Mariahadbeencontentmerelytorememberit；butZerkow’savaricegoadedhimtoabeliefthatitwasstillinexistence，hidsomewhere，perhapsinthatveryhouse，stowedawaytherebyMaria。Foritstoodtoreason，didn’tit，thatMariacouldnothavedescribeditwithsuchwonderfulaccuracyandsuchcarefuldetailunlessshehadseenitrecently——thedaybefore，perhaps，orthatveryday，orthatveryhour，thatveryHOUR？
“Lookoutforyourself，“hewhispered，hoarsely，tohiswife。“Lookoutforyourself，mygirl。I’llhuntforit，andhuntforit，andhuntforit，andsomedayI’llfindit——Iwill，you’llsee——I’llfindit，I’llfindit；andifIdon’t，I’llfindawaythat’llmakeyoutellmewhereitis。I’llmakeyouspeak——believeme，Iwill，Iwill，mygirl——trustmeforthat。“
AndatnightMariawouldsometimeswaketofindZerkowgonefromthebed，andwouldseehimburrowingintosomecornerbythelightofhisdark-lanternandwouldhearhimmumblingtohimself：“Thereweremore’nahundredpieces，andeveryoneof’emgold——whentheleathertrunkwasopeneditfairdazzledyoureyes——why，justthatpunch-
bowlwasworthafortune，Iguess；solid，solid，heavy，rich，puregold，nothunbutgold，gold，heapsandheapsofit——whataglory！I’llfindityet，I’llfindit。It’sheresomewheres，hidsomewheresinthishouse。“
Atlengthhiscontinuedillsuccessbegantoexasperatehim。