cloth, his whole body was enveloped in a long cloak,
whose dark color was relieved by a lining of white fur.

"Good morning, Mary," he said, as he approached the young girl.

"May the blessing of God always be with you, dear father," she replied.
"Come, see how lovely the sky is, and how brightly the sun shines."

"It is charming weather; we might almost imagine ourselves in the month of
May."

"It is the eve of May, father." And with a joyous smile she drew her
father to the window, and pointing to the sky, said: "The wind has
changed; it blows from the direction of England."

"True; since yesterday it has been south-east."

"So much the better; the ships which have been kept out at sea can ascend
the Scheldt with to-day's or to-morrow's tide."

"And you hope," said Mr. Van de Werve, shaking his head, "that among these
vessels will be found the _Il Salvatore_, which is to bring the old Signor
Deodati from Lucca?"

"I have so long implored of heaven this favorable wind," replied the young
girl. "I thank the God of mercy that my prayer has been heard!"

Mr. Van de Werve was silent; his daughter's words had evidently made a
disagreeable impression upon him.

She passed her arm caressingly around his neck, and said:

"Dear father, you are sorrowful; and yet you promised me to await
tranquilly the arrival of Signor Deodati."

"It is true, my child," he replied; "but, as the time approaches when I
must come to a decision, my soul is filled with anxiety. We are the
descendants of an illustrious family, and our style of living should be so
magnificent as to reflect credit on our rank. The Signor Geronimo, whom
you seem to prefer to all others, lives very economically; he dresses
simply, and abstains from all that kind of expenditure which, being an
evidence of wealth and chivalric generosity, elevates a man in the eyes of
the world. That makes me fear that his uncle is either in moderate
circumstances or very avaricious."

"But, father, permit me to say that the Signor Deodati of Lucca is very
rich and of high birth," replied the young girl, sadly. "Did not the
banker Marco Riccardi give you satisfactory information on that point?"

"And should he be miserly, Mary, will he accept the conditions I propose?
I shall demand of him the renunciation of a considerable portion of his
possessions in favor of his nephew Geronimo. Would it not be an insult to
you, which your brothers would avenge, were your hand to be refu