nce to him. It seemed as if Don
Rafaele's lucky star was going to rise again; for soon after this there
came a letter from good Father Eusebio to say that the brethren, well
acquainted with the secret corners of his house, had hidden away the
very considerable property (in the shape of gold and jewels) which he
possessed (and which he had walled up before his flight) in their own
convent; so that all that was necessary was to send some trustworthy
person to fetch them. Edgar set out at once for Valenzia with the
faithful Cubas. He saw his kind old nurse, Father Eusebio, again, and
Don Rafaele's treasure was handed over to him. But he knew that Don
Rafaele prized honour above everything, and he succeeded in Madrid in
completely re-establishing his innocence. The decree of banishment was
cancelled.

The doors opened and there entered a beautifully dressed lady, followed
by an old gentleman of lofty bearing and aristocratic looks. The
hostess rose to receive them, and led the lady within the circle. The
other guests had all risen, and the host presented "Donna Emanuela
Marchez, our friend Euchar's bride. Ron Rafaele Marchez."

"Yes," said Euchar, with the bliss of the happiness which he had
achieved radiating from his eyes, and glowing in brilliant roses on his
cheeks, "I have only now to tell you that he whom I spoke of to you as
Edgar was none other than myself."

Victorine clasped the beautiful Emanuela in her arms, and pressed her
warmly to her heart. They seemed to know each other already. But
Ludwig, casting a glance of sorrow upon the group, said--

"All this was a part of the mutual interdependence of things."

The friends were pleased with Sylvester's tale, and were unanimous in
thinking that Edgar's adventures in Spain during the War of
Independence, although they might perhaps be considered to be
interwoven in merely an episodical form, really constituted the kernel
of the story, and that their happy effect was accounted for by their
being founded upon actual historical facts.

"There is no doubt," said Lothair, "that matter which is absolutely
historical possesses a certain peculiar quality which the inventive
faculty, when it merely hovers about in empty space, with nothing to
anchor upon, cannot attain to. In the same way the skilful introduction
of truly historical customs, manners, habitudes and so forth, belonging
to any race, or people, or to any particular class of people, gives to
a work of fic