Jason Jones urged his little car to its best speed until he gained his . Entering the ground, he was confronted by his , the Italian, Silvio.  
He sprang out and approached the man.
 
"Is the prisoner safe?" he whispered.
 
"Certainly, Signore."
 
"Is she still in the grape-house?"
 
"With the wine presses, Signore."
 
"And she can't get out?"
 
"Unless she becomes small, like a rat, Signore."
 
Jones glanced around suspiciously, then his gaze on a little outbuilding of stone, with a tiled roof, which stood quite removed from the others of the group.
 
"Has she screamed, or cried out?" he asked the man.
 
"Not since I put her in, las' night, Signore."
 
"Good. You've fed her?"
 
"The plenty. She eat very well. It's a nice lady, Signore."
 
"She's dangerous. Listen, Silvio: we must keep her there a week longer."
 
"If I am jailer a week, I mus' double my price," he asserted, shrugging his shoulders.
 
"Nonsense!"
 
"The lady will offer me more to let her out. She say so."
 
"What! You'd betray me?"
 
"Not if I have the gold—here, in my hand—now, Signore."
 
Jones grew red and then white. He eyed the man wickedly. He , and Silvio smiled pleasantly. Silvio was big for an Italian; big and ^{<............}