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.