suppose I was to be discovered!" ejaculated the
Jew. "My credit would be gone, and I should be completely ruined and
undone."

"Oh, no fear of that, while your wits are as keen as at present," said
the Greek. "Come, has not the colonel some acquaintance or other in
Italy, who would be likely to introduce a distinguished foreigner, his
friend, visiting the island, or do you know of some other person to whom
a letter of introduction might be addressed?"

The Jew meditated for some time, and if with any other sensation than
that of grasping avarice, and all its accompanying hopes and fears, it
was with that of admiration for the Greek's daring and versatility of
talent. He was thinking of the value of which they might be to himself.

"I have it," he exclaimed. "There is a client of mine, a young
spendthrift, who has lived much in Italy, and many of whose acquaintance
I know. Stay, I have a letter by me from his friend the Count
Montebello of Florence. He shall be your introducer. Do you know him?"

"I know nothing of him," said the Greek, "make me a friend of his
friend. It will be safer and will be sufficient."

"Excellent, excellent," exclaimed the Jew, chuckling at the thoughts of
the fraud. "You should have been bred a lawyer instead of a sailor,
prince. Now, remember, this client of mine is acquainted with Colonel
Gauntlett, and is, indeed, a suitor of his niece's, for the sake of the
money he expects she will receive from her uncle. You will know how to
talk to him."

"Admirable! My plan must prosper. There is a ball, too, I understand
to-night, at which I suppose all the principal people in the place will
be present, and among them, the colonel, his niece, and my new friend.
I must be prepared for the occasion; so, friend Bannech, send for the
best tailor in the place forthwith; for it will never do to appear in
this barbarian costume."

The Greek having thus fully concocted his plan, overruled all the
objections thrown out by the Jew, and, as he was a man of action, he
insisted on a tailor being instantly sent for. In ten minutes
afterwards the well-known artist Paolo Muhajiar made his appearance,
and, though he was somewhat astounded at the shortness of the time
allowed him to rig the Greek stranger in a suit of mufti, a show of some
broad gold pieces overcame all difficulties, and he promised to set
every hand at his establishment on to the work.

Little did the honest Paolo dream, as with