Twentyothermenwouldwillinglyhavebrokenanarmforsuchareward；
　　andtherecklessnessdisplayedduringthenextfewdayswassomethingawful。Butshesawthattoo，——littleescapedthosebigblueeyes，——
　　and，ascribingittodrink，gaveaprettystronglectureonthebibuloushabitsofBigStoneHole，athernextconcert。
　　TherewasanearnestmeetingintheAmericanBarthatnight，atwhichthefollowingmotionwasputandcarriedunanimously："Onandafterthisdate，anydrunkenmanisliabletobeshotatsight，unlesshisfriendscanprovethathehasdugoverthreecaratsofdiamondsduringtheday。"Andthen，likeotherreformers，theywentontomoresweepingmeasures："Onlyknife-fightingtotakeplaceinthecamp。Alldisputeswithpistols，unlessofaverypressingnature，tobesettledoutofearshotofDan’shouse。"Therewereevensomehintsofappointingaclosing-timeforthesaloon——"itwouldmaketheplacesomuchmorelikehome。"Butthepromotereventuallywithdrewhissuggestion，asitwasjustlyfeltthatsuchamotionwouldinterferewiththelibertyofthesubjecttoomuch。Butastormofcheersburstforthwhenitwasproposedtotransferthediamond-safefromWerstein’skeepingtoacornerofthenewgoddess’sshrine。
　　EvenSatan，thecat，joinedinthegeneraladoration，and，morefavouredthantherest，enjoyedattimesachastesalutefromMissMusgrave’sripe-redlips。
　　Never，insoshortaspaceoftime，hadacommunitybeenmorechangedforthebetterthanwasthatofBigStoneHole。Neverhadwoman’shumanisinginfluencemadeitselfmoreclearlyfelt。Theazurecloudofblasphemythathungovertheworkingsandtherestofthecampwasreplacedagainbythenormaldust。Eachmantriedtobeautifytheinsideofhisshantytothebestofhismeansandideas，fortherewasnoknowingwhentheonly"she"wouldtakeitintoherpretty，capriciousheadtopayacall。InthislatterlinetheScholarhadadecidedpull。Educationhadtaughthimtaste；necessity，handiness；
　　andbyaidofthetwohetransformedhisrudedwellingintosomethingapproachingtheroomsinwhichheusedtodawdleawaythehappyhours，timeago。Itwaspartlydrawing-room，partlycuriosity-shop。Cups，saucers，andspoonsappearedasifbymagicians’call，andoneblazingafternoonthenewsflashedroundthediamond-pitsthatMissMusgravewas"takingafternoonteawiththeScholar。"ButwhentheScholarsawthedismayhissimpleacthadspreadaroundhim，hedissipateditwithakindlylaughandafewreassuringwords。
　　"Don’tmindme，boys。Iwasonlydoingthecivilinapurelyplatonicmanner。MissMusgraveisnothingtome，noramIanythingtoher。
　　Heavenforbid！I’mtoohardabargainforanygirl。IfanyoneofyoumarriesherI’llactashisbestmanifheasksmeto，andwishhimeveryfelicitywithoutathoughtofregret。"
　　"BullyfortheScholar！"yelledthedelightedcrowd；andMissMusgrave’ssmilesweremoresoughtafterthanever。
　　Sothingswentondayafterday，weekafterweek，tillMissMusgravebecamelittleshortofanautocraticempress。Butstillsheshowednosignsoftakinguntoherselfaconsort；shekeptallmenatacousinlydistance，andthosewhofeltintimateenoughtoaddressheras"MissMary"accountedthemselvesuncommonlyfortunate。Thusthelittlemachineofstateworkedperfectlyharmoniously，andBigStoneHolewasassteadyandprosperousasettlementasneedbe。
　　Hadthesediggersrefreshedtheirmindsbylookingbackforhistoricalparallels，theymighthavebeenpreparedinsomedegreeforMissMusgrave’sexitfromamongthem，butasnoneofthemindulgedinsuchretrospectionsthemannerofittookthecampsomewhatbysurprise。
　　Itwasfirstdiscoveredinthiswise。Workwasoverfortheday。TheKaffirshadbeensearchedandhadreturnedtotheirkraal。Pipeswerebeinglitaftertheeveningmeal，andapicturesqueassemblywasgroupingitselfinanexpectantsemicircleonthesun-bakedturfinfrontofMissMusgrave’sdwelling。Shewasusuallyoutsidetowelcomethefirstcomers，andherabsencenaturallyformedthestapletopicofconversation。Diggerafterdiggerarrived，threwhimselfdown，andjoinedinthegeneralwondermentastowhyMissMarywasn’tthere，andatlastsomeonehazardedasuggestionthatshe"mustbeasleep。"
