y passed, and he was beginning to think
that some accident must have occurred to his acquaintance. Ten minutes
more elapsed--his suspicions increased.

"Can the myrmidons of the law have got hold of him?" he muttered. "That
rascal Giacomo--he may have informed, and will receive the reward which
ought to be mine. If I dared, I would secure the prize at once--but
then, I suspect, before long, the amount will be increased. Yes, it
must be. The fruit is not yet ripe for plucking."

He stopped, either to chuckle at his own wit, or to calculate the sum he
might expect for betraying the man who trusted him. His virtuous
meditations were interrupted by the entrance of the Greek. His manner
was as free and joyous as ever. He addressed the Jew in Italian, with a
remarkably pure accent.

"Ah! my dear correspondent--my noble friend--my prince of money-lenders,
how fares it with you? Still at the old trade of coining gold, eh?
Well, we must all live either by fraud or force; cunning or strength are
the weapons put by nature into our hands. To some she gives one; to
others the latter: nature is most impartial. To the lion she gives
claws and teeth; to the horse his hoofs and fleetness. To a woman,
beauty and softness; to a man, strength and courage. She intends all
these attributes to be employed. So, friend Bannech, you live by fraud,
and I by force. Is it not so?"

"I cannot dispute the correctness of your assertion: for, to say the
truth, you have spoken so rapidly, that my poor comprehension could not
follow you, noble signor," said the Jew, bending low, and placing a
chair for his visitor. "But may I inquire what thus unexpectedly brings
you to Malta?"

"Pleasure, Bannech--pleasure, and, perhaps, the hopes of a little
profit," said the Greek, laughing. "Now, though I may not just yet tell
you what brings me to Malta, I will tell you a little more of my history
than you are at present acquainted with. Know, then, most worthy Jew,
that I am, by name, Argiri Caramitzo, a patriot Greek chief, or prince,
call me, of Graditza. That I have been educated in Italy--that years
have passed since I set foot in my native land--and that I am now
hastening thither to join in the noble struggle to emancipate Greece
from the thraldom of the infidel Turk. I have travelled from that city
of learning and piety, Pisa, to Naples, thence to Syracuse; and from
that ancient city, I have crossed the sea hither. All this you must