; and Lomellino crossed over the way to
the deep shade of the houses on that side.

Stephano then gave a low knock at the door of the well-defended dwelling
above described.

Several minutes elapsed; and no sounds were heard within.

"The old usurer is at home, I know," muttered Stephano to himself; for
the moment he had knocked a gleam of light, peeping through a crevice in
an upper casement, had suddenly disappeared. He now rapped more loudly
at the door with the handle of his heavy broadsword.

"Ah! he comes!" muttered the bandit-chief, after another long pause.

"Who knocks so late?" demanded a weak and tremulous voice from within.

"I--Stephano Verrina!" cried the brigand pompously: "open--and fear
not."

The bolts were drawn back--a chain fell heavily on the stone floor
inside--and the door opened, revealing the form of an old and
venerable-looking man, with a long white beard. He held a lamp in his
hand: and, by its fitful glare, his countenance, of the Jewish cast,
manifested an expression denoting the terror which he vainly endeavored
to conceal.

"Enter. Signor Stephano," said the old man. "But wherefore here so
late?"

"Late, do ye call it. Signor Isaachar?" ejaculated the bandit, crossing
the threshold. "Meseems there is yet time to do a world of business this
night, for those who have the opportunity and the inclination."

"Ah! but you and yours turn night into day," replied the Jew, with a
chuckle intended to be of a conciliatory nature: "or rather you perform
your avocations at a time when others sleep."

"Every one to his calling, friend Isaachar," said the brigand chief.
"Come! have you not made that door fast enough yet? you will have to
open it soon again--for my visit will be none of the longest."

The Jew having replaced the chains and fastened the huge bolts which
protected the house-door, took up the lamp and led the way to a small
and meanly-furnished room at the back of his dwelling.

"What business may have brought you hither to-night, good Captain
Verrina?" he inquired in a tone of ill-subdued apprehension.

"Not to frighten thee out of thy wits, good Isaachar," responded
Stephano, laughing.

"Ah! ha!" exclaimed the Jew, partially reassured: "perhaps you have come
to repay me the few crowns I had the honor to lend you--without
security, and without interest----"

"By my patron saint! thou wast never more mistaken in thy life, friend
Isaachar!" interrupted the robber chief.