You will
privately make known to your father that he has prevailed, thereby
you put his flesh and spirit at rest,--he will die blessing you,
and enriching you to the full extent of his desire. You will then
also set your signature to a paper, which I shall write, making
confession of the orthodox faith, and undertaking to be duly
reconciled with the church, by the imposition of hands, at some
convenient season. That is all that will be asked of you for the
present. The lady Petronilla'--he all but smiled in uttering the
name--'shall not even suspect what has happened.'
'Will this villa be mine?' asked the listener after brief
reflection.
'This villa shall be yours.'
An exultant gleam shone in Aurelia's eyes.
'Deacon,' she said sternly, 'your promise is not enough. Swear to me
that no one living, save my father and you, shall know.'
From his bosom Leander drew forth a little golden cross.
'This,' he said reverently, 'contains dust of iron from the bars on
which the blessed Laurentius suffered martyrdom.'
'Swear also,' demanded Aurelia, 'by the Holy Pancratius.
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