THE GOLDSMITH OF PADUA.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 29 September 1891, Page 4

THE GOLDSMITH OF PADUA.

(Continued.) ' : not much accustomed, very willingly accepted the char;/ and Guiseppe took his leave in the full persaasion tliat the trial would correspond \w.u his expectations, ami that report would be proved to be false and malicious. In the course of a few days. Guiseppe, according to the plan concerted in his own mind, called suddenly on Jeronimo — " My dear friend." said he, "I sincerely rejoice that I have found you at home . a sudden j demand has lallen upon me, and I have an I expected occasion for the hundred ducats I which I deposited with you " "My good I friend," said Jeronimo do not preface such a trifle with sucn a serious apology The money is yours " And at the same time opening a private drawer — ' You see here it is. just as I deposited it Take your money my friend and you may always have the same or any cihrf service from me." Saying this he gave Guiseppe the same bag in which he had hrnupnt the cheats 10 him. I Guiseppe hastened norrp counted and examined the duca<« 1 *>? number was right, their appearance «pemec! good ; he sounded them singly tine -oauded suspiciously, he assayed n!■ was base Well," said he. •' this may He an accident. I could almost sweat indeed tna* every ducal I gave him was good . but this t might perhaps have overlooked " lie sounded another, bis suspicions increa<ctl and her— he was now determined 10 assay mem all He did so and to his contusion (Inr ihe honest man was truly grieved and contouncle':l at the lie tection of his neighbour s rtibtionesiyj h« frjuurl thirty bad ducats <>vi nl the hundred He now Hastened trick to jeronimo — "These a>e not the rluiats sir, I deposited with you here aie tinny bad ducats out of the hundred •• • Dad or good," replied Jcrommo. indignantly, ilipy arc the same vhitlt you deposited . 1 look them from your r.ar.d-i. pui them in the drawer, and they ■vcu: not moved from i hence till you re-dfi-nanded them " Gniscppo insisted, and at cngtli severely reproached Jcronimo Jcro niino commanded him to leave his house. "Can you huspect me of such a pi Li fu\ Iraml ; said lie '• Inrleed. 1 never should." iqilicd he. " unless upon this absolute cviIcncc Utit Uil-iv must h«? a iraud somrwhcic! liitlici lam attrmpiing to delraud '(mi en yon ii> (.hcai me It i l . incumbeiH ipoii hoili run ic|)iiiniinns that this matter iluuih) bo cleaieil up I vhall i;o to the M.*i};isii;tici .' " (U.) v<.iicf: you ploase," I »anl |(tninmo. "but t:*» »vit IjoiM delay" (.iii!bc|>|ii: immediately li:is!ei!i.:(J t.o the picsidciii ol Jiit.ucc lie (.Irrnaiulpd a summons tin jCMuiinio It w, granted. He ■ v uiri|)i,un(.'il. wiiii'jui rcriiini; i!ie particulars, ih.'ii |(.'ioniiiiti iM-.i paid iiitn back a deposit, •ml hi ;i huihlial tinea's Had given him i 'm < y t>;ul |ett'iiiui(> »lfpii:d n •• I gave si ir bai.u il<c s>.-««tt'« vlncii 'if; deposited with :j . I here was 'i law ai I'it'Jua termed !■• s law oi wager ■• i im> substance ot thip « is i hue i lie patty arcii^f.i had it in hi' Viioii io deai inniselt I'y an oath ot hi* i.uiocctutr "Will you ml<« your wager?" iaid Guucppo " Yl->." replied |eronimo lln: iioty evangelisis weie accordingly prcf.c:nic:d io him, ami Jfifinuno swore upon thorn ttiat he had i<t»t «'>ocded, still les i : :lian»cJ. tfie ducats, vine: i he v were depasiicd with bim 1 in? president accordingly gave judgment m iiis (avour, being compelled tticruio Uv n-o "aws ot Padua. And (iuiseppe with iio»ter at the united ijauil and perjury ol • lie man wuom he had nitlierto deemed lioocm and respectable, clt tin: coutt and withdrew to his own iiiu'%^ I he trial oit.jtcl o miuTr^: t merest and rumour in I'aiJui J I:*- president of the law had acquit idi .lerorumo. not so, however, public ropmaiitin CJuis^ppe was a niau ol eitabh-hed thaiacwi. Jcronimo's lame had bern long Ncmi.M'i'd. The previous reports tiicieloio. uen.