respect for, certain great moral rules,
without which there can exist no esteem between the upright. The alliance
of knaves depends on motives so hackneyed and obvious, that we abstain
from any illustration of its principle as a work of supererogation. The
Signor Grimaldi and Melchior de Willading were both very upright and
justly-minded men, as men go, in intention at least, and their opposite
peculiarities and opinions had served, during hot youth, to keep alive the
interest of their communications, and were not likely, now that time had
mellowed their feelings and brought so many recollections to strengthen
the tie, to overturn what they had been originally the principal
instruments in creating.

"Of thy readiness to thank God, I have never doubted," answered the baron,
when his friend had ended the remark just recorded, "but we know that his
favors are commonly shown to us here below by means of human instruments.
Ought we not, therefore, to manifest another sort of gratitude in favor of
the individual who was so serviceable in last night's gust?"

"Thou meanest my untractable countryman? I have bethought me much since we
separated of his singular refusal, and hope still to find the means of
conquering his obstinacy."

"I hope thou may'st succeed, and thou well know'st that I am always to be
counted on as an auxiliary. But he was not in my thoughts at the instant;
there is still another who nobly risked more than the mariner in our
behalf, since he risked life."

"This is beyond question, and I have already reflected much on the means
of doing him good. He is a soldier of fortune, I learn, and if he will
take service in Genoa, I will charge myself with the care of his
preferment. Trouble not thyself, therefore, concerning the fortunes of
young Sigismund; thou knowest my means, and canst not doubt my will."

The baron cleared his throat, for he had a secret reluctance to reveal his
own favorable intentions towards the young man, the last lingering feeling
of worldly pride, and the consequence of prejudices which were then
universal, and which are even now far from being extinct. A vivid picture
of the horrors of the past night luckily flashed across his mind, and the
good genius of his young preserver triumphed.

"Thou knowest the youth is a Swiss," he said, "and, in virtue of the tie
of country, I claim at least an equal right to do him good."

"We will not quarrel for precedence in this matter, but thou wilt