"Plunder!" repeated the Jew, in a tone almost of indignation, in spite of the terror with which the bandit-captain inspired him. "Did I not lend my good golden ducats upon those diamonds? and must I be blamed, if knowing--ah! knowing too well, the base artifices of which many of even the best-born Florentine n.o.bles and great ladies are capable, must I be blamed, I say, if aware of all this, I adopted a device which the wickedness of others, and not our own, has rendered common amongst those of our race who traffic in loans upon jewels and precious stones."

"Isaachar speaks naught save the pure truth," remarked Orsini, blushing at the justice which dictated these reproaches against the aristocracy whereof he was a member. "Signor Verrina," he continued, "you are a brave man--and I believe you to be a generous one. Confirm this opinion on my part, by refraining from further molestation toward the Jew, and thou wilt doubly render me thy debtor."

"Be that as you will, my lord," grumbled the bandit-chief. "And now let us depart--for I have much to communicate to your lordship."

"I am ready to accompany you," returned the marquis, putting on his plumed hat, and settling his cloak with his left hand.

"One word, my lord," said Isaachar, in his habitual nervous and trembling tone. "Should the Countess of Arestino _really_ need her diamonds--_really_ need them, my lord--I--should not--object--that is, my lord," he added in a firmer voice, as if ashamed at the hesitation with which he was expressing his readiness to do a good action, "I will at once give them up to her, trusting to her ladyship's honor to pay me my moneys at her most befitting convenience."

"Her ladyship does not require them now!" exclaimed the bandit-chief, emphatically.

The marquis looked at Stephano inquiringly, for there was something ominously mysterious in his words; but the brigand stalked in a dogged manner toward the door, as if anxious to hurry the departure so long protracted, and Manuel, having renewed the expressions of his grat.i.tude toward Isaachar ben Solomon, hastily followed Verrina from the house.

CHAPTER XXVII.

STEPHANO AND THE MARQUIS--THE STRONGHOLD OF THE BANDITTI.

The moment Stephano and the marquis were alone together in the open street the former related all the incidents which had occurred at the Arestino Palace after the departure of Manuel himself; and the young n.o.bleman now learned, with feelings of remorse and sorrow, that the unfortunate countess had been hurried away to the convent of the Carmelites--that species of inquisition the gates of which so seldom opened more than once for each new female victim.

"But you promised to save her, signor!" he exclaimed, with enthusiastic warmth.

"I gave this pledge in the manner described to your lordship," returned Verrina, "and I shall not swerve from it."

"Think you that her liberation can be effected?" demanded Manuel.

"Remember that the convent is protected by the highest personages in the state--that violence never will succeed in accomplishing the object--for should an armed man dare to pa.s.s that sacred threshold, every sbirro in Florence would fly to the spot----"

"It is, then, your lordship who is afraid of attempting the rescue of the countess!" interrupted Stephano, in a contemptuous tone.

"That observation is hardly fair, Signor Verrina," said the young n.o.bleman; "considering that my right arm is disabled, and that the wound was received in combat with yourself."

"I crave your lordship's pardon," exclaimed the bandit-captain. "My remark was most uncourteous--particularly to one who has ere now given no equivocal proof of his valor. But I pretend not to courtly manners; and such as I am you will find me faithfully devoted to your service and that of the Lady Giulia. The attempt to rescue her will be somewhat hazardous; it is, however, tolerably sure of success. But it can only be undertaken on certain conditions; and these regard your lordship's self.

Indeed, had I not so opportunely met you at the Jew's house, I should have sent one of my fellows to you to-morrow."

"In what way do the conditions that you speak of, regard myself?"

inquired the marquis.

"To this extent," returned the robber-chief; "that you accompany me to my stronghold, wherever it may be; that you join us in any project or plan that may be undertaken with a view to liberate the Countess of Arestino; and that you remain with us until such project or plan be attempted; then, whether it succeed or fail, you shall be at liberty to take your departure."

"Agreed!" exclaimed Manuel; "and now permit me to ask you one question:--On what ground do you manifest this interest in behalf of the countess and myself? You are well aware that from me you have little to hope in the shape of reward; and that the countess will be in no better condition than myself to recompense you, even if you succeed in effecting her rescue."

"I am well aware of this, my lord," answered Stephano; "and I will give you an explanation of my motives as frankly as you solicit it. In the first place it suits my projects to make friends as much as possible with n.o.bles and great ladies; as no one can say how or when such interest may be available to me or to those connected with me. Secondly, I am not sorry to have an excuse for paying a visit to the Carmelite Convent; and in case of failure, it will be as well to have a Florentine n.o.ble amongst us. Because the statutes of our glorious Republic are somewhat unequal in their application; thus, for instance, if a plebeian commit sacrilege, he is punished with death; but a patrician is merely reprimanded by the judge and mulcted in a sum which is devoted to religious purposes. In this latter case, too, the companions of the patrician are punished only as he himself is. Now, therefore, your lordship's presence amongst us will be a guarantee for our safety.

