IL BANCOLO. 425 
me, oh, my father! where is the venerable old man? tell me where 
I may find him.” ‘“ Paolo Bancolo,” said the monk, astonished at 
the change in the countenance of his companion, “is at this mo- 
ment in the house of Signor de Langeron, governor of Marseilles. 
The courageous and generous Langeron is not satisfied to manifest 
his devotedness when his country is distracted by war or ravaged by 
pestilence, but he is also the great hospitallier of Marseilles, even in 
the time of prosperity and peace. Yes! I repeat, Sir, Bancolo 
has indeed found an asylum in the house of Langeron ; and he will 
not leave it but to set sail for his native land.” “I thank you, my 
reverend father, a thousand times,” exclaimed the stranger, as he 
kissed with ardour the hands of the monk 3; “but I wish to meet 
you again: where can I find you?” “At my convent,” said the 
monk, “which is distant but a few paces from this spot.” The 
stranger bade adieu, and departed. 
He immediately ran with all his speed to the street leading to the 
residence of the governor ; and it was not until the moment of his 
departure that the monk observed that he was followed at a respect. 
ful distance by two lackeys dressed in rich liveries, 
The night was dark: the bell of the abbey of the Mathurins had 
already summoned the inmates of the convent to vespers, when the 
porter announced to the superintendent father that two strangers 
awaited him in the parloir. He attended upon his visitors, and 
with the first glance recognized in one of them the stranger who 
had conversed with him in the morning, and in the other the aged 
captive, Paolo Bancolo, But the appearance of the latter had 
changed: the tatters of the slave were replaced by the sumptuous 
vestments of the wealthy man. He tenderly embraced the Father 
of Mercy, and once more gave utterance to expressions of the deep. 
est gratitude. ‘ Paolo Bancolo,” said the superintendent father, 
“if we may judge from appearances, God has in reserve for you a 
destiny at once great and happy. Be grateful, Bancolo, for thy 
lot ; and in the brilliant sphere in which thou art about to move 
never forget those unhappy beings who still languish in servitude, 
and whose remembrances of the land of their nativity and its liberty 
can never be attended but by sighs and tears. “Ah, no!” an. 
swered the stranger, “ Paolo Bancolo can never forget his compani- 
ons in misfortune, but, on the contrary, will use every means in his 
power to soothe their sufferings and to break their chains. And I 
solemnly engage myself, in your presence, to do this, Iam his son ! 
and it is I who am his pledge.” “And doI indeed behold in you 
the son of this old man ?” said the monk, with an intense expression 
VOL. IX., NO. XXVII. 54 
