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"Isaachar, I shall not forget this kindness on your part," said the marquis, blushing with shame at himself, when he reflected on the purpose for which he had sought the Jew's dwelling. "Heaven knows it is not in my power to reward you with gold; but whenever I may henceforth hear your race traduced, reckon upon me as its champion."
"You, good captain!" murmured Isaachar, trembling from head to foot. "Yes, I! And wherefore not? Is there anything so marvelous in a man of my refined tastes and exquisite notions taking a fancy to inspect the jewels of one of the proudest beauties of gay Florence?
The fight lasted about ten minutes, when the bandit parried a desperate thrust that was made at him by his opponent, and at the next moment wounded the marquis in the sword arm. The weapon fell from Manuel's hand, and he stood at the mercy of his conqueror. "You are wounded, my lord and the blood is flowing!" cried Stephano. "Hasten, friend Isaachar and fetch water, bandages "
"All right, captain?" said the latter, inquiringly. "All right!" answered Stephano. "Poor Isaachar is inconsolable, no doubt; but the countess will be consoled at his expense. Thus it is with the world, Lomellino; what is one person's misery is another's happiness."
"I, Giulia, Countess of Arestino," began the brigand, dictating to her, "confess myself to owe Stephano Verrina a deep debt of gratitude for his kindness in recovering my diamonds from the possession of the Jew Isaachar, to whom they were pledged for a sum which I could not pay."
Good-night, Isaachar; my brave men shall receive orders to the effect that the first who dares to molest you may reckon upon swinging to the highest tree that I can find for his accommodation." "You violate your compact, Signor Verrina!" exclaimed the Jew, his rage now mastering his fears. "Wherefore should I pay you tribute to protect me, when you enter my house and rob me thus vilely?"
"I presume that old Isaachar here has informed you of the particulars of my previous visit to him this night or rather last night, for it is now the Sabbath morning." "I am well informed of those particulars, Sir Captain," returned Manuel; "but I would fain know what has become of the jewels which you obtained from Isaachar." "I might with reason question your lordship's right to catechise me "
It was beneath the Palazzo del Podesta that the dungeons of the criminal prison and also those of the inquisition were situated. In a cell belonging to the former department, Fernand Wagner was already a captive; and Isaachar ben Solomon now became the inmate of a narrow, cold, and damp stone chamber, in that division of the subterrane which was within the jurisdiction of the holy office.
"Merciful heavens! if you did but know all!" cried Giulia, almost frantically. "These diamonds were pledged to the Jew Isaachar ben Solomon, to raise the sum with which thy last debt was paid, Manuel; and but forgive me if I did not tell thee all this before not half an hour has elapsed since " She stopped short; for she knew that the bandit overheard every syllable she uttered.
But this is a mystery I will explain presently. As for the diamonds Isaachar here can tell your lordship what he has done with the real stones, for those that I received from him which I handed to her ladyship were false." Orsini glanced toward the Jew, who was now pale and trembling. "It was to make inquiries on this point," continued Stephano, "that I came here on the present occasion.
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