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Rh did Lolah love his smile; but now rather, a thousand times rather would she have met his darkest frown.

"All is settled; you are to give the Captain fifty crowns on arriving in port; for the sake of his own pretty Agata, he said he would not be hard upon two young lovers:—I thought," added Stefano, in a whisper, "I might so promise, as I knew my lady had brought jewels away with her."

"Give me the rouleaux," said the Count, "and do you take them, Stefano; and when I return I will increase them a hundredfold."

"Keep your money, good your Excellency; what I have done was in honour and love for your noble house. Keep your gold; it would little benefit me, I trow!"

Leoni rose in anger, and began hastily to ascend the side of the ship. Stefano helped the Countess, who, as with his aid she climbed the knotted ropes, whispered,

"Take the gold, and lay it out in masses at the shrine of St. Rosalie, and this ring—my father gave it me; he will thankfully redeem it, and bless you, as his child does now."

"Come, come, Stefano, here's what will furnish you with many a merry night;" and Montefiore again pressed the money into Stefano's hand, who did not now reject it: the voice in which he muttered his good wishes was inaudible; and as he sprang into his boat, the tears of a three-year-old child