In the meantime Mr. Van de Werve aided the duenna in her exertions to
restore animation. Taking advantage of this, Simon Turchi walked towards
the door with the intention of making his escape; but the bailiff
discovering his design, drew his sword and placed himself in the doorway.
Then Simon Turchi understood the fate awaiting him. He bowed his head and
covered his face with his hands. He trembled in every limb, and his breast
heaved with sighs of anguish. Every expectation of escape by flight, or by
making an appeal for pardon, vanished as he beheld the indignant
expression of the bailiff.
Mary at last recovered from the faint into which she had fallen. She
looked around her in surprise, as if ignorant of what had happened; but
when Geronimo's voice fell in joyous accents on her ear, a bright smile
irradiated her countenance, and she exclaimed: "It is not a dream! He lives! I see him once more! Geronimo! Geronimo!"
The young noble was too overpowered to do more than call the name of his
beloved.
Only a few minutes had elapsed since Geronimo's entrance; all were too
much moved to express their surprise in words. But the bailiff resolved to
put an end to this harrowing scene by the performance of a painful duty.
He said, in an imperative manner: "Signor Geronimo, be pleased to interrupt for a moment the expression of
your happiness. By the authority of the law I ask you what has happened,
and why you stigmatize the Signor Turchi as an assassin. Approach, and
obey my order."
Turchi, foreseeing that his frightful crime was about to be revealed,
writhed convulsively and was covered with shame and confusion. He dared
not look upon his accuser.
"Declare the truth," ordered the bailiff.
"Five or six weeks ago," said Geronimo, "Simon Turchi told me that
unforeseen circumstances made it an imperative necessity for him to raise
the sum of ten thousand crowns, adding that if he did not succeed in
obtaining it immediately, the credit of his house would be gone, and that
he himself would be irretrievably ruined. He needed the sum, he said, only
for one month. I lent him the ton thousand crowns, and at his earnest
solicitation, in order to conceal the knowledge of this loan from the
clerks, I made no entry upon the books of the transaction, but was
satisfied with an acknowledgment in writing of the debt."
Old Deodati made an exclamation of joy, ran to his nephew, and embraced
him affectionately.
"God be praised! Dear Geronimo, you restore me to life. That wicked man
tried to persuade me that you had lost ten thousand crowns at play. You
were too virtuous, too grateful for that, my beloved boy!"