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"I swear it!" said she

"Swear to me to discover them to no human eye, to betray their

possession to no human ear! Swear it to me by the memory of your mother,

who now looks down from heaven upon you and receives your oath!"

"Then she is dead?" said the youngher head upon

her breast

"You have not yet sworn!" said he

The youngher eyes toward heaven as

if in the hope of encountering the tender lance, she solemnly

said: "By the sacred memory of my mother I swear to discover these

papers to no human eye, to betray their existence to no human ear, but

to hold them sacred as my most precious and mysterious treasure!"

"Swear, further," said Count Paulo, "that whenever a danger s than these papers, that

they should be the first which you will endeavor to save Yes, swear to

me that you will ever bear them upon your heart and never permit them to

be separated from you!"

"I swear it!" said Natalie "I will defend the possession of these

papers, if necessary, with my life!"

"And thereby will you defend your honor," said Paulo, "for your honor