"You must have a very good reason for asking me to do such a dangerous
thing," she said at last.
"The reasons are complicated," answered Malipieri.
"Perhaps I could understand, if you explained them."
"Yes, I am sure you can. I will try. In the first place, you know of
the story about a treasure being concealed in the palace. I spoke of
it the other day, and you laughed at it. When I began, I was not
inclined to believe it myself, for it seems never to have been
anything more than a tradition. One or two old chronicles speak of it.
A Venetian ambassador wrote about it in the sixteenth century in one
of his reports to his government, suggesting that the Republic should
buy the palace if it were ever sold. I daresay you have heard that."
"No. It does not matter. You say you have found something--that is the
important point."
"Yes; and the next thing is to keep the secret for the present,
because so many people would like to know it. The third point of
importance is that you should see the treasure before it is moved,
before I can move it myself, or even see all of it."
"What is this treasure?" asked Sabina, with a little impatience, for
she was really interested.
"All I have seen of it is the hand of what must be a colossal statue,
of gilt bronze. On one of the fingers there is a ring with a stone
which I believe to be a ruby.
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