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I found the duke's room, and started to paw around it with my hands; but I

recollected it wouldn't be much like the king to let anybody else take care of

that money but his own self; so then I went to his room and begun to paw

around there. But I see I couldn't do nothing without a candle, and I dasn't

light one, of course. So I judged I'd got to do the other thing -- lay for them,

and eavesdrop. About that time, I hears their footsteps coming, and was going

to skip under the bed; I reached for it, but it wasn't where I thought it would

be; but I touched the curtain that hid Mary Jane's frocks, so I jumped in

behind that and snuggled in amongst the gowns, and stood there perfectly

still.

They come in and shut the door; and the first thing the duke done was to

get down and look under the bed. Then I was glad I hadn't found the bed

when I wanted it. And yet, you know, it's kind of natural to hide under

the bed when you are up to anything private. They sets down, then, and the

king says: ssssssssss

"Well, what is it? and cut it middlin' short, because it's better for us to be

down there a whoopin'-up the mournin', than up here givin' 'em a chance to talk

us over." ssssssssss

"Well, this is it, Capet. I ain't easy; I ain't comfortable. That doctor

lays on my mind. I wanted to know your plans. I've got a notion, and I think

it's a sound one." ssssssssss

"What is it, duke?"

"That we better glide out of this, before three in the morning, and clip it

down the river with what we've got. Specially, seeing we got it so easy -- given

back to us, flung at our heads, as you may say, when of course we allowed to have

to steal it back. I'm for knocking off and lighting out."

That made me feel pretty bad. About an hour or two ago, it would a been a

little different, but now it made me feel bad and disappointed. The king rips

out and says: ssssssssss

"What! And not sell out the rest o' the property? March off like a pas-

sel o' fools and leave eight or nine thous'n' dollars' worth o' property layin' around

jest sufferin' to be scooped in? -- and all good salable stuff, too."

ssssssssss

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