u away."

He then added, in a more gentle manner:

"Now, Mary, I beg, I supplicate you, comprehend the duty devolving upon
you. Be courageous, and do your best to console our unhappy friend."

With a heroic effort Mary raised her head, and although still weeping,
said:

"You are right, father. We grieve as though there were no room for hope;
but--but--"

So great was the violence she was doing herself that she could scarcely
draw her breath; but conquering this emotion, she resumed:

"Ah! signor, we cannot know. God is so good, and Geronimo has so pure a
heart!"

"God is indeed good, my child; but his designs are impenetrable. If I
could only imagine some probable cause to explain my nephew's absence. But
nothing--nothing!"

"The bailiff gave us, this morning, a reason for supposing that Geronimo
may yet return to us unharmed."

"You speak of the banker Liefmans, do you not, father?"

"Yes, my child. He disappeared suddenly. A fortnight had passed in useless
inquiry; his parents had the service for the dead offered for him, and he
was found alive and well in a cellar, where some robbers had imprisoned
him, in order by it to obtain a large sum of money."

"And the same may happen, to Geronimo!" said Mary, with a confidence she
did not feel, in order to aid her father in his kind intentions.

Signor Deodati shook his head incredulously.

Mary took his hand tenderly, and said, cheerfully:

"We must hope, signor. Perhaps the Lord in his mercy will grant that our
fears may not be realized. Would we not for the remainder of our lives
offer our grateful prayers to heaven?"

"Yes, yes; during our whole lives. And I would go in my old age to Our
Lady of Loretto to express my boundless gratitude to the Madonna. But
suppose he has fallen under the assassin's sword?"

Mary shuddered at the thought, but she interrupted the old man.

"Signor, Geronimo possessed an amulet which had rested on the tomb of our
Lord. He was convinced that it would preserve him from a violent death,
and he always wore it around his neck."

"I know the circumstances under which the amulet was given him," replied
Deodati. "I myself had some faith in this talisman, because it was the
recompense of a good action; but we have no proof that the woman who gave
it to Geronimo had any certain knowledge of its efficacy. However, Mary,
we will still hope. Your sweet voice has mitigated my sorrow. May my poor
nephew be restored to me. The happine