This thought made him shudder.  After a few moments’ reflection, he said, more calmly:  “I will go to the bailiff Van Schoonhoven; he has espoused my cause with Mr. Van de Werve; he will, perhaps, be offended that Mary’s hand has been disposed of contrary to his urgent solicitations.  Perhaps he may have influence to prevent the marriage.”

An ironical smile curled his lip.

“Fool that I am!” he muttered.  “And the ten thousand crowns? and the disgrace of bankruptcy?  Oh, the infernal thought! might I not take from a corpse the acknowledgment of the debt?  I will go to Mr. Van de Werve’s; I must speak with Geronimo; I must know where tins evening he—­”

The words died upon his lips, and a sudden terror shook him from head to foot.

He had heard behind him the voice of a man who spoke in a low tone, and who seemed to be a spy.

Could he have heard what Simon Turchi had so imprudently spoken in this solitary corner of the cemetery?

Turning in his anguish, he saw two persons, three or four steps behind him, looking at him with a mocking air.

Under other circumstances the Italian cavalier would certainly have called the unknown men to account for their insolent curiosity; but fear deprived him of all courage and energy.

He dropped his head, concealed his face as far as possible, crossed the cemetery with long and rapid strides, and disappeared behind the wall of the enclosure.

CHAPTER III.

The palace of Simon Turchi, and what occurred there.

Not far from the bridge De la Vigne, Simon Turchi had a magnificent dwelling, where the offices of the commercial house of Buonvisi were situated; but he possessed also, at the extremity of the city, pleasure-grounds, where in fine weather he was accustomed to invite his friends and acquaintances to festivals, banquets, and concerts.  His domains were near the church of Saint George, surrounded by grounds belonging to the hospital.

Exteriorly it appeared to be only a wall of enclosure, shaded by lofty trees, and without openings.  Against the horizon were seen two glittering weathercocks surmounting two small towers arising in the midst of foliage.  Within there was, however, a vast garden diversified with winding paths, flowery parterres, hillocks, and grottos.  Here and there, scattered among the thickets of verdure, appeared marble statues representing principally the gods of pagan mythology.  In the centre of the garden was a pond, in which seemed to float a crowd of monstrous animals, such as dragons, basilisks, lizards, and salamanders.  It was a fountain; and when the robinets were opened these monsters spouted the water in every direction from their eyes and mouths.

But at the bottom of the garden and at some distance from the wall of enclosure was an antique pavilion of gray-stone, the walls of which were nearly covered with ivy, and which, in spite of their dark hue, presented a very picturesque appearance.