'There is no evidence that there was any jewel,' he said, 'aside from the storythis Benna told, and he was dying from venom and in great pain. My doctor hasexamined his body, and he assures me that the swellings were spider bites. Ofcourse, he doesn't know everything. He's been wrong before.
' But people are going to believe that there was indeed a jewel of great value,and nothing anyone says, including myself, will convince them otherwise.
'However, all their frantic activity will result in one great benefit. . We'llbe rid of the rats for a while.'
He paused, frowning, then said, 'It would seem, however, that this fellow Bennamight have been foolish enough to steal something from the purple mage. I wouldthink that that is the only reason he'd be pursued by the Raggah. But then theremight be another reason. In any event, if there is a jewel, then the finder isgoing to be in great peril. The mage isn't going to let whoever finds it keepit.
'Or at least I believe so. Actually, I know very little about the mage, and fromwhat I've heard about him, I have no desire to meet him.'
Masha thought of asking him why he didn't send his soldiers out to the isle andsummon the mage. But she kept silent. The reason was obvious. No one, not eventhe governor, wanted to provoke the wrath of a mage. And as long as the mage didnothing to force the governor into action, he would be left strictly alone toconduct his business - whatever that was.
At the end of the questioning, the governor told his treasurer to give a goldshaboozh to Masha.
'That should more than take care of any business you've lost by being here,' thegovernor said.
Thanking him profusely, Masha bowed as she stepped back, and then walked swiftlyhomewards.
The following week was the great cat hunt. It was also featured, for Masha