Mr. Van de Werve gazed abstractedly as if in deep thought. Then he said,
seriously: "You are truly unhappy, signor, and I commiserate your sorrow. How can it
be possible? All is deceit and perfidy. Geronimo seemed the soul of virtue
and loyalty; he lived with so much economy and conducted himself so
honorably, that to those who knew him not he might have appeared either a
poor man or a precocious miser. And this tranquil, modest, prudent young
man loses at the gaming-table ten thousand crowns, the property of his
benefactor! His laudable course of conduct was but a base hypocrisy!"
"And nevertheless," murmured the old Deodati, "my unfortunate nephew had a
pure and loving heart! Might not his blindness have been the effect of one
solitary and momentary error? Perhaps so. Man sometimes meets fatal
temptations which attract him irresistibly, but to which he yields only
once in his life."
"Why then did he fly, and thus acknowledge his guilt? No, signor, no
excuse can palliate such misdeeds. I burn with indignation at the thought
that such signal favors have met with such cold and base ingratitude. The
idea of your affliction restrains me from speaking of the outrage done my
daughter. Fortunately, the reputation and social position of my family is
such as to screen it from the consequences of such an act. But, signor, I
hope you will agree with me that there can no longer be a question of an
alliance between my daughter and your nephew. He may return and obtain
your pardon, but that will not change my determination. From this day
forward the Signor Geronimo is as a stranger whom we have never known."
Deodati regarded the irritated nobleman with tearful eyes, and seemed to
deprecate the inflexible decree.
Mr. Van de Werve took his hand, and said in a calmer manner: "Be reasonable, signor, and do not let yourself be blinded by affection.
What a dishonor to my name, were I to permit a man with so tarnished a
reputation to enter my family! Could I confide the happiness of my good
and noble child to one who was not withdrawn from a culpable love of play
by life-long benefits? Could I accept as my son a man whom I could not
esteem, whom on the contrary I would despise for his ingratitude to you?
Acknowledge with me that such a union is impossible, and let us talk no
more of it. Be still my friend, however, as long as you remain at
Antwerp."
The merchant shook his head, and after a few moments' silence, he replied: "Alas! I ought to admit that there is no hope of realizing this honorable
alliance. What happiness Geronimo has staked on the cast of a die! I thank
you, Mr. Van de Werve, for your proffered friendship, but I shall not
remain at Antwerp. To-day I shall beg Signor Turchi to settle up the
affairs of the house in this city. Now that I have no one in the world to
care for, none for whom to work and amass money, I shall retire from
commerce. I have ordered the Il Salvatore to be provisioned, and I shall
set sail by the first favorable wind."