Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - Läseboken - 72. The Adventure of the Mason
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Läsebok". N:o 70—71.
will you undertake a job this very night?» »With all my
heart, Sefior Padre, 011 condition that I am paid accordingly».
»That you shall be, but you must suffer yourself to be
blindfolded».
To this the mason made no objection; so being
hoodwinked, he was led by the priest through various rough lanes,
until they stopped before the portal of a house. The priest
then applied a key, turned a creaking lock, and opened what
sounded like a ponderous door. They entered, the door
was closed and bolted, and the mason was conducted through
an echoing corridor and a spacious hall, to an interior part
of the building. Here the bandage was removed from his
eyes, and he found himself in a court dimly lighted by a
single lamp. In the centre was the dry basin of an old
Moorish fountain, under which the priest requested him to
form a vault, bricks and mortar being at hand for the
purpose. He accordingly worked all night, but without finishing
the job. Just before daybreak the priest put a piece of
o-old into his hand, and having ae;ain blindfolded him, con-
C; 7 C? O
ducted him back to his dwelling.
»Are you willing», said he, »to return and complete your
work?» »Gladly, Senor Padre, provided I am as well paid».
»Well. then, to-morrow, at midnight, I will call again». He
did so, and the vault was completed. — »Xow», said the
priest, »you must help me to bring forth the bodies that are
to be buried in this vault».
The poor mason’s hair stood on end at these words; he
followed the priest, with trembling steps, into a retired
chamber of the mansion, expecting to behold some ghastly
spectacle of death, but was relieved on perceiving three or four
portly jars standing in a corner. They were evidently full
of money, and it was with great labour, that he and the
priest carried them forth, and consigned them to their tomb.
The vault was then closed, the pavement replaced, and all
traces of the work obliterated. The mason was again blindfolded
and led forth by a route different from that by which he
had come. After they had wandered for a long time through
a maze of lanes, they halted. The priest then put two
pieces of gold into his hand. »Wait here», said he, »until you
hear the cathedral bell toll for matins. If you presume to
uncover your eyes before that time, evil will befall you». So
saying, he departed. The mason waited faithfully, amusing
himself by weighing the gold pieces in his hand, and
clinking them against each other. The moment the cathedral bell
tolled its matin peal, he uncovered his eyes, and found
himself on the banks of the Xenil, from whence he made the
best of his way home, and revelled with his family for a
whole fortnight on the profits of his two nights’ work; after
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