Page 84 (1/2)

"Impossible!" exclaimed Mr Van de Werve

"Ione 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 ed lish 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 hter'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 judga-table would inevitably deprive him of all hope of Mary's hand My

poor friend! he wished to fly froht 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 Geroniuilty 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