The Amulet

approaching the city, with their various colored flags floating on the breeze, while, far as the eye could reach, the broad expanse of wate

lves so energetically that the heavily laden crafts trembled under the strained cables. From each arose a song wild and harsh as the sharp creaking of the capstan, but joyous as the triumphant shout of a

ptains speaking through the trumpets; and when a Portuguese gallion, coming from the West Indies, a

human activity, and broke and sparkled in colored

the Rhine, who had ranged their strongly-built wagons near the cemetery of Burg, in order to load them with spices for Cologne, could not resist the influence of the beautiful May-day and the gene

the dock-yard, and stopped near the German wagoners

d man and a young girl richly at

d saluted Mr. Van de Werve, whilst glancing admiringly at his daughter. Some Italians

father, and Geronimo entered the boat; the six oars dipped simultaneously into the water, and, pushed by the strong arms of the Portuguese sailors, the gondola sped rapidly through the waves. Swift as a fish and light as a swan, it skimmed the surface of the Scheldt, and made many a turn through the numerous vessels until it had succeede

Geronimo's uncle would undoubtedly consent to their union. The young man was absorbed in thought, and yielded by turns to joy, hope, and fear. Mr. Van de Werve contemplated the city, a

nd pointed in the distan

e Il Sal

sked: "Where? Is it the vessel b

s that large vessel with three masts-on its fl

all were fixed upon the galley, in order, if possible,

is hands, exclaiming, "God

" inquired Mr

resses, with plumed hats? In the midst of them is a man of lofty stature, completely enveloped in a brown cloak. He has lon

g old man!" exclaimed

as well as I can judge at this dista

enthusiastically. "His sixty-five years appear on his brow as an a

salutes us; he smiles. At last I see him after four years of

so great that Mary and h

Geronimo," said Mr. Van de Werve. "God loves a grateful

t; standing in the gondola, he waved to his uncle as if en

ich slowly ascended the Scheldt in a

ed, Geronimo caught the cable of the galley, and ere Mary had recovere

d the ladder cautiously

e exchanged the most

at the eyes of the old man were filled with tears of emotion. She was still more happy when she saw the

dati descended into the

and Geronim

ntroduced his daughter

ned by an enchanting smile which moved the old man's heart; her large blue eyes were fixed upon him with so soft and suppl

y urged by a mysterious instinct, extended both hands to the ol

ion given to Mary by his uncle, t

old man's hand. "Come sit by me; I am so happy to know you. Do not think me bold; Geronimo has spoken so much of you

ned to the city, the old man said, in surprise: "But you speak Italian like a

er," said Mary, po

o mislead you. Miss Van de Werve speaks equally well

the elder Deodati, wit

n merchants' daughters, speak two or three foreign languages. It is a necessity rather than a pleasure for us; for

y the affairs of a large commercial house; you have acted as an experienced man; in order to please me, you have denied yourself pleasures which are so seductive to youth. Taking the place of your father, I have kept a vigilant eye upon you, and

ng lady; but I have a few words to say privately to your father.

Werve to the extremity of the boat, whe

f their conversation. At first both were perfectly calm; by degrees they grew more excited; the derisive smile on the lips of Mr. Van de Werve betrayed the bitterness of hi

ad with evident dissatisfaction; and Mary trembled as

took no favorable turn; on the contrary, the two old me

ion to Mr. Van de Werve, to whic

roaching Geronimo and Ma

etrayed vexation and

y at his uncle. Mary bowed her head, but her heavin

s a painful silence in

aughter, who seemed over

y moved by Geroni

eak silence. "Come, sir," he said, "l

om an illustrious house; she must live in the world in a manner to do honor t

"You would accuse me of cruelty, would you not? and this lovely young girl would hate t

y lord, I wish to show my good-will. I accept entirely your conditions, and in recom

extended to him, and said to his daughter: "Mary, embr

y escaped the lips of Geronimo; even the sailors, although

h had concealed the city from view, and Antwerp, with its thousand vessels, its lofty spires a

ration burst

What a beautiful c

own upon all others? What are those singular buildings whose rounded cupolas and pointed roofs so far exceed in height the surrou

kenbroek. Yonder, near the river, is the church of Borgt, the oldest temple of our city; for in 642 a wooden chapel stood on the spot, and in 1249 it was consecrated as a parish church, just as it now is.[10] That lofty edifice at the foot of the gigantic tower of Notre Dame is the entrep?t of Spain. Every nation has its own manufactories and magazines, where every one may claim the protection of his flag. The massive, unfinished tower belongs to the church of Saint James; the original plan was to elevate it above the spire of Notre Dame, but the work has been long di

worthy of remark, there stood upon the shore, at a corner of the dock-yard, a man who coolly followed the boat with his eyes, and who endeavored to

hat with broad brim, over which fell a purple plume. His doublet was of gold cloth, an

is 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;

strongly contracted. The color of the scar had changed with his increasing emotion, and it was of a deep red. He stood so near

rent of his thoughts; but certainly he was preoccupied by no good desi

e gondola, which drifted with the current, until he saw the oa

teriorly calm, the scar on his cheek paled, and in an unconcerned manner, with a light step an

bank before the boat was moored, and ran to him with sin

. Should he discover that the money-vault lacks so considerable a sum, you and I a

sighing. "Various fatal circumstanc

ey?" murmured the you

r perhaps day aft

my uncle reproves me

he amount. Do not c

e, "were I to be the cause of any misfortune to you

it; I will seek a delay, and endeavor to divert my uncle's attention for a few days. Alas! I am f

became fearfu

nsented?" he said,

. Van d

this news is most painful to you; but did we not loyally promise each other, that w

ed me!" muttered the o

with Mr. Van de Wer

am my own master, I will aid you in your aff

control himself, and advancing cheerfully to m

s all over. Pained as I am, Geronimo, I congratulate you cordially. If I could only

i: "I am happy to present to you my friend, the Signor Simon Turchi, who is at the h

lly taking Simon's hand. "The signor is fro

replied Simon Turchi. "My father often spoke of your mu

hew. That my business affairs have been as well transacted in this country as though I had been here myself, I am indebted to

praise bestowed upon him, but the carri

th your company this evening. We will pass

demanded his attention; but as Mary and Geronimo urged him to accep

carriage drove out of t

rolling wheels was lost in the distance. Then he convulsively crossed his arms and d

r. He stepped aside and looked around him, as though seeking a way of escape from the wharf and the crowd of workmen. He walked slowly towards the church of Saint Walburga, and

n his face frequently changed color, and at intervals his whole frame shook with e

id I take into my service such a poltroon? He would not dare run the risk of striking a fatal blow; but I can force him to it, force him even to be bold. I need but pronounce his real n

Van Schoonhoven; he has espoused my cause with Mr. Van de Werve; he will, perhaps, be offended that Mary's hand

smile curl

Oh, the infernal thought! might I not take from a corpse the acknowledgment of the debt? I

ps, and a sudden terror sh

ce of a man who spoke in a low

chi had so imprudently spoken in t

ersons, three or four steps behind h

ly have called the unknown men to account for their insolent

sible, crossed the cemetery with long and rapid strid