undertake that the final hearing of this case, at least
so far as it regards the Francatellis, shall be postponed for three
months. You may rely upon the fulfillment of this promise, let the Count
of Arestino do his worst.' Thus assured, I quitted the worthy pleader,
and proceeded to visit Father Marco, who, as I had happened to learn
when in conversation with your highness' aunt, was the family confessor.
I found that excellent man overwhelmed with grief at the calamities
which had occurred; and to him I confided, under a solemn promise of
inviolable secrecy, who the present grand vizier of the Ottoman Empire
really was, and how I had been employed by you to visit Florence for the
purpose of watching over the safety of your relatives. I however
explained to Father Marco that his vow of secrecy was to cease to be
binding at any moment when the lives of the Francatellis should be
menaced by circumstances that might possibly arise in spite of all the
precautions that I had adopted to postpone the final hearing of their
case; and that should imminent peril menace those lives, he was
immediately to reveal to the Duke of Florence the fact of the
relationship of the Francatellis with one who has power to punish any
injury that might be done to them. Though well knowing, my lord, the
obstinancy of the Christian states in venturing to beard Ottoman might,
I considered this precaution to be at all events a prudent one; and
Father Marco promised to obey my injunctions in all respects."

"I was not mistaken in thee, Demetrius," said the grand vizier, "when I
chose thee for that mission on account of thy discreetness and
foresight."

"Your highness' praises are my best reward," answered the Greek. "I have
now done all that I could possibly effect or devise under the
circumstances which prompted me to think or act; and it grieved me that
I was unable to afford the slightest assistance to the young Count of
Riverola. But I dare not wait longer in Italy; and I was convinced that
the authorities in Florence were too inefficient to root out the horde
of banditti, even had I explained to them the clew which I myself
obtained to the stronghold of those miscreants. I accordingly quitted
Florence in the afternoon of the day following the numerous arrests
which I have mentioned; and had I not been detained so long at Rimini,
by adverse winds, your highness would not have been kept for so many
weeks without the mournful tidings which it was