FRENCH VICE-CONSUL. 219 
Consul, and he bluntly answered, " He is dead," but at the 
same time called a Jew, who directed me to the door of the 
Vice-Consul, and with an air of curiosity, asked who I was, 
and what I wanted with a Christian ; I retreated without 
answering, trembling with the dread of detection. When all 
whose observation I had excited had passed on, I returned to 
the Vice-Consul's door, which, being opened, I entered the 
house : a Jewess called M. Delaporte who received me with 
the greatest kindness, and conducted me up stairs to an 
apartment where I was entirely concealed from view. I com- 
prehended the full extent of the danger which surrounded 
me, from the fear which M. Delaporte expressed of the diffi- 
culties which must embarrass my departure from this country; 
but, speedily laying aside any uneasiness relative to my present 
situation, he gave free vent to the joy with which my almost 
miraculous escape from the dangers of so arduous a journey 
inspired him, and in his transports even embraced me, pres- 
sing me closely to his arms, notwithstanding the dirty rags in 
which 1 was clad : I cannot indeed speak too warmly of the 
benevolent reception which I experienced from this generous 
man. After enjoying a breakfast from his hospitality I found 
myself, with great regret, obliged to depart, though we had not 
yet determined on any means for rescuing me from my pre- 
sent embarrassing situation. No sooner had I set foot in the 
street than I most inconveniently encountered my muleteer, 
who, seeing me come out of a house, inquired where I had 
l)een ; at first I felt a little confused, but quickly recovering 
I told him' that a charitable priest had given me a breakfast in 
that house. I returned to the fandac, and did not leave it 
again that day, apprehensive of exciting attention, as those by 
whom I had been seen had inquired whether I was a re- 
negado. 
I passed the night in contriving means to obtain another in- 
terview with the Vice-Consul. In the morning the master of 
the fandac came to demand three felusses for my night's 
