The Amulet

he seemed bowed down by a weight of woe. Her head rested upon her clasped hands.

had overpowered her during prayer; but the gasping breath and heaving chest sufficiently

old woman, her duenna,

girl with deep compassi

ed away the tears which

ghs becam

mewhat calmer, when suddenly, influenced by some peculiarly p

us blood spare his life! Have mercy on him

n had exhausted her strength. The duenna approached her, too

God may be displeased with you for thus delib

offered her by the duenna. She was very pa

ith an eye of pity; she took

our days. And what pain to the poor Geronimo on his return, to find you condemned t

ted Mary, raising her

before being certain of the evil you dread

ssed! I saw Geronimo extended on the ground, the pallor of death on his face, a large wound was in

usions caused

in vain I strove to shut out the horri

her hand, and

. Your dreams at night were but the reflection of your tho

med the young girl, with emotion, as though she

do I think of hi

m dying, di

his uncle and embrace your father. And you, my child, I saw you kneeling on

onsoling words, but scarcely had Petronilla c

to you, my good Petronilla; but tell me to what cause you can attribute Geronimo's

rect interrogation, the

lausible reaso

o divulge; she even suggested that his friends might have prevailed upon him to join in a party of pleasure; but all these were such v

ars flowe

imo, so young, so good, so noble, so gifted, the unfortunate victim of a mysterious murderer! Frightful thoug

anguish, she covered h

the worst side and accept it as truth? You know that during the last four days every possible effort has been

, and heeded not the

rt against all hope. I remember that once an individual was sought for weeks, and found alive when there seemed almost a certainty of his death. The bailiff was s

arded the duenna w

of absence? Had he gone on a journ

nsom. The agents of the bailiff discovered him and liberated him unharmed. If God has so decreed, why may not the same have happened to the Signor Geronimo? You are silent, Mary. You cannot deny that a similar train

y heart to the whisperings of hope. If I accepted your explanations, and afterwards heard of Geronimo's death,

uenna, in a disappointed manner, and as if she were resolved t

ken by the sound of

or Deodati," said the duenna;

cend; but Petronilla wis

h word you uttered pierced the heart of the poor Deodati like a dagger. It would be cruel and guilty in y

the old man was overpowered by anxiety and trouble. Trust me, Petronilla, and le

the room where Mr. Van de Werve and Signor Deodati

the sorrow of his soul, she uttered a stifled cry of anguish. She

ed, seated her by his side, an

bitter dregs in my chalice of life? Could I weep like you, Mary, I might find some relief, but old age has dried up my tears. Alas! alas! where is my poor Geronimo, the

ntemplated his daughter and the desolate old

ow. You have disregarded my desire. I willingly pardon you, my child; but if you wish to remain longer with S

, in a more g

d the duty devolving upon you. Be courageous,

raised her head, and alt

grieve as though there were

self that she could scarcely draw her breat

w. God is so good, and Ger

enetrable. If I could only imagine some probable cause

, a reason for supposing that Gero

banker Liefmans, d

ents had the service for the dead offered for him, and he was found alive and well in a cel

Mary, with a confidence she did not feel, in

shook his hea

nd tenderly, and

ant that our fears may not be realized. Would we not for the

to Our Lady of Loretto to express my boundless gratitude to th

thought, but she int

tomb of our Lord. He was convinced that it would preserve hi

s efficacy. However, Mary, we will still hope. Your sweet voice has mitigated my sorrow. May my poor nephew be restored to me. The happiness I expected in my old age may yet be a reality. You, Mary,-pure image of piety, goodness, and love,-you will be my child! An

to her forever. Her eyes were suffused with tears; her limbs trembled, and had not a stern loo

it better to change the

od

ageously under a painful suspense, and in a manner to which a young girl might be u

ected than we. Within the last five days, he has lost so much flesh that one would scarcely recognize him. He does not give himself a m

