_THE BURIED TREASURE. 2e8

to this effect: Make every one believe that the girl’s
father has sent home a messenger with a thousand
gold philips for his daughter’s dowry. The money
you can supply yourself, repaying it out of the
treasure when the proper time comes. The supposed
messenger you can find in one of those fellows
who are always glad to do any kind of job for a
consideration. Dress him up in some outlandish
fashion, and tell him to say that he comes from
Charmides in Seleucia; that the old man is well,
and means to return very shortly; meanwhile, he
sends his love and this money. He must have with
him two letters, one to his son, one to you. These
we shall have to make up. The letters must desire
the gold to be given to you; as a matter of fact, you
will pay it over to the husband when the wedding is
over. The son will think it comes from his father;
and you can repay yourself out of the treasure when
all is quiet. There may be a difficulty about the seal
on the letters. The young man probably knows his
father’s device, and will wonder that the new docu-
ments did not bear it. That, however, may easily be
accounted for. Charmides might have lost his seal,
or the letters might have been opened in the custom-
house.

This plan did not altogether commend itself to.
Callicles, who did not like the idea of so elaboxate
a plot. However, he agreed to do his part and pro-
ceeded to hire a messenger.