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160 not have stood more rigidly motionless; amazement sat enthroned on his countenance.

"Angela!"

"Signor Mariano!"

The words in each case were followed by a deep flush, and Angela retreated.

Of course Mariano advanced.

"Excuse—forgive me, signorina," he exclaimed, taking her hand respectfully. "I did not know—of course I could not—how was it possible that—the fact is, I came to see a Jew, and—and—"

"I've found a jewel," he might have said, but that didn't seem to occur to him!

"Bacri—that's his name!" continued Mariano. "Is Bacri within? I came to see him, but—"

"Yes—Signor Bacri is at home," said Angela, much confused by the youth's confusion, as well as by the sudden and unexpected nature of the meeting. "But your father—and brother Lucien—Oh, I hope they are well; that they have not been treated cruelly; that they are not in that dreadful Bagnio, of which I have heard so much," said Angela, at last finding the use of her tongue.

They were interrupted at this point by the appearance of Bacri himself, who welcomed the youth to his house, said that he had been told by Lucien to expect him, and introduced him to his wife and the other members of his family.