　　Therewasageneralepidemicofnoisycoughingforafullminute，andthensilenceforanother，butnosoundfromwithinthehut。
　　"Perhapsshe’sill，"wasthenextsurmise。
　　Aftertheetiquettetobefollowedhadbeenstrictlydiscussed，andarigidcourseofproceduresetdown，theScholargotupandknockedatthedoor。Hereceivednoanswer，andsoknockedagain——knockedseveraltimes，infact，andthenrattledthehandlevigorously，butwithoutresult。
　　"Betteropenit，"saidavoice。
　　Andhedidso；andafterlookinginside，announced：
　　"She’snotthere。"
　　AtthismomentDancameup。
　　"Myolemar’’sgone，"hesaid；"an’sheain’tstampeded，neither，butwasstole。Tote-rope’sbeenuntied，an’saddlean’bridletookaswell。"
　　Therewasuncomfortablesilence，whichtheScholarbrokebyalow，long-drawnwhistle。
　　"Boys，"saidhe，"let’slookinsidethesafe。"
　　Thethreemenwhoheldthekeysbroughtthemup，theboltswereshot，andthemassivedoorswungback。Therewaseveryman’slittlesackwithhisnameonit；butsomehoworotherthesackslookedlimperthanofyore。Eachonewaseagerlyclutchedandexamined，andmanyagroanandnotafewcurseswentuponthestillnightairasitwasfoundthateverysacksaveDan’shadbeenrelievedofthemorevaluablepartofitscontents。
　　Somuchheart-breakinglabourundertheburningsunthrownawayfornothing；thedrearyworktocommenceafresh，almostfromthebeginning！Hadthethiefbeenanyordinaryone，thedenunciationwouldhavebeenunbounded；butnooneliftedhistongueveryloudlyagainstMaryMusgrave。Yetmountedmenweredespatchedonthethreetrailstobringbackthebootyifpossible，andtherestmoveddejectedlytowardtheiroldclub。ThegreasyJewdidnotattempttoconcealhisexultation。Heservedhiscustomerswithhiswickedoldfaceglowingwithsmiles，andwhenamoment’sbreathing-timecameheobserved：
　　"Weall’azhourlettlesurbrizesindiswairld，an’ImostconfaissI
　　amasdonishedmyselftolairnthatMessMosgraveisathief——"ButhereacrashingamongtheglasswareannouncedthatTommyDartmoorhadbegunshootingwithhislefthand，andHerrGustavesputteredoutfrombehindthefingersheheldbeforehisface，"AchGott！Isaynozzingmore！"
　　GREGORIO
　　BY
　　PERCYHEMINGWAY
　　I
　　ATTHEPARADISO
　　TheCafeParadisowasfullofpeople，fortheinhabitantsofAlexandriahaddined，andtheoperaseasonwasover。Theseatsateverytablewereoccupied，andthefumesofsmokefromahundredcigarspartlyhidtheladiesoftheorchestra。Asthewaiterspushedasidetheswing-doorsofthebuffetandstaggeredintothesalonwithwhisky，absinthe，andcoffee，theclickofbilliard-ballswasheard。
　　Thewindowsfacingtheseawerewideopen，fortheheatwasintense，andthemurmurofthewavesmingledwiththeplaintivevoicesoftheviolins。
　　Seatedbyatableatthefarendofthehall，GregorioLivadashummedsoftlyanaccompanimenttoSuppe’s"PoeteetPaysan，"puffingfromtimetotimeacloudletofbluesmokefromhismouth。Whenthemusicceasedhejoinedintheapplause，leaningbackhappilyinhischairasthemusicianspreparedtorepeatthelastmovement。Meanwhilehiseyeswanderedidlyoverthefacesofhisneighbors。
　　Whenthelastchordwasstruckhesawthewomenhurrydownfromtheplatformandrushtowardthetableswheretheiracquaintancessat。Heheardthemdemandbeerandcoffee，andtheydrankeagerly，forfiddlinginthatheatwasthirstywork。Hewatchedthewearywaitershasteningfromtabletotable，andheheardthevoicesaroundhimgrowmoreanimatedandthelaughtermorefrequent。Onemanwasfasteningasprayofflowersontheamplebosomoftheflautiste，whileanothersippedthebrownlagerfromtheglassofthebigdrum，andtheoldwifeoftheconductorlefthertriangleandcymbalstobegsomerosesfromanArabflower-girl。Trulytheworldwasenjoyingitself，andGregoriosmileddreamily，forthesightofsomuchgaietypleasedhim。
　　Hewishedoneofthewomenwouldcomeandtalktohim；hewouldhavelikedtochatwiththefair-hairedgirlwhoplayedthefirstviolinsowell。HebegantowonderwhyshepreferredthatuglyEnglishmanwithhisredfaceandbaldhead。Hecaughtsnatchesoftheirconversation。
