stand immediately upon the Scheldt, were the ancient fortifications of the city.  That small, graceful spire is the Convent of Faucon; it is called here, Our Lady of Valkenbroek.  Yonder, near the river, is the church of Borgt, the oldest temple of our city; for in 642 a wooden chapel stood on the spot, and in 1249 it was consecrated as a parish church, just as it now is.[10] That lofty edifice at the foot of the gigantic tower of Notre Dame is the entrepot of Spain.  Every nation has its own manufactories and magazines, where every one may claim the protection of his flag.  The massive, unfinished tower belongs to the church of Saint James; the original plan was to elevate it above the spire of Notre Dame, but the work has been long discontinued for want of funds.  Do you see, a little further on, that square building surmounted by a dome?  It is the palace of Fugger, the Croesus of our times:  he was elevated to the nobility by Maximilian on account of his wealth.  Furnishing money to kings and nations, he sees gold daily pouring into his coffers, and if God does not interfere, the royal power will bow before that of the opulent banker.  On the right you have the church of Saint Andrew, and near it the convent of Saint Michael, where our Emperor Charles stays when he visits his good city of Antwerp."[11]

While the gondola was skimming over the surface of the water, and Mr. Van de Werve was explaining to Signor Deodati the various edifices which were worthy of remark, there stood upon the shore, at a corner of the dock-yard, a man who coolly followed the boat with his eyes, and who endeavored to comprehend what was passing in the gondola, and to discover what might be the emotions of the young man and the young girl who were seated within it.

Notwithstanding the fine weather, the man was enveloped in an ample cloak, and wore a hat with broad brim, over which fell a purple plume.  His doublet was of gold cloth, and his breeches were of brown satin.  At his side glittered the jewelled hilt of a sword.

He was of lofty stature, and his whole bearing indicated noble birth; his style of dress and black hair and eyes attested his Italian origin.  The most remarkable thing about his person was a long narrow scar across his face, as though he had been wounded by a sharp blade.  The mark was not disfiguring, particularly when his features were in repose; but when he was agitated by some violent passion or uncontrollable emotion, the edges of the scar assumed different hues, and appeared of a dull white mixed with red and purple.

At the moment of which we speak his eyes were fixed upon the gondola with an expression of irritated jealousy, and his lips were strongly contracted.  The color of the scar had changed with his increasing emotion, and it was of a deep red.  He stood so near the water that his feet touched it, and thus he prevented any one from passing before him and witnessing the tumult of his soul.