I may venture. The well
known Hebrew, Levi of Livorno, has left with me a sack, containing the
very sum of which there is question, and, under the conditions named, I
will convert it to my uses, arid repay the good jeweller his gold, with
moneys of my own, at a later day."

"I thank thee for the fact, Hosea," said the other, partially removing
his mask, but as instantly replacing it. "It will greatly shorten our
negotiations. Thou hast not that sack of the Jew of Livorno beneath thy
domino?"

Hosea was speechless. The removal of the mask had taught him two
material facts. He had been communicating his distrust of the Senate's
intentions, concerning Donna Violetta, to an unknown person, and,
possibly, to an agent of the police; and he had just deprived himself of
the only argument he had ever found available, in refusing the attempts
of Giacomo Gradenigo to borrow, by admitting to that very individual
that he had in his power the precise sum required.

"I trust the face of an old customer is not likely to defeat our
bargain, Hosea?" demanded the profligate heir of the senator, scarce
concealing the irony in which the question was put.

"Father Abraham! Had I known it had been you, Signor Giacomo, we might
have greatly shortened the treaty."

"By denying that thou hadst the money, as thou hast so often done of
late!"

"Nay, nay, I am not a swallower of my own words, young Signore; but my
duty to Levi must not be forgotten. The careful Hebrew made me take a
vow, by the name of our tribe, that I would not part with his gold to
any that had not the means of placing its return beyond all chances."

"This assurance is not wanting, since thou art the borrower, thyself, to
lend to me."

"Signore, you place my conscience in an awkward position. You are now my
debtor some six thousand sequins, and were I to make this loan of money
in trust, and were you to return it--two propositions I make on
supposition--a natural love for my own might cause me to pass the
payment to account, whereby I should put the assets of Levi in
jeopardy."

"Settle that as thou wilt with thy conscience, Hosea--thou hast
confessed to the money, and here are jewels for the pledge--I ask only
the sequins."

It is probable that the appeal of Giacomo Gradenigo would not have
produced much effect on the flinty nature of the Hebrew, who had all the
failings of a man proscribed by opinion; but having recovered from his
surprise, he began to explain t