mes been unjust to him; but it is in affliction that we learn who are o

to make to me, for he seemed to desire a private conversation. The arrival of some merchants

d Mr. Van de Werv

t it was his intention to offer a large reward to the fi

for his generous fr

er already issued, promising three hundred florins for any information of Geronimo.[21] I spoke with the bailiff at noon. He told me that, notwithstanding the most active search, no trace had yet been discovered of Bufferio's wife, nor of his companions. All of them must have left the country immedia

cast down. She had probably heard only confusedly what ha

that the young girl, aroused from her reverie, rose hastily and went eagerl

e door; Mary involuntarily took both his hands

ve vowed before God to spare no expense or trouble in order to discover what has become of my unfortunate friend; but so far impenetrable darkness covers the terri

ingering hope from Mary's heart, and she sea

regarded her with an expression

I know by my own sorrow how your loving hea

she saw the tears running down his cheeks. Then

beg Almighty God to recompense

ch marked the margin of the scar on his face. The hypocrite could shed tears at pleasure and assume an expression of extreme sorrow, but the scar was not

e had received the price of the frightful assassination, in order to remain rich, powerful, and honored, he required the hand of the beautiful Mary Van de Werve. He well knew that a long time must elapse before the consummation of his hopes; still, from the very day that he had committed the murder, he commenced to lay his schemes

's hands in

thought-a strange thought-occurred to my mind. And if I be correct,

Mary, anxiously. "T

down his eyes in fe

is a secret which I ha

olation refused me?" she

and awaken our curiosity only to cast us down by your silence? Give no

shrugged hi

morning before 'Change you were about to confide the secret to me, wh

convey the idea that her presence prevented h

se varying emotions are more than you can bear; if I learn anythi

out reply, but she glanc

rc

ed to cause you pain; only rest assured that what I

the young girl obeyed her fat

rve, "what is the secret

ion was to speak only to Signor Deodati of the affair; perhaps it would be indiscreet in

used to a high pitch of excitement by his impatience. "Why should not Mr. Van

k," said Turchi, with a si

their chairs nearer to him, Simon said in an under

en disturbed and anxious; that even in the midst of cheerful conversation he appe

d it," said Mr

, Signor

ed it. But what do

se of his melancholy, and he informed me in confused, va

r. Van de Werve, overp

exclaimed Deodati, with

to whom he had lost the amount, nor would he tell me how much it was. His melancholy and agitation were caused by the circumstance I have just mentioned. He was tortured by the certainty that his uncle would discover, upon

ounded the honorable, high-toned nobleman than the thought that Geronimo had been

ith emotion

s considerable. Wh

aps you might discover it by

e fixed upon the ground. Signor Deodati passed his han

the effect of this revelation upon his two companions, try

f my friend sacred, and guarded his secret until death. Up to this time we all feared, nay, considered it certain, that Geronimo had

exclaimed Mr

r 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

Van de Werve. "Were his expressions of affection for her on

very of his losses at the gaming-table would inevitably deprive him of all hope of Mary's hand. My poor friend! he

remarks, and he said, wi

ness to think that Geronimo, although guilty of a fault, is still alive, and not to

ti arose

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

speaking together the bailiff, Messire John Van Schoonhoven, sudden

en, I ha

ected announcement of the bailiff had startled th

nt, 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-mo

s face with his hands, in o

is emotion, th

ignor Turchi, to exc

ught I was about to learn from your lips that my friend was safe, and wha

rge and Saint Andrew. But I am determined to discover the truth. Dead or alive, I will find him, even if it be necessary to tear up the pavements of all the cellars, and dig up all the gardens to the depth of ten

d Turchi. "May God direct your steps! How we will al

ignor; but all things are possible,

ok his han

for the remaining longer in your honorable company; but I am in

also, Signor Turchi

f the eye, that he could not let the old man go

r; you are right. Ad

leave of Mr. Van de Werve, who accompanied them to the door, and admiring Simon