“‘It is well,’ replied the merchant.

“‘You agree to this?’

“‘Count out the money,’ said the old merchant.

“It was done, and the Jew deposited upon the table two hundred and fifty marks of gold, partly made up by a score of fine diamonds.

“‘We should have some witnesses to this transaction,’ said the merchant.  ‘I will summon them.’

“‘It were better done between ourselves alone,’ said the Jew.

“At the same moment the heavy folding-doors behind the seat occupied by Karl Etzwell were thrown open, and two persons, a lady and gentleman, advanced towards the old merchant, They were Bettina and Egbert!

“‘Foiled with thine own weapons!’ said Egbert, advancing and securing the money which the Jew had deposited upon the table.  ’This is the exact sum that was paid to thee four weeks since.  It is now returned, and you are a marked man.  If seen again in these parts, I will myself have thee cut in piecemeal, and hung at my castle gates.  Now, villain, get thee hence!’

“’Gentlemen, you forget that there is a captive who will pay the penalty of all this,’ said the Jew, with a demoniacal grin.

“‘You are not fully informed, Sir Jew,’ said Egbert.  ’Your principal could inform you that his bird has flown, and I tell you that there she stands beside her father.’

“The Jew uttered a smothered execration, and tore his hair for a moment in despair at the loss he had experienced.  But the iron grip of Egbert’s powerful hand upon his shoulder awoke him to a sense of pain and fear for his safety, and he hurried away.

“The descendants of Egbert and Bettina still live happily in their ancestral home,” added Carlton, “and often relate the story of the manner in which the famous bandit Petard was foiled by the gallant and daring stratagem of Egbert Hosfeldt.”

“This is a happy ending, indeed,” said Florinda.

CHAPTER VIII.

A rival.

Excellent!  I smell a device.

-Twelfth Night.

Every picture has its dark side-no scene is all sunshine; and so it is our duty to depict the shadow as well as the brightness of the fortunes of those whose story we relate.  Carlton had met with opposition, circumstances which he had bravely overcome had impeded his progress, physical suffering had been patiently endured, and yet the dark side of his fortune might be said to have hardly been turned upon his gate as yet.  The love of Florinda had ever sustained him; her solemn promise to be his wife, her tender love and constant affection-all these had rendered his hardships mere pastimes.  But now matters were to assume a different aspect; a new stumbling-block was to appear in his path, and a most serious one, indeed.