Garda."

And at the mention of the guard hurry came on Morano, he closed
his lips upon his store of wisdom, and together they left the Inn
of the Dragon and Knight. And when Rodriguez saw shut behind him
that dark door of oak that he had so persistently entered, and
through which he had come again to the light of the sun by many
precautions and some luck, he felt gratitude to Morano. For had it
not been for Morano's sinister hints, and above all his remark
that mine host would have driven him thence because he liked him,
the evil look of the sombre chamber alone might not have been
enough to persuade him to the precautions that cut short the
dreadful business of that inn. And with his gratitude was a
feeling not unlike remorse, for he felt that he had deprived this
poor man of a part of his regular wages, which would have been his
own gold ring and the setting that held the sapphire, had all gone
well with the business. So he slipped the ring from his finger and
gave it to Morano, sapphire and all.

Morano's expressions of gratitude were in keeping with that
flowery period in Spain, and might appear ridiculous were I to
expose them to the eyes of an age in which one in Morano's place
on such an occasion would have merely said, "Damned good of you
old nut, not half," and let the matter drop.

I merely record therefore that Morano was grateful and so
expressed himself; while Rodriguez, in addition to the pleasant
glow in the mind that comes from a generous action, had another
feeling that gives all of us pleasure, or comfort at least (until
it grows monotonous), a feeling of increased safety; for while he