第35章

Mariahadbeencontentmerelytorememberit；butZerkow’savaricegoadedhimtoabeliefthatitwasstillinexistence，hidsomewhere，perhapsinthatveryhouse，stowedawaytherebyMaria。Foritstoodtoreason，didn’tit，thatMariacouldnothavedescribeditwithsuchwonderfulaccuracyandsuchcarefuldetailunlessshehadseenitrecently——thedaybefore，perhaps，orthatveryday，orthatveryhour，thatveryHOUR？

“Lookoutforyourself，“hewhispered，hoarsely，tohiswife。“Lookoutforyourself，mygirl。I’llhuntforit，andhuntforit，andhuntforit，andsomedayI’llfindit——Iwill，you’llsee——I’llfindit，I’llfindit；andifIdon’t，I’llfindawaythat’llmakeyoutellmewhereitis。I’llmakeyouspeak——believeme，Iwill，Iwill，mygirl——trustmeforthat。“

AndatnightMariawouldsometimeswaketofindZerkowgonefromthebed，andwouldseehimburrowingintosomecornerbythelightofhisdark-lanternandwouldhearhimmumblingtohimself：“Thereweremore’nahundredpieces，andeveryoneof’emgold——whentheleathertrunkwasopeneditfairdazzledyoureyes——why，justthatpunch-

bowlwasworthafortune，Iguess；solid，solid，heavy，rich，puregold，nothunbutgold，gold，heapsandheapsofit——whataglory！I’llfindityet，I’llfindit。It’sheresomewheres，hidsomewheresinthishouse。“

Atlengthhiscontinuedillsuccessbegantoexasperatehim。

OnedayhetookhiswhipfromhisjunkwagonandthrashedMariawithit，gaspingthewhile，“Whereisit，youbeast？

Whereisit？Tellmewhereitis；I’llmakeyouspeak。“

“Idon’know，Idon’know，“criedMaria，dodginghisblows。

“I’dtellyou，Zerkow，ifIknew；butIdon’knownothingaboutit。HowcanItellyouifIdon’know？“

Thenoneeveningmattersreachedacrisis。MarcusSchoulerwasinhisroom，theroomintheflatjustoverMcTeague’s“Parlors“whichhehadalwaysoccupied。Itwasbetweenelevenandtwelveo’clock。Thevasthousewasquiet；PolkStreetoutsidewasverystill，exceptfortheoccasionalwhirrandtrundleofapassingcablecarandthepersistentcallingofducksandgeeseinthedesertedmarketdirectlyopposite。Marcuswasinhisshirtsleeves，perspiringandswearingwithexertionashetriedtogetallhisbelongingsintoanabsurdlyinadequatetrunk。Theroomwasingreatconfusion。ItlookedasthoughMarcuswasabouttomove。

Hestoodinfrontofhistrunk，hisprecioussilkhatinitshat-boxinhishand。Hewasragingattheperversenessofapairofbootsthatrefusedtofitinhistrunk，nomatterhowhearrangedthem。

“I’vetriedyouSO，andI’vetriedyouSO，“heexclaimedfiercely，betweenhisteeth，“andyouwon’tgo。“

Hebegantoswearhorribly，grabbingatthebootswithhisfreehand。“PrettysoonIwon’ttakeyouatall；Iwon’t，forafact。“

Hewasinterruptedbyarushoffeetuponthebackstairsandaclamorouspoundinguponhisdoor。HeopenedittoletinMariaMacapa，herhairdishevelledandhereyesstartingwithterror。

“Oh，MISTERSchouler，“shegasped，“lockthedoorquick。Don’tlethimgetme。He’sgotaknife，andhesayssurehe’sgoingtodoforme，ifIdon’ttellhimwhereitis。“

“Whohas？Whathas？Where