He promised to make me two keys immediately
for two pistoles, one of which I paid him in advance. On my return to my
inn, I espied in a shop window a very neat sort of jewel box, which
after having carefully examined, I bought. Sayavedra who accompanied me,
appeared somewhat surprised at this purchase. I could not resist
laughing at his astonishment: “Friend,” said I, “be assured that this
little casket will not be without its use.” “I do not doubt it,”
answered he smiling; “you have not made a fool’s bargain. You doubtless
know the use you intend to put it to, and I leave that as well as every
thing else to your superior judgment.”
I went the next morning at ten precisely to the banker’s counting-house.
Aguilera was there, and two or three gentlemen on business. I bowed to
the master on entering the room, and addressing him in a loud voice,
told him that I was come to Milan with the intention of making some
purchases previously to my marriage: that I had brought a considerable
sum of money which I should be glad to place in safety, and that instead
of leaving it at my inn where there were all sorts of people, I had
thought it much better to trust it to a man like him, whose probity I
had heard much commended: I added, that I had a short voyage to take to
Venice which would oblige me to have a credit from his house. The
banker, greedy of gain, made me a thousand offers of service,
accompanied by the most profound bows, and asked me the amount of the
sum I wished to deposit in his hands. I answered, about twelve thousand
franks of gold, and a small bag of silver specie, which I would send him
in about an hour. He replied that my time was his: then reaching down
his day-book from the press, he enquired my name, which I gave him as
Don Juan Osorio. This he immediately wrote down, with the date of the
day and month, the better to ensure my keeping my word.
After this, having no further business with him at that time, I took my
leave, after a thousand mutual compliments, entreating him not to leave
his house until my return. I reached home well satisfied with the happy
commencement of my scheme. Sayavedra, who was waiting for me, with the
more impatience, as he was more interested in the business than I was,
was not a little astonished, when I informed him what I had just done.
“But, sir,” said he, “pray where do you intend to get these twelve
thousand franks which you have promised to carry to the banker’s? I am
at a loss to know this.” “That need not give you the least uneasiness,”
answered I, “he has them already. I know well enough that this is Hebrew
to you, but I have my reasons. Press me no more on this point at
present, but tell me whether your friend Aguilera reckons among his
talents that of being able to forge writing.” “Forge!” cried he with
transport, “he can counterfeit any one’s hand; it is his fort. Would to
heaven that I had only the money he has touched by such means! if he had
not excelled in that art, he would still have been at Rome; but he was
obliged to decamp thence somewhat abruptly, for fear of falling into the
hands of a brute of a merchant, who, having discovered that he had
forged his signature, was in pursuit of him.” “This being the case,”
replied I, “our enterprise must infallibly succeed.”
The reliance that Sayavedra placed in my skill, prevented his doubting
the success I assured him of, though he knew nothing of my plans. All
that vexed him was, that I had allotted no part in the performance to
him, of which he complained to me, asking if he was to be dumb in the
comedy. “Never fear,” said I, “I have reserved a character for you,
which you will perform to admiration.” At the same time I ordered him to
take under his arm the casket I had purchased and filled with lumps of
lead. In addition to this I loaded him with a bag of money, bound round
with red ribbon, and stained with ink in the middle, because, as well as
I could remember, there was one exactly similar to it in the strong box.
We left our chamber together, as if with the intention of carrying all
this to the banker’s. Having got into the street, I said to my
confidant, return for one moment into the kitchen, under pretence of
asking our landlord what hour we shall dine, and what he intends for our
dinner. In short, take care that his wife and he cannot fail to observe
the casket with curiosity and attention. It is very essential to us that
they should both take particular notice of it before you rejoin me.
No man in the world could be better adapted than Sayavedra, to acquit
himself well on such a commission. He went into the kitchen, where,
after having asked the landlord the question I had desired him, he
displayed without ceremony the casket and bag of money. The landlord and
landlady immediately fixed their eyes on them: the casket, especially,
was so much admired by the wife, that she could not resist requesting to
be allowed to examine it more closely. Her husband did the same, and
exclaimed, “Good God, how heavy it is!” “It may well be so,” said
Sayavedra, “since it is full of gold coin, to the amount of twelve
thousand franks, which we are now going to deposit in a banker’s hands.”
“At a banker’s!” cried the landlord abruptly, “though they contained
above a hundred thousand franks, both that casket and bag would be as
much in safety at my house as at the richest banker’s in the town.” The
landlady, as ticklish as her husband on points of honour, added: “Yes,
we have occasionally deposits of value left with us; and, thank God and
the Virgin Mary, we have always taken good care of them.” “I doubt it
not in the least,” replied Sayavedra. “Were you not considered honest
people, my master would never have come to lodge with you with so much
money. Think not then that he has a bad opinion of your house; but, the
fact is, that he is on the point of setting out for Venice, and having
occasion for a letter of credit to that city, we are in fairness bound
to leave these twelve thousand franks with the banker who will supply
him with one.”
“That alters the case,” replied the host, appeased; “I have nothing more
to say to it. What is the banker’s name?” “Plati,” replied my confidant.
