. O Mary! my uncle has an eagle eye
in business affairs; he will at once discover the deficit of ten thousand
crowns--a deficit resulting from my lending money: a thing he has always
warned me against, and which, even recently, he strictly forbade. My uncle
is a good father to me, but this act of disobedience is sufficient to
deprive me forever of his favor. I foresee many future evils."

"Why were you so imprudent, Geronimo? You ought to have refused so large a
loan."

"I could not possibly refuse, Mary."

"But you hold an acknowledgment of the debt and a promise of payment.
Summon this merchant before the magistrates; at Antwerp justice is
promptly and impartially dealt to all."

"Impossible!" replied the young man, in a plaintive voice; "my debtor is a
man to whom I owe many obligations; a complaint from me would be the cause
of irreparable ruin to him. Let us hope that he will succeed in procuring
the ten thousand crowns. He told me even this morning that he would
endeavor to give me bills of exchange on Spain."

"But of whom are you speaking?" said Mary; "your language is so
mysterious."

"I will not tell his name. Be not offended by my reserve; there is between
merchants a law of secrecy which honor forbids us to violate."

Mary appeared to respect this law; but she was evidently absorbed in
bitter reflections.

Either the communication of his difficulties to his beloved had given him
new strength, or the sight of her sorrow made him affect a confidence he
did not feel, for he said to her in a cheerful manner:

"Come, Mary, you must not yield to discouragement. Perhaps I exaggerate
the danger. My debtor is a member of a house which equals any other in
consideration and wealth. In a few days, to-day even, or to-morrow, he may
acquit himself of the debt, and should my uncle arrive before the
restitution, I will endeavor to delay his examination of the books."

He took the young girl's hand, and exclaimed, with joyous enthusiasm: "O
Mary, my beloved, may Heaven be propitious to our vows! May the
benediction of the priest descend upon our union! We will pass in Italy
the first months of our happy life; Italy--that earthly paradise where God
has lavished all the treasures of nature, and man all the treasures of
art."

They heard Mr. Van de Werve's voice in the hall giving urgent orders to
the servants.

"Mary," said Geronimo, "your father is coming. I implore you not to
divulge, in any manner, what I hav