t that his lordship is desirous of
plundering you of these jewels which you hold as security for certain
moneys advanced, for here is the gold to repay thee."

Thus speaking, the lieutenant produced from beneath his cloak a heavy
bag of gold; and Isaachar, now considerably relieved of his
apprehensions, led the way into the apartment where he had received the
Marquis of Orsini and Stephano de Verrina during the past night.

"Hast thou heard my message, Israelite?" demanded the lieutenant.

"Yes, yes; and his lordship is a worthy man--an estimable man. No
oppressor of the poor defenseless Jew is he! Would that Florence
abounded in such nobles as the Count of Arestino!"

"Cease thy prating, Jew, and let us dispatch this business," cried the
officer. "You see," he added, glancing toward his men, "that with these
at my disposal, the ransacking of your dwelling would be a light and
easy matter."

"I will not render it necessary," returned the Jew. "Tarry ye here a few
moments and the diamonds shall be delivered up."

Isaachar proceeded into another apartment, the lieutenant following him
as far as the passage to see that he did not escape. When the old man
returned, he had a small rosewood case in his hand: and from this box he
produced the stones which had been extracted from the settings the very
day the jewels were first mortgaged to him.

"Now, signor," said the lieutenant, turning to the citizen in the plain
sober garb, "as you are the diamond merchant of whom his lordship the
count originally purchased the precious stones which have been traced to
the possession of Isaachar, it is for you to declare whether those be
the true diamonds or not."

The citizen examined the stones, and having pronounced them to be the
genuine ones, took his departure, his services being no longer required.

The lieutenant secured the rosewood case with its valuable contents
about his person, and then proceeded to settle with interest the amount
claimed by the Jew, as the sum which he had advanced on the jewels.

While this transaction was in progress, the notice of one of the sbirri
was attracted by the marks of blood which appeared on the floor, and
which, as the reader will recollect, had been caused by the wound that
the Marquis of Orsini had received from the robber Stephano.

"It is decidedly blood," whispered the sbirro to one of his companions.

"Not a doubt of it," observed another. "We must mention it to the
lieutenant