lord," replied Stephano, as he received back the paper, "I was at
the Arestino Palace ere now, at the same time, and in the same room, as
yourself. But this is a mystery I will explain presently. As for the
diamonds--Isaachar here can tell your lordship what he has done with the
_real_ stones, for those that I received from him which I handed to her
ladyship were _false_."

Orsini glanced toward the Jew, who was now pale and trembling.

"It was to make inquiries on this point," continued Stephano, "that I
came here on the present occasion. And to speak truly, it was also with
the intention of making the old Israelite disgorge his plunder."

"Plunder!" repeated the Jew, in a tone almost of indignation, in spite
of the terror with which the bandit-captain inspired him. "Did I not
lend my good golden ducats upon those diamonds? and must I be blamed, if
knowing--ah! knowing too well, the base artifices of which many of even
the best-born Florentine nobles and great ladies are capable, must I be
blamed, I say, if aware of all this, I adopted a device which the
wickedness of others, and not our own, has rendered common amongst those
of our race who traffic in loans upon jewels and precious stones."

"Isaachar speaks naught save the pure truth," remarked Orsini, blushing
at the justice which dictated these reproaches against the aristocracy
whereof he was a member. "Signor Verrina," he continued, "you are a
brave man--and I believe you to be a generous one. Confirm this opinion
on my part, by refraining from further molestation toward the Jew, and
thou wilt doubly render me thy debtor."

"Be that as you will, my lord," grumbled the bandit-chief. "And now let
us depart--for I have much to communicate to your lordship."

"I am ready to accompany you," returned the marquis, putting on his
plumed hat, and settling his cloak with his left hand.

"One word, my lord," said Isaachar, in his habitual nervous and
trembling tone. "Should the Countess of Arestino _really_ need her
diamonds--_really_ need them, my lord--I--should not--object--that is,
my lord," he added in a firmer voice, as if ashamed at the hesitation
with which he was expressing his readiness to do a good action, "I will
at once give them up to her, trusting to her ladyship's honor to pay me
my moneys at her most befitting convenience."

"Her ladyship does not require them now!" exclaimed the bandit-chief,
emphatically.

The marquis looked at Stephano inquiring