^04 G R I M A L D Ir, 



Quivering- with joy j he feized upon the bags, and 

 left the jewels behind, as there was a chance that they 

 might betray -him. Being a great friend to order, he 

 ■ carefully replaced every thing in its former ftate, fhut 

 again every lock, and happily came back to his houfe 

 with the precious burden, without being mat or feer* 

 by any one. His firft care was to put his four bags 

 in a place of fecurity ; his fecond, to take meafures, 

 for the interment of the deceafed. He lifted him, ea- 

 illy as a feather ; for the bare touch of the bags of 

 gold, by its native energy, had imparted to him & 

 ftrenstfa which aftonifhed himfelL He carried Gri~ 



o 



maldi into his cellar, dug a deep grave, and tumbled 

 him in, with all his keys and cloaths. This done, he 

 filled up trie grave with fo much caution that it was 

 impoiiible to difcover that the earth had been opened- 



Having fmixhed his- work, he haftened to his- room.) 

 mntied his bags, and began, not fo much to count as 

 to feed hh fight with the gold. He found that all was 

 exactly right, not a fingle piece was wanting ; but he 

 was dazzled and giddy at the fight of fo much money, 

 Firft he counted it, then he weighed it ; his extafy in- 

 ^rearing' every moment. He depofited the whole heap 

 in a private clofet, burnt the bags, and did not quit 

 them with his eyes till the laft atom was confumed, 

 when he threw the afhes into the air,, afraid left even 

 thefe might betray him. At laft he retired to reft ; 

 for labour and joy had confpired to fatigue him. 



Some days after, as nothing was feen or heard of 

 Grimaldi, the magistracy ordered his houfe and his 

 chamber to be opened. All were furprifed at not 



meeting 



