"The few crowns you speak of,
were neither more nor less than a tribute paid on consideration that my
men should leave unscathed the dwelling of worthy Isaachar ben Solomon:
in other words, that thy treasures should be safe at least from them."

"Well--well! be it so!" cried the Jew. "Heaven knows I do not grudge the
amount in question--although," he added slowly, "I am compelled to pay
almost an equal sum to the syndic."

"The syndic of Alla Croce and the captain of the banditti are two very
different persons," returned Stephano. "The magistrate protects you from
those over whom he has control: and I, on my side, guaranty you against
the predatory visits of those over whom I exercise command. But let us
to business."

"Ay--to business!" echoed the Jew, anxious to be relieved from the state
of suspense into which this visit had thrown him.

"You are acquainted with the young, beautiful, and wealthy Countess of
Arestino, Isaachar?" said the bandit.

The Jew stared at him in increased alarm, now mingled with amazement.

"But, in spite of all her wealth," continued Stephano, "she was
compelled to pledge her diamonds to thee, to raise the money wherewith
to discharge a gambling debt contracted by her lover, the high-born,
handsome, but ruined Marquis of Orsini."

"How knowest thou all this?" inquired the Jew.

"From her ladyship's own lips," responded Stephano. "At least she told
me she had raised the sum to accommodate a very particular friend. Now,
as the transaction is unknown to her husband, and as I am well assured
that the Marquis of Orsini is really on most excellent terms with her
ladyship--moreover, as this same marquis did pay a certain heavy
gambling debt within an hour after the diamonds were pledged to you--it
requires but little ingenuity to put all these circumstances together,
to arrive at the result which I have mentioned. Is it not so, Isaachar?"

"I know not the motive for which the money was raised," answered the
Jew, wondering what was coming next.

"Oh! then the money was raised with you," cried Stephano, "and
consequently you hold the diamonds."

"I did not say so--I----"

"A truce to this fencing with my words!" ejaculated the bandit,
impatiently. "I have an unconquerable desire to behold these
diamonds----"

"You, good captain!" murmured Isaachar, trembling from head to foot.

"Yes, I! And wherefore not? Is there anything so marvelous in a man of
my refined tastes and exquisite noti