Lastly, for I have another and less selfish motive, I admire the spirit with which your lordship spends money, drinks a flagon of good wine, and loses your thousands at dice; for saving your lordship's presence, there is much in all those facts which finds sympathy with my own inclinations. Thus, everything considered, Stephano Verrina and fifty as gallant fellows as ever bore the name of banditti, are completely at your lordship's service, and that of the dear lady who has the good taste to prefer a dashing roistering blade like yourself, to a gentleman no doubt very worthy of esteem, but certainly old enough to be her father."

The marquis made no reply to this tirade; but he reflected profoundly upon all that the robber-chieftain said as they walked leisurely along through the suburb of Alla Croce, and toward the city.

He reflected because he now saw all the dangers that were a.s.sociated with the step he was taking, the chance of being arrested with the whole band of lawless freebooters, and the dishonor that would attach itself to his name, were such an event to occur. But on the other hand, Giulia was immured in consequence of her love for him; and his naturally chivalrous disposition triumphed over selfish considerations. Could her liberation be effected, he would fly with her into another state; and the revenues arising from her own little patrimony which had been settled on herself at her marriage would enable them to live comfortably, if not affluently. And who could tell but that her husband might die intestate? and then all his wealth would become hers by law.

Thus did he reason with himself.

"Well, my lord--you do not reply?" exclaimed the robber-captain, impatient of the long silence which had followed his explanations. "Are you content to abide by the conditions I ere now proposed?"

"Perfectly content," answered the marquis.

He knew that it was useless to reason with the brigand against the spoliation of the convent, which he had more than hinted at; for it was not likely that the robbers would incur so great a risk as that involved in the sacrilegious invasion of the sacred establishment, unless it were with the hope of reaping an adequate reward.

The bandit-chief and the young n.o.bleman had now reached the boundary of the city; but instead of entering the streets, they turned abruptly to the right, Stephano acting as guide, and plunged into a thick grove of evergreens.

"Here, my lord," said Stephano, stopping short, "you must consent to be blindfolded."

"And wherefore?" demanded Manuel, indignantly. "Think you that I shall betray the secrets of your dwelling, wherever and whatever it may be?"

"I entertain no such base suspicion," returned Verrina. "But we banditti are governed by a code of laws which none of us--not even I, the chief--dare violate. To the observance of this code we are bound by an oath of so deadly--so dreadful a nature, that bold and reckless as we are, we could not forget _that_. And I should alike break our laws and depart from my oath, were I to conduct an uninitiated stranger to our stronghold otherwise than blindfolded."

"I offer no further opposition, Signor Verrina," said the marquis. "Fix on the bandage."

Stephano tied his scarf over the n.o.bleman's eyes, and then conducted him slowly through the mazes of the grove.

In this manner they proceeded for nearly a quarter of an hour, when they stopped, and Stephano, quitting Manuel's hand, said in a low tone, "Stand still just where you are for a moment, while I give the signal, and do not move a single step--for it is a dangerous neighborhood."

About half a minute elapsed, during which it struck Manuel that he heard a bell ring far--far under ground. The sound was very faint: but still he felt convinced that he did hear it, and that it appeared to come from the bowels of the earth.

But he had not much time for reflection; for Stephano once more took his hand, saying, "You are now about to descend a flight of steps."

They proceeded downward together for some distance, when the steps ceased, and they pursued their way on a flat surface of pavement; but the echoes of their footsteps convinced the marquis that he was treading a subterranean cavern or pa.s.sage.

Presently a huge door, sounding as if it were made of iron, was closed behind them, and Stephano exchanged a few words in a whisper with some one who spoke to him at that point. Then they descended a few more steps, and at the bottom another door was banged heavily, when they had pa.s.sed its threshold,--the echoes resounding like pistol-shots throughout the place.

For a few minutes more did they proceed on another level-paved floor: and then the gurgling rush of a rapid stream met the ears of the marquis.

"Be careful in following me," said Stephano; "for you are about to cross a narrow bridge, my lord--and one false step is destruction."

Slowly they pa.s.sed over the bridge, which seemed to be a single plank of about thirty feet in length and excessively narrow, he had no doubt, both from the caution which he had received and the elasticity of that dangerous pathway.

On the opposite side, the level-paved surface was continued; and at the expiration of another minute, heavy folding-doors closed behind them.

"Take off the bandage, my lord," said Stephano, as he untied the knot which fastened the scarf at the back of the young n.o.bleman's head.

The Marquis of Orsini gladly availed himself of this permission; and when the bandage fell from his eyes, he found himself in a s.p.a.cious cavern, paved with marble, hung with rich tapestry, and lighted by four chandeliers of ma.s.sive silver.

Six pillars of crystal supported the roof, and rendered the l.u.s.ter of the chandeliers almost insupportably brilliant by means of reflection.

In the midst of this subterranean apartment stood a large table, covered with flagons, empty wine flasks, and drinking-cups; but the revelers had retired to rest--and the marquis and Stephano were alone in that banqueting-hall.

"Follow me, my lord," said the bandit-captain; "and I will conduct you to a place where you will find as dainty a couch as even a n.o.bleman so accustomed to luxury as your lordship need not despise."