190 The Book of Cats. 



knife ; but no sooner did Tom perceive this act, than 

 he began to utter such singular expressions of con- 

 trition, that his proprietor paused to ask him to 

 explain them. The Cat in wild terms alluded to 

 a certain sum of ten thousand florins lying at the 

 bottom of a well, and the wizard wanted to know 

 more about them. It appeared then, that Tom's 

 late mistress had thrown the sum he named to the 

 bottom of a well, and informed her Cat that 'should 

 he find a perfectly beautiful and a penniless maiden, 

 whom a perfectly honest man was inclined to wed 

 in spite of her poverty, then he should empty the 

 contents of the well as a marriage portion.' 



*' Of course this tale was false. The money existed 

 where Tom had described, but it had been ill-gotten 

 gold, with a curse upon it. But the wizard nibbled 

 at the bait, put a chain round Tom's neck, and 

 went to have a look at the treasure. There it was, 

 sure enough, shining under the water. 



" * Are you quite sure that there are exactly ten 

 thousand florins }' asked the magician. 



" ' I 've never been down to see,' replied Tom ; ' I 

 was obliged to take the old lady's word for it.' 



" 'But where shall I find a wife.'*' asked the wizard. 



" ' I'll find you one,' said Tom. 



'"Will you.?' 



