y the certainty that his uncle would
discover, upon examination, the loss of a large amount, which was not
accounted for on the books. I proposed to advance him the deficit, but he
absolutely refused, because he preferred to meet his uncle's just anger
rather than deceive him."

This revelation was stunning to the old Deodati. Nothing could have more
keenly wounded the honorable, high-toned nobleman than the thought that
Geronimo had been so dishonest and ungrateful as to use the funds of the
establishment in gambling.

Trembling with emotion, he asked:

"You say the sum is considerable. What is the amount?"

"I have no idea, signor. Perhaps you might discover it by an examination
of the books."

There was a short silence. Mr. Van de Werve's eyes were fixed upon the
ground. Signor Deodati passed his hand across his brow, and was absorbed
in painful thoughts.

Simon watched for a few moments, with an inquisitive eye, the effect of
this revelation upon his two companions, trying to penetrate their very
souls. Then he said to Deodati:

"You look on the bad side of the affair, signor. If there were not a
brighter, reverse side, I would have considered the confidence of my
friend sacred, and guarded his secret until death. Up to this time we all
feared, nay, considered it certain, that Geronimo had fallen under the
assassin's steel. Now I begin to think that, in order to escape his
uncle's anger, he has left the city and country."

"Impossible!" exclaimed Mr. Van de Werve.

"Impossible?" repeated Turchi, "he would have gone ere this, had I not
persuaded him that he would obtain his uncle's pardon. Even on the day of
your arrival, Signor Deodati, when Geronimo met me in the dock-yard on the
bank of the Scheldt, he begged me to inquire for an English vessel which
would leave on that or the next day, and secretly to engage his passage on
board. You may well know that I combated this foolish project, and I left
him only when he promised me to abandon the idea."

"Could he so lightly sacrifice my daughter's love?" said Mr. Van de Werve.
"Were his expressions of affection for her only hypocrisy? No, no; nothing
can induce me to believe that."

"His love was real," replied Turchi, "and its very depth, perhaps, blinded
his judgment. He thought that the discovery of his losses at the
gaming-table would inevitably deprive him of all hope of Mary's hand. My
poor friend! he wished to fly from the fate which threatened him,