'Yet is this world, if what you preach be true, a purgatory which must be passed through previous to arriving there, and that girl may think death a blessing compared to what she may expect if you refuse to tell me what I would know. You have good store of gold and silver ornaments for your churches--where are they?' 'They are among the packages entrusted to my care.' 'How many may you have in all?' 'A hundred, if not more.' 'Will you deign to inform me where I may find what I require?' 'The gold and silver are not mine, but are the property of that God to whom they have been dedicated,' replied the bishop. 'Answer quickly; no more subterfuge, good sir. Where is it to be found?' 'I will not tell, thou blood-stained man; at least, in this instance, there shall be disappointment, and the sea shall swallow up those earthly treasures to obtain which thou hast so deeply imbrued thy hands. Pirate! I repeat it, I will not tell.' 'Seize that girl, my lads!' cried Cain; 'she is yours, do with her as you please.' 'Save me! oh, save me!' shrieked Teresa, clinging to the bishop's robe. The pirates advanced and laid hold of Teresa. Francisco bounded from where he stood behind the captain, and dashed away the foremost. 'Are you men?' cried he, as the pirates retreated. 'Holy sir, I honour you. Alas! I cannot save you,' continued Francisco mournfully. 'Yet will I try. On my knees--by the love you bore my mother--by the affection you once bore me--do not commit this horrid deed. My lads!' continued Francisco, appealing to the pirates, 'join with me and entreat your captain; ye are too brave, too manly, to injure the helpless and the innocent--above all, to shed the blood of a holy man, and of this poor trembling maiden.' There was a pause--even the pirates appeared to side with Francisco, though none of them dared to speak. The muscles of the captain's face quivered with emotion, but from what source could not be ascertained. At this moment the interest of the scene was heightened. The girl who attended upon Teresa, crouched on her knees with terror, had been casting her fearful eyes upon the men which composed the pirate crew; suddenly she uttered a scream of delight as she discovered among them one that she well knew. He was a young man, about twenty-five years of age, with little or no beard. He had been her lover in his more innocent days; and she, for more than a year, had mourned him as dead, for the vessel in which he sailed had never been heard of. It had been taken by the pirate, and, to save his life, he had joined the crew. 'Filippo! Filippo!' screamed the girl, rushing into his arms. 'Mistress! it is Filippo; and we are safe.' Filippo instantly recognised her; the sight of her brought back to his memory his days of happiness and of innocence; and the lovers were clasped in each other's arms. 'Save them! spare them!