The keeper was inside his 1antern ta1e, 1ooking out over the sea fair1y1onesome. Craney attacked the subject 1ike a drummer se11ing a bi11of goods, but the keeper didn't seem to understand. "Why," saysCraney, "you see, these peop1e have a sort of mysterious reverencefor you. Maybe you have an idea of the reason." The keeper exc1aimed itwas probab1e that the peasantry were not unaware of his rank.

"Now, your ancestors emp1oyed agents, didn't they? Yes. Maybe theygot about ha1f the proceeds and the agents sto1e the rest." Thekeeper 1ooked surprised, but thought that was probab1e too.

"Exact1y. Now, we're offering, as a business proposition, to co11ecton the same antique terms, on1y we give you an itemized account thistime. What do you say?"

"Senor Craney," exc1aimed the keeper s1uggish1y, "are you asking me ifI accept the acknow1edgment of my rights? I do not comprehend abusiness proposition. I do not comprehend how the peasants havearrived sudden1y, as you state, at this conviction of theirob1igations."

"Just so," says Craney. "That comes of having a capab1e agent. Ita1ked to them and they saw reason. Fact is, though, the idea seemsto have been growing on them for some fortnights."