"Where did you get this?"
"I have just bought it. It is a very pretty toy for a gentleman," Phenee broke in persuasively.
With almost eager haste Diniz bargained for the poignard, and at last managed to bring the Jew down to ten times the sum he had given the fisherman.
After his friend, Miguel Reale, had chosen the jewels he wanted, Diniz hurried him away.
Not many hours later, as the young Jewess sat alone, her grandfather having gone some distance off on business, she was startled by Sampayo suddenly reappearing, a look of intense anxiety on his face.
"Senora," he said politely, drawing from his breast the poignard, "can you tell me from whom your father bought this?"
"I do not know his name, but I believe he is a fisherman and lives in yonder village," Miriam answered simply.
"Should you know him again? Pardon my asking, but it is very important I should discover the owner of this weapon. By doing so I may be able to bring a murderer to meet his doom, and avenge the death of my best friend!"
Miriam gazed at him compassionately, a serious light in her dark eyes.
"I will help you," she said suddenly, moved as it were by a strange impulse; "I have long wished for occupation—some useful work, though I should have liked something less terrible than helping to trace a murderer; still, I will aid you if I can."