So great was the violence she was doing herself that she could scarcely draw her breath; but conquering this emotion, she resumed:
"Ah! signor, we cannot know. God is so good, and Geronimo has so pure a heart!"
"God is indeed good, my child; but his designs are impenetrable. If I could only imagine some probable cause to explain my nephew's absence. But nothing—nothing!"
"The bailiff gave us, this morning, a reason for supposing that Geronimo may yet return to us unharmed."
"You speak of the banker Liefmans, do you not, father?"
"Yes, my child. He disappeared suddenly. A fortnight had passed in useless inquiry; his parents had the service for the dead offered for him, and he was found alive and well in a cellar, where some robbers had imprisoned him, in order by it to obtain a large sum of money."
"And the same may happen, to Geronimo!" said Mary, with a confidence she did not feel, in order to aid her father in his kind intentions.
Signor Deodati shook his head incredulously.
Mary took his hand tenderly, and said, cheerfully:
"We must hope, signor. Perhaps the Lord in his mercy will grant that our fears may not be realized. Would we not for the remainder of our lives offer our grateful prayers to heaven?"