He promised to do what I asked him.  I wrapped up the pike in paper and put it in the back of the Bible, taking care that it projected an equal distance at each end.  Now, if I placed on the Bible a great dish of macaroni full of melted butter I was quite sure that Lawrence would not examine the ends.  All his gaze would be concentrated upon the plate, to avoid spilling the grease on the book.  I told Father Balbi of my plan, charging him to take care how he took the dish, and above all to take dish and Bible together, and not one by one.  On the day appointed Lawrence came earlier than usual, carrying a saucepan full of boiling macaroni, and all the necessary ingredients for seasoning the dish.  I melted a quantity of butter, and after putting the macaroni into the dish I poured the butter over it till it was full to the brim.  The dish was a huge one, and was much larger than the book on which I placed it.  I did all this at the door of my cell, Lawrence being outside.

When all was ready I carefully took up the Bible and dish, placing the back of the book next to the bearer, and told Lawrence to stretch out his arms and take it, to be careful not to spill the grease over the book, and to carry the whole to its destination immediately.  As I gave him this weighty load I kept my eyes fixed on his, and I saw to my joy that he did not take his gaze off the butter, which he was afraid of spilling.  He said it would be better to take the dish first, and then to come back for the book; but I told him that this would spoil the present, and that both must go together.  He then complained that I had put in too much butter, and said, jokingly, that if it were spilt he would not be responsible for the loss.  As soon as I saw the Bible in the lout’s arms I was certain of success, as he could not see the ends of the pike without twisting his head, and I saw no reason why he should divert his gaze from the plate, which he had enough to do to carry evenly.  I followed him with my eyes till he disappeared into the ante-chamber of the monk’s cell, and he, blowing his nose three times, gave me the pre-arranged signal that all was right, which was confirmed by the appearance of Lawrence in a few moments afterwards.

Father Balbi lost no time in setting about the work, and in eight days he succeeded in making a large enough opening in the ceiling, which he covered with a picture pasted to the ceiling with breadcrumbs.  On the 8th of October he wrote to say that he had passed the whole night in working at the partition wall, and had only succeeded in loosening one brick.  He told me the difficulty of separating the bricks joined to one another by a strong cement was enormous, but he promised to persevere, “though,” he said, “we shall only make our position worse than it is now.”  I told him that I was certain of success; that he must believe in me and persevere.  Alas!  I was certain of nothing, but I had to speak thus or to give up all.  I