Notwithstanding the fine weather, the man was enveloped in an ample cloak,

and wore a hat with broad brim, over which fell a purple plume. His

doublet was of gold cloth, and his breeches were of brown satin. At his

side glittered the jewelled hilt of a sword.

He was of lofty stature, and his whole bearing indicated noble birth; his

style of dress and black hair and eyes attested his Italian origin. The

most remarkable thing about his person was a long narrow scar across his

face, as though he had been wounded by a sharp blade. The mark was not

disfiguring, particularly when his features were in repose; but when he

was agitated by some violent passion or uncontrollable emotion, the edges

of the scar assumed different hues, and appeared of a dull white mixed

with red and purple.

At the moment of which we speak his eyes were fixed upon the gondola with

an expression of irritated jealousy, and his lips were strongly

contracted. The color of the scar had changed with his increasing emotion,

and it was of a deep red. He stood so near the water that his feet touched

it, and thus he prevented any one from passing before him and witnessing

the tumult of his soul.

Even the peculiar expression of his countenance did not betray the current

of his thoughts; but certainly he was preoccupied by no good design, for

his whole demeanor bespoke a wild despair and burning jealousy.

For some time he watched in the same attitude the course of the gondola,

which drifted with the current, until he saw the oarsmen seize their oars,

and he supposed they were about to land.

Then his whole frame shook convulsively under his efforts to control his

emotion. He became exteriorly calm, the scar on his cheek paled, and in an

unconcerned manner, with a light step and bright smile, he walked along

the wharf to the spot where he supposed the gondola would stop.

Geronimo, who had seen him approaching, sprung upon the bank before the

boat was moored, and ran to him with singular haste. He took his hand, and

said in an undertone: "Ebbene, caro mio Simone? Have you obtained the money, Simon? My uncle

has arrived. Should he discover that the money-vault lacks so considerable

a sum, you and I are both lost. But you have the money, have you not? You

will give it to me to-day?"

"Pity me, Geronimo," said the other, sighing. "Various fatal circumstances

render all my efforts unavailing."

"You have not the money?" murmured the young man, despairingly.




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