o her by
Paulo, in a little silken bag, always hung suspended by a golden chain.

"Grant, O my God," prayed she--"grant that I may keep my promise to
Paulo, and that I may defend these papers with my life!"

And the two brothers were still struggling and contending; like two
serpents they had coiled around each other, and held each other in their
toils.

"Flee, flee, Natalie!" groaned Carlo, with a weakened voice--"flee away
from here! I yet hold him, you are yet safe! Flee!"

But in this moment the maiden thought not of her own danger. She thought
only of Carlo. Springing from her bed, with flashing eyes she boldly
threw herself between the contending men.

"No, no," said she, courageously, "I will not flee--I shall at least
know how to die!"

A shriek resounded from Carlo's lips, his arms relaxed and fell from his
enemy, leaving his brother free.

"Ah, finally, finally!" gasped the panting Joseph. "That was an
amusing carnival farce, my virtuous brother! Farewell! I am this time
triumphant!"

With a wild leap he sprang to the door; brandishing his bloody dagger
in his right hand, he ran through the corridor, down the stairs, and out
into the garden.

"Saved!" said he, breathing more freely. "I think this Russian will be
satisfied with me! I bring the money and the diamonds, and at the same
time have effectually opened a vein for this troublesome protector! Ah,
it seems to me I have very successfully put in practice my studies in
the high-school of the galleys!"

And, humming a jovial song, Joseph Ribas swung himself into a tree close
to the wall, and let himself down on the other side.

Above, in Natalie's chamber, Carlo long lay stretched on the floor,
pale, with the death-rattle in his throat. In a bright stream flowed the
blood from the wound made by his brother's dagger. Natalie knelt by
him. No tear was in her eye, no lamentation escaped her lips. She seemed
perfectly calm and collected in her excess of sorrow; she only sought
with her robe and her hair to cover Carlo's wound and stop the flow of
blood.

A happy smile played upon Carlo's blue lips.

"I die," he murmured, "but I die for thee! Thy _vapo_ has kept his word,
he has defended thee until his last breath! How good is God! He lets me
die in thy service!"

"No, no, you must not die!" cried Natalie, her calmness giving way to
the wildest sorrow. "No, Carlo, you must live! Oh, say not that you die!
Ah, you love me, and yet you would leave