“Plague on him,” continued the landlord, “he is as rich as Croesus,
but a very Jew. He will make you pay handsomely for your confidence, I
can tell you. If you had only said one word to me, I could have
recommended you to a much more reasonable house.” “It is too late now,”
said Sayavedra; “my master has already agreed with this banker. But
think not,” continued he, “that I can gossip much longer with you, for
my master is waiting for me. I merely came into the kitchen to ascertain
whether we should have time to settle our business before dinner.” The
landlord begged that we would not hurry ourselves, and hoped that we
should always find him ready to accommodate us in any way while in his
house.
My confidant having repeated this conversation to me, we took a walk
together quite out of the town. We returned after some time to the inn,
where Sayavedra, by my desire, entered without being observed, and
replaced both the casket and bag in my chamber. The table was not yet
laid, the landlord, out of respect to me, having kept back the dinner,
which was served up immediately he was told of my arrival. Having dined,
I retired into my chamber and sent for the landlord, who immediately
came up, begging to know in what he could serve me. I have a complaint
to make against you, said I; how could you think me capable of
suspecting so honourable a man as you? To convince you of the injustice
you do me, I entreat you to take care of this purse containing a hundred
pistoles, until my departure for Venice. So saying, I drew from my
pocket a perfumed purse containing that sum exactly. He was so sensible
of this mark of confidence, that he could scarcely restrain his joy.
In the evening the banker’s clerk stole from his master to join us:
“Well, Aguilera,” said I, “your patron was doubtless very much surprised
at not having seen me again this morning.” “In truth he was,” replied
he: “after having waited above an hour expecting you, he began to fear
that you would return no more. As he cannot be ignorant of his bad
repute at Milan, he thinks that some person has been charitable enough
to caution you against him, and I could perceive that he was extremely
mortified.” “Did the three gentlemen who were with him when I called
this morning, stay long after I was gone?” said I. “No,” answered
Aguilera, “nor did any one else drop in during the whole of the
morning.” I was much pleased at this circumstance, and assured my
companions, that in three or four days, at latest, we should bring this
piece to a finale. The banker’s confidential gentleman, overjoyed with
this prospect, wished me good night; but before we parted I desired that
he would not call again at the inn, representing the consequences to
him, and arranging between us that every day at a certain hour he should
repair to a certain place, where Sayavedra should meet him and bring
instructions from me.
My false keys were brought home two days after this. Aguilera, who was
soon informed of this, told his friend he should have an opportunity of
making use of them on the following Sunday after dinner, while the
banker was amusing himself, as was his custom, at a game of chess, with
one of his neighbours. I then let Sayavedra completely into the secret,
in order that he might the better give his friend his instructions; and,
on the Saturday evening I despatched him to the rendezvous, entrusting
to his care the two false keys, and the casket, in which I put ten
quadruples, thirty Roman crowns, and some slips of manuscript, instead
of the lead which it before contained. As for the bag of money, I begged
leave to keep that at home, having besmeared it with ink, and tied it up
with red ribbon, merely that it might be exhibited to our landlord and
his wife in that state, that they might testify to having seen it; so I
had only put the lead into the casket to make it heavy, and to make
these good folks believe that it was full of gold.
As soon as my confidant saw Aguilera, he said to him: “now my friend,
listen to me with the utmost attention, and be particular in remembering
what I tell you. Take these keys, and to-morrow, when you open the
strong box, take out the shamois leather purse which is in it, and empty
it into this casket; but be sure you take thirty pistoles out of the
thousand you will find there, and substitute these ten quadruples in
their place. You will not fail also to put this manuscript in, which
contains a specification of the sum, and declares that it is the
property of Don Juan Osorio, which is the name my master has assumed in
this affair. This other slip of paper,” continued he, “you must thrust
into the bag in which you say there are three hundred and thirty
crowns, and which is stained with ink, and tied up with a red ribbon.
You will at the same time extract from this bag thirty of these crowns,
and slip in these thirty Roman crowns in their stead. I have but one
thing now to tell, and which is most important of all; that is, to open
the press in which your patron keeps his account books, and write in his
journal the words you will find on this third paper, taking good care to
let it be under the name of Don Juan Osorio, which you will find there
entered, and also to imitate with your utmost dexterity the hand-writing
of Signor Plati. Signor Don Guzman, my master,” added he, “requires
nothing more of you but what will be the easiest part of the
performance, namely: that on Monday, at the wind up of the scheme, you
affect to be a most zealous servant, call him all the vile names you can
think of, and even strike him to make the scene more natural.”
Aguilera here interrupted his friend. “Enough,” said he; “I see plainly
the whole of the project, and that the master you serve is indeed a
thorough-bred thief. You may assure him that I shall do every thing he
has prescribed for me, and it shall not be my fault if his plans be
defeated.” Sayavedra thereupon delivered up to him the casket with the
three papers, the ten quadruples, and thirty Roman crowns, which
Aguilera carried home and hid, until the time came to make use of them.