"God be praised!" said Geronimo, with a sigh of relief. "He will not long delay, I hope, to fulfil his generous designs."
"I will pay you to-morrow what I owe you."
"To-morrow? how fortunate!"
"But, Geronimo, I cannot bring you the money; you must come for it yourself."
"It would be a trifle were I obliged to go to Cologne."
"You need not go so far. Only go to my country-seat near the hospital.
Silence! some one approaches!"
After a moment's silence, Turchi resumed:
"He has passed. You must know, Geronimo, that the foreign merchant desires his presence in Antwerp to remain unknown, and I have promised to keep him concealed in my garden for several days.[17] He wishes to assist me, but he is over-prudent and distrustful. I will sign the receipt for the sum he lends me. He requires, for greater security, that you sign it also."
"What mystery is this?" said the young man. "I must sign with you for security! Who is this merchant? Is he a fugitive from justice?"
"What has that to do with the affair? It is not my secret, Geronimo, and I promised to conceal his name. If you be saved from your present embarrassment, will you not have attained your object? It is true that you will be my security, but the ten thousand crowns will be in the money vault, and your uncle will not find one florin missing. Your only danger would arise from an inability on my part to meet the note. But you need fear nothing in that respect. In a few months my resources will be abundant. I take this step only to save you from a present imminent danger. You must know, Geronimo, that I would prefer to have you alone for my creditor."