* now considered [is fully conbirnod into ceitainty. The magistrates accordingly deemed it nccer.sary 10 point the- attt.-ntioM ol the p;;licc to him iuul tri his Intiiro denlu>;r-. . and |oronimo thereafter became a market character. The police ol Padua w.is aclmiiMMered with that ilisctect L.unnin;; lor which Italians are.celebrated Somcnl its ofheers very shorllyconttived. in the dirginsc <jl loietgri merchants, to make a deposit of good and marked money ivith jcroniinu, and shoitly niter redeemed 11 bad. Th« money was testgrecl as rei|tiiral It war. lmino'lialely carried, as holme, in the case ot Guiseppe. to the pnblic itv.ay. and the result « r as. ihat Ihe greatest ' pan ol the number ol I lie coins was* found to lie base |eroniirto was no«jt day arrested and thrown into prison Hi; limraj wn; searched in the sanus instant I In: search most lully coii- • liinicd what indeed now inquired but little I'nnhrmaiioii In the i-ccrei drawers were tomitl all ihe instruments if coining, as well a- all the material!; of adulteration. An immense quantity ot base coin v\as likewise found in dtlletent parts ol the house. All I'adua was now in amis They clamourously demanded justice on a man who had not the temptation ' ol poverty to commit crimes; here is a man. said they, who has raised his head above all ol us, aml.livcd in luxury and splendour, year alter year, upon the lruit of liis crimes lie ha:; even bat on the public bench ol magistrates, and administered the laws ol Padua, il 'justice be not made for the rich, it its object bo ihe deience of all, lei him now be brought io trial, and meet with the punishment which he so well merits. The magistrates, in obedience to this popular clamour, and at the same lime acknowledging tv justice, somewhat hastened the trial ol Jeronimo. He was brought forward, accused, and the witnesses examined, he had nothing to allege which could weigh a single grain against the mass ot evidence pmduced against him He was accordingly unanimously condemned The trial washolders on the Monday : lie 'was found guilty the same day, and ordered lor execution in the public square on Friday following; the interval being planted lor religious preparations Who was now so unhappy n~. Jeronimo de Vinccnte, and what a vicissitude in his fortune and reputation bad a very short lime produced! Within those few months ho had been the wealthiest and most respected man in Padua Ihe noblest families sought his only daughter in marriage. Ijis wife was the pattern and examolar of all the Sadies of the city and neighbourhood : his house was full of the richest furniture and paintings in Italy Now the officers of justice were in possession of it. and performed the vilest offices in the most magnificent chambers : whilst, with the ordinary insolence of such ruffians, they scarcely allowed a corner of the house to his unhappy wife and daughter. And where was Jeronimo himself ?> In the public prison of the city; in a cell not four feel square, and under * ders for execution on the next following *ay Was not this enough to reduce Jcronimo <o his senses? It was; he humbled hitnscll before God, and implored his pity;;and it pleased «he infinite. Goodness to hear his prayers, and to send him relief where he Ipasi expected it [eronimu had a confidential clerk, or managing man. of the name ol Jacobo On the day preceding that ordered for his master's execution he "--as g^m;; upstairs to attend some message from bis unhappy mistress, when his k>c» slipped, and he fell from the top io the bottom J I in neck was dislocated by the iall. and he died without uttering a word This miserable man had a wife in the last month nf her pregnancy : the intelligence oi this disaster being carried to her, occasioned an irrirnediale labour, and she w?u pronounced to be in the most imminent dnnj;er She repeatedly requested, (To \w Cnnclnflefl.Y