e scaffold; do not cover my family
with eternal infamy. Exile me to the ends of the earth; but pardon,
pardon, deliver me not to the executioner!"

Five officers of justice appeared at the door.

"What are your commands?" asked the chief.

"Bind the signor's hands behind his back!"

"Heavens! bind my hands like a thief!" exclaimed Turchi.

"Bind the hands of a nobleman?" repeated the chief in surprise.

"Execute my order immediately! This nobleman is an infamous robber and a
cowardly assassin. Cast him in the deepest dungeon; he shall pay the
penalty of his crime upon the scaffold."

The command was promptly obeyed, and Turchi, in spite of his resistance,
was dragged from the room followed by the bailiff.

Mary and Geronimo wept with joy. Deodati claimed their attention saying:

"My dear children, let us fulfil a sacred duty of gratitude. God has so
visibly protected innocence that the feeling of His presence in our midst
overpowers me. Your hopes will become a reality. Let us pray!"

He knelt before the crucifix, bowed his head and joined his hands.

Geronimo and Mary knelt beside the old man, Mr. Van de Werve behind them.

For a long time they lifted their grateful hearts in thanksgiving to the
God of goodness.

CHAPTER XIII.

MARY VAN DE WERVE'S (NOW MADAME GERONIMO DEODATI) DEPARTURE FOR ITALY--THE
PUNISHMENT OF SIMON TURCHI.

It was six o'clock in the morning.

The height of the sun indicated that the warm season of summer had
replaced the mild month of May. It was apparently a festival day at
Antwerp, for through all the gates people poured from the surrounding
country into the city. The streets were filled with persons of all ages,
who, talking and laughing, hastened to the centre of the city, as though
they anticipated some magnificent spectacle.

Before Mr. Van de Werve's residence was a compact mass of citizens who
seemed impatient at the delay. Through a sentiment of respect, they were
perfectly quiet, speaking in very low tones, and making way to afford a
passage through the crowd every time that a cavalier or any notable
personage presented himself for admission into the house.

The attraction to the centre of the city must have been very powerful, for
the greater part of those who passed neither stopped nor turned their
heads. Some approached, and learning upon inquiry as to the cause of the
gathering, that Miss Van de Werve was about to leave for Italy, they
immediately resume