　　Bah！howuninterestingitwas！fortheycouldbarelyunderstandeachother。WhatpleasuredidshefindinlisteningtohisbadFrench？andinhernativeHungarianhecouldnotevensay，"Ilove。"Whyhadshenotcometohim，GregorioLivadas，whocouldtalktoherwellandwouldnotmumblelikeanidiotandlookredanduncomfortable！Thenhesawshewasdrinkingchampagne，andhesighed。Ah，yes，theseEnglishwererich，andwomenonlycaredformoney；theywereunabletogiveuptheirluxuriesforthesakeofaman。
　　ButatthisthoughtGregorioblushedalittle。Afterall，therewasonewoman——theonlywomanheoughttothinkof——whowasnotafraidofhardshipforthesakeofherhusband。Hetriedtoexcusehimselfbyarguingthatthemusichadexcitedhim；buthefeltalittleashamed，andasasoptohisnotyetquitemurderedconsciencegotupandleftthecafe。
　　WhenheturnedintothePlaceMehemetAliherememberedsuddenlythathehadwastedhisevening。Itwasteno’clock，toolatetosetaboutthebusinesshehadintended。Hewasangrywithhimselfnowaswellasashamed。Hewanderedupanddownthesquare，lookingatthestatueofthegreatkhedive，silhouettedagainstthemoonlight，andcursedathismisfortunes。
　　Whyshouldhe，GregorioLivadas，beinneedofmoney？Hehadworkedhard，butwithoutsuccess。Hecouldhavebornehisillluckhadhealonebeenthesufferer，buthemustconsiderhischild——and，ofcourse，hiswifetoo。Hewasreallyfondofhiswifeinaway。Buthesmiledproudlyashethoughtofhisson，forwhomheschemedoutagreatfuture。HeandXantippewouldtraintheboysocarefullythathewouldgrowuptobeagreatman，and，whatwasmore，arichman。Howtheywouldlaugh，allthree，astheysatinthesplendidcafesovertheirwine，atthehardshipsthefatherhadendured！Stillhemustnotforgetthepresent，andhesorelyneededmoney。HewouldgotoAmosagain。Amoswasarichman，veryrich，andafilthyJew。Amoscouldeasilysparehimsomemoneyandrenewthelastloan。Hewasgoingtobesuccessfulnowandwouldbeabletopaygoodinterest。WhatbetterinvestmentcouldAmoshave？Surelynone。HewasgoingtosetupacafewiththemoneyatTanta，orZagazig，orevenBenhur，——yes，Benhurwasthebest，——wheretherewerefewcompetitors。Thenhewouldmakeafortune，asotherGreekshaddone，andAmoswouldbepaidinfull。Hewasnotextravagant，no；hehadthebusinessinstinctsofhisrace。
　　HalftheserichmerchantsofAlexandriahadbegunashewouldbegin；
　　hewouldsucceedastheyhadsucceeded。Thefuturewasreallyhopeful，ifhecouldonlyborrowalittlecapital。
　　WiththesethoughtssurgingthroughhisbrainGregoriopacedupanddownthepavements。AtlastheturnedintotheRuedesSoeursandstartedslowlytowardhishome。
　　Thisstreet，thesinkofAlexandria，wasatitsgayest。Thecafeswherecheapliquorissoldwerecrowded。Soldiersandsailors，nativesandtheriffraffofhalfadozennations，jostledoneanother。Thetwangingofguitarsandthetinklingofpianoswasheardfromeveryhouse。Women，underclothedandoverpainted，leanedfromtheupperwindowsandmadefrequentsalliesintothestreettocapturetheirprey。LoudvoicessanglustyEnglishchorusesandFrenchchansonnettes，andNeapolitansongstriedtoassertthemselveswhenevertheuproarceasedforamoment。Everyonetalkedhis，orher，owntongue，andgesturefilledinthegapswhenwordswerewanting。
　　Allseemeddeterminedtodegradethemselvesasmuchaspossible，andnearlyeveryoneseemedsupremelyhappy。
　　Occasionallytherewasafight，andkniveswereusedwithunerringskill；butthemountedpolicewhopatrolledthestreets，thoughovertaxed，managedtopreserveacertainamountoforder。
　　Gregoriotookverylittlenoticeofthescenesthroughwhichhepassed。Hekneweveryinchandcornerofthequarterthathadbeenhishomeforyears，andwasfamiliarwithmostofitsinhabitants。Hesighedalittleashethoughtofthemoneybeinglostandwoninthestuffyill-lightedroomsatthebackofthehouses，shutoutfromviewoftheauthorities。Likemostofhisrace，hewasfondoftheexcitementofgambling。Butofwhatusewereregretsandsighs？hehadnomoney，andmustneedsgohome。Itwasvaintotryandborrowortoaskcreditforhislosses；inthesegamblinghellswhatislostmustbeimmediatelypaid，fortempersareinflamedbydrinkandknivesarewornateachplayer’sbelt。
