Donsterswivel, with much talk of planetary influences, and spirits, and “suffumigation,” presently set fire to a little pile of chips, and when the flame was at the highest flung in a handful of perfumes, which produced a strong and pungent odour.

A violent explosion of sneezing, which the mendicant was unable to suppress, accompanied by a grunting, half-smothered cough, confounded the two treasure-seekers.

“I was begun to think,” said the terrified German, “that this would be bestermost done in de daylight; we was bestermost to go away just now.”

“You juggling villain!” said the baronet; “this is some legerdemain trick of yours to get off from the performance of your promise, as you have so often done before.  You shall show me that treasure, or confess yourself a knave.”

Here Edie, who began to enter into the humour of the scene, uttered an extraordinary howl.  Donsterswivel flung himself on his knees.  “Dear Sir Arthur, let us go, or let me go!”

“No, you cheating scoundrel!” said the knight, unsheathing his sword.  “I will see this treasure before you leave this place, or, by heaven, I’ll run this sword through you though all the spirits of the dead should rise around us!”

“For de lofe of heaven, be patient, mine honoured patron; do not speak about de spirits—­it makes dem angry.”

Donsterswivel at length proceeded to a corner of the building where lay a flat stone upon the ground.  With great trepidation he removed the stone, threw out a shovelful or two of earth, and produced a small case or casket.  This was at once opened by the baronet, and appeared to be filled with coin.

“This is being indeed in good luck,” said Sir Arthur; “and if you think it omens proportional success upon a larger venture, I will hazard the necessary advance.”

But the German’s guilty conscience and superstitious fears made him anxious to escape, and accordingly he hurried Sir Arthur from the spot.

“Saw onybody e’er the like o’ that!” said Edie to Lovel.

“His faith in the fellow is entirely restored,” said Lovel, “by this deception, which he had arranged beforehand.”

“Ay, ay; trust him for that.  He wants to wile him out o’ his last guinea, and then escape to his own country, the land-louper.”

But thanks to old Edie’s efforts, Donsterswivel was checked in his scheme for the plunder of Sir Arthur Wardour.

IV.—­The Secret is Disclosed

Captain M’Intyre’s wound turned out to be not so dangerous as was at first suspected, and after some six weeks’ nursing at Monkbarns, the hot-tempered soldier was once more in full health.