The Amulet

"Impossible!" exclaimed Mr. Van de Werve.

"Impossible?" repeated Turchi, "he would have gone ere this, had I not

persuaded him that he would obtain his uncle's pardon. Even on the day of

your arrival, Signor Deodati, when Geronimo met me in the dock-yard on the

bank of the Scheldt, he begged me to inquire for an English vessel which

would leave on that or the next day, and secretly to engage his passage on

board. You may well know that I combated this foolish project, and I left

him only when he promised me to abandon the idea."

"Could he so lightly sacrifice my daughter's love?" said Mr. Van de Werve.

"Were his expressions of affection for her only hypocrisy? No, no; nothing

can induce me to believe that."

"His love was real," replied Turchi, "and its very depth, perhaps, blinded

his judgment. He thought that the discovery of his losses at the

gaming-table would inevitably deprive him of all hope of Mary's hand. My

poor friend! he wished to fly from the fate which threatened him, that he

might not witness the affliction of his beloved uncle."

No one replied to Simon's remarks, and he said, with hypocritical

surprise: "How sad you both are! You should rather rejoice at my revelation. Is it

not a happiness to think that Geronimo, although guilty of a fault, is

still alive, and not to be forced to believe that he is forever lost to

our affection by a frightful death?"

Old Deodati arose and said: "My friends, I must leave you; my mind is troubled; I am ill. Besides, I

wish to discover by the books the truth or falsity of Signor Turchi's

statement. Do not attempt to detain me, I beg you. Adieu! May God guard

you!"

Simon Turchi prepared to accompany the old man; but whilst they were

speaking together the bailiff, Messire John Van Schoonhoven, suddenly

entered, and without the formality of a salutation, he exclaimed: "Gentlemen, I have news!"

Turchi trembled and turned pale; but as the unexpected announcement of the

bailiff had startled the others, his emotion was not attributed to terror.

"For the love of God be calm, gentlemen, and do not anticipate too much. I

do not know what has become of the unfortunate Geronimo, but I have just

cause to hope that we will soon find him--at least we have a clue.' I have

learned, beyond doubt, that on the day of his disappearance, about five

o'clock in the evening, he was seen beyond the Square of Meir. A monk from

the Dominican Convent, who knows him well, saluted him and noticed the

direction he went. Acting upon this information, one of my most

intelligent subordinates has been tracing him. A banker saw him pass

through the quarter of the Jews. This is all I know at present, but these

facts are sufficient to determine the direction of our researches, and may

perhaps lead to a fortunate issue. By early dawn to-morrow I will collect

all the agents at my disposal; I will divide them into small bands, and I

will order them to search every house, cellar, and garden in a certain

part of the city, and that in the most thorough manner, without leaving a

spot unexamined.[22] I myself will superintend the work, and will visit in

person each hand of workmen to see that my commands are properly

executed."