　　Buthesighed，nonetheless，atthehardnecessitythatcompelledhimtopassdownthestreetwithoutonceenteringthedoorsofatavern。
　　Itwasveryhot，andhehadsmokedmanycigarettes。Hewouldhavebeengladtocallforadrink。Thetavern-keepers，thoughtheywerehisfriends，expectedtobepaid。Oneortwowomenbeckonedtohim，whowouldhavewillinglyofferedhimwine，buthewasproudenoughtoignorethem。
　　Hebecamemoremoodyanddejectedashewentalong，silentandsoberamidsomuchrevelry。Whenhereachedhishousehesawadrunkenmanlyingonthethresholdasleep。HestoopedtolookintohisfaceandrecognisedanEnglishman，theforemanofsometrampintheharbour。Hekickedtherecumbentformtestilyashestrodeoverit。
　　"TheseEnglish，whatbeaststheyare！"hegrowled，"andI——Ihavenotapiastreforasingleglassofwine。"
　　II
　　CONCERNINGADEBT
　　Gregoriofound，onenteringhishouse，thathiswifewasalreadyinbed。Hewentintothetinykitchenandsawaplateofmacaronireadyforhissupper。Hetriedtoeatsome，butitstuckinhisthroat。HetookabottleofcheapCretanwinefromashelfanddrankfromit；butthewinewassour，andhespatitfromhismouthwithacurse。
　　Takingupthelamp，hewentintothebedroom。Hiswifewasfastasleepwiththeboyinherarms。ForamomentasmileflickeredroundGregorio’smouthashelookedatthem。Thenhetookoffhisbootsandhiscoat，blewoutthelamp，andlaybesidethem。Hewasverytiredafterhislongtrampinthehotstreets，buthecouldnotsleep。
　　Angrilyhetossedfromsidetosideandclosedhiseyestightly；butitwasnogood，sleepwouldnotcome。
　　Atmidnightheheardacalltoprayerchantedfromtheminaretofatinymosqueintheneighbourhood。Themuezzin’svoiceirritatedhim。
　　Hedidnotwishtopray，andhedidwanttosleep。HesworethatitwasinsanityforthesefoolsofMohammedanstodeclarethatprayerwasbetterthansleep。
　　Thenthethoughtsthathadagitatedhimduringthewalkreturnedtohim。TheRuedesSoeurswasstillnoisywithmerry-makers，anditseemedtohimthatifhecouldonlyjointhemhewouldbehappy。Buthehadnomoney，andonecandonothingwithoutmoney！
　　ThentherecamebacktohimthefaceoftheEnglishmanhehadseentalkingtotheviolinistoftheParadiso。Hehatedthemanbecausehewasuglyandrich。TheseEnglishwereallrich，andyettheyseemedtohimamiserablerace，mereignorantbullies。HerememberedhowoftenhehadcometothehelpoftheEnglishtravellerswhofilledEgypt。
　　Whyhadhe，heaskedhimself，forthesakeofamiserablereward，preventedthembeingcheated，whenhe，withallhistalents，wascondemnedtostarve？Evenhischild，hethought，wouldgrowtohatehimifheremainedpoor。Hemustgetmoney。Amoswouldhavetolendhimsome。TheJewswereunpopularamongtheGreeks；itwerewisetokeepongoodtermswiththem，asAmoswouldfindout。
　　Atlasthefellasleep。
　　Inthemorninghistroublesbeganagain。Therewasnocoffee，andonlyalittleArabbread，andwhenthatwasdonetheymuststarveiftheycouldnotgetsomemoney。Gregoriotoreoffabitofbreadandateitslowly，lookingathiswife，whosatweepingbesidehim。
　　"IshallgotoAmos，"hesaid，firmly。
　　"Ah，yes，toAmos，"Xantippeansweredquietly；"butitwillbenogood。"
　　"Whynogood？"
　　"Becauseyouowehimmoney，andhewillgiveyounomoretillheispaid。"
　　"Butwecannotpayhim。Hemustletushavesome。Ifnot——"andGregorioraisedthreatening。
　　Hiswifesmiledsadlyandkissedhim。
　　"YouwillnotfrightenAmos，mylove。WhenItoldhimthechildhadbeenill，heonlylaughed。"
　　"Whenwasthat？"
　　"Yesterday。"
　　"Thenhehadbeenhere？"
　　"Hecamelastnighttoaskforhismoney。Itoldhimwehadnone，andhelaughedandsaidwemustgetsome。HetoldmeImightgetsomeifI
　　caredto。HesaidIcouldmake，oh，somuch！"
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