He himself is going out as propraetor of Asia. With him is a
wealthy widow, going north to be married at Aquileia, and taking with her
a big jewel-chest full of the finest and largest gems in the most
magnificent settings. So we have in prospect three prisoners for ransom
and three rich treasures.
"The difficulty is that it will be almost impossible to make both
captures. If we nab the propraetor and widow, with the coin and gems, the
rumor or report of it is almost certain to warn the procurator with the
raw gold so that he will elude us. Similarly if we get him, news of our
presence will most likely reach and alarm the propraetor and the widow. If
one comes ten days or even five before the other we can scarcely hope for
complete success. If fewer days intervene we might get both. I am here to
get both. The King thinks me capable of the feat. His instructions are
that, in case I judge that I can get but one, I am to try for the
procurator and his gold, as it is estimated that his gold is worth at
least twice the coin and gems together, even adding the possible ransoms
of the widow and the propraetor.
"I am hoping they will come only a day apart or even the same day; all our
couriers with letters about the progress of the gold convoy and the
widow's preparations indicate that they will reach this part of the road
at about the same time.
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