agitated steps.

Nearly a quarter of a hour elapsed--the silence being occasionally
broken by some question which the marquis put to the Jew, and to which
the latter had his reply ready. And each question thus put, and every
answer thus given, only served to corroborate Isaachar's tale, and
banish hope still further from the breast of the ruined nobleman.

At length the latter stopped short--hesitated for a few moments, as if
wrestling with some idea or scheme that had taken possession of his
mind;--then turning abruptly toward the Jew, he said in a deep, hollow
tone--"Isaachar, I need gold!"

"Gold--gold, my lord!" ejaculated the Jew, all his fears returning;
"surely--surely, my lord, her ladyship will supply you with----"

"Fool--dolt!" cried the marquis, terribly excited; "do you not see that
she herself is menaced with ruin--that the villain Stephano must have
kept the diamonds for himself? that is, granting your tale to be
true----"

At this moment there was an authoritative knock at the house-door.

"This is Stephano Verrina himself!" exclaimed the Jew. "I know his
manner of knocking with the rude handle of his sword. What can he want?
What will become of me?"

"Stephano Verrina, say you?" cried the marquis, hastily. "Then admit him
by all means; and the possession of the diamonds of the countess shall
be disputed between him and me at the sword's point."

Manuel d'Orsini was naturally brave, and the desperate position in which
he was placed, rendered his tone and bearing so resolute--so determined,
that Isaachar feared lest blood should be shed in his dwelling.

"My lord--my lord," he said in an imploring tone, "depart, or conceal
yourself----"

"Silence, signor!" ejaculated the marquis; "and hasten to admit the
captain of banditti. I have heard much of Stephano Verrina, and would
fain behold this formidable chieftain."

The Jew proceeded, with trembling limbs and ghastly countenance, to obey
the orders of the marquis; and in a few moments he returned to the room,
accompanied by Stephano Verrina.

CHAPTER XXVI.

A COMBAT--THE DESPISED AND PERSECUTED ISRAELITE.

Isaachar had taken away the lamp with him to give admission to the
bandit, and the marquis had remained for a few instants in the dark.

When the Jew reappeared, bearing the light, Orsini's first and natural
impulse was to cast a rapid, searching glance at the brigand captain. At
the same moment this individual burst into a loud,