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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
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