“The gold can then be had—­on that point I may be easy?”

Hosea hesitated, for he had in vain endeavored to penetrate the other’s disguise, and while he thought his assurance a favorable omen, with a lender’s instinct he disliked his impatience.

“I have said, by the friendly aid of our people,” he answered, with caution.

“This uncertainty will not answer my need.  Addio, Hosea—­I must seek elsewhere.”

“Signore, you could not be more hurried were the money to pay the cost of your nuptials.  Could I find Isaac and Aaron within, at this late hour, I think I might be safe in saying, that part of the money might be had.”

“I cannot trust to this chance.”

“Nay, Signore, the chance is but small, since Aaron is bed-ridden, and Isaac never fails to look into his affairs after the toil of the day is ended.  The honest Hebrew finds sufficient recreation in the employment, though I marvel at his satisfaction, since nothing but losses have come over our people the year past!”

“I tell thee, Jew, no doubt must hang over the negotiation.  The money, with pledges, and thine own conscience for arbiter between us; but no equivocal dealings, to be followed by a disappointment, under the pretence that second parties are not satisfied.”

“Just Daniel! to oblige you, Signore, I think I may venture.  The well known Hebrew, Levi of Livorno, has left with me a sack, containing the very sum of which there is question, and, under the conditions named, I will convert it to my uses, arid repay the good jeweller his gold, with moneys of my own, at a later day.”

“I thank thee for the fact, Hosea,” said the other, partially removing his mask, but as instantly replacing it.  “It will greatly shorten our negotiations.  Thou hast not that sack of the Jew of Livorno beneath thy domino?”

Hosea was speechless.  The removal of the mask had taught him two material facts.  He had been communicating his distrust of the Senate’s intentions, concerning Donna Violetta, to an unknown person, and, possibly, to an agent of the police; and he had just deprived himself of the only argument he had ever found available, in refusing the attempts of Giacomo Gradenigo to borrow, by admitting to that very individual that he had in his power the precise sum required.

“I trust the face of an old customer is not likely to defeat our bargain, Hosea?” demanded the profligate heir of the senator, scarce concealing the irony in which the question was put.

“Father Abraham!  Had I known it had been you, Signor Giacomo, we might have greatly shortened the treaty.”

“By denying that thou hadst the money, as thou hast so often done of late!”

“Nay, nay, I am not a swallower of my own words, young Signore; but my duty to Levi must not be forgotten.  The careful Hebrew made me take a vow, by the name of our tribe, that I would not part with his gold to any that had not the means of placing its return beyond all chances.”