Pompey did not let slip this opportunity of pressing him to take a supper and bed at his house, though but for a single night, but he declined it with so much earnestness that the merchant, fearful of offending him, dropped the subject; after which he prepared to take his leave, assuring him that he would not fail to return in the morning to see him again before his departure, and wish him a pleasant journey. Upon this, Sayavedra cried aloud to one of his valets, “here, Gradelin, take these keys; they belong to my trunks. Signor Pompey will have the goodness to allow me to send to his house for the clothes and linen which I shall want during the next eight days. Don’t forget,” added he, “to bring the dressing-gown, which you will find in the largest box.” “Would it not be better,” interrupted Pompey, running inconsiderately into the snare, “to let the trunks be brought here to you, when you can take out what you want at your leisure.” “You are quite right,” said the false Guzman, “I will make up a parcel of those things I shall absolutely want, and put them into the smallest trunk, which I can carry with me to Florence, and I will send back the other two, which I shall be much obliged by your taking care of till my return.”
The merchant then quitted the hotel, and half an hour after my dear trunks were carried thither by the companions of Sayavedra and one of the grooms, accompanied by a person who presented to the false Guzman a present from Pompey, consisting of a basket of fine fruit, and half a dozen bottles of excellent wine. Sayavedra received this present with all the politeness imaginable, and dismissed the bearer with a small gratuity for himself, and a thousand thanks for his master.
No sooner were the trunks conveyed to the hotel than Alexander Bentivoglio, who had already learnt the success of the scheme, hastened to the spot. The false keys they had obtained opened two of them, and they picked the lock of the third, which contained my money and jewels, which they divided among them, or, to speak more correctly, which Signor Alexander appropriated to himself: for he was a bully who awed the rest of the gang, so that he gave them just such a share of the plunder as he chose to part with. All that they received was thirty pistoles each, and the least valuable clothes. After which, he filled the smallest trunk with what remained for his share, and had the other two crammed with straw and stones. Then, that no time might be lost, he despatched one of the band to hire post horses to start by break of day for Florence. This accommodation was easily procured by these worthy gentlemen, who, when they paid the innkeeper, ordered him to send back to Signor Pompey the two trunks which they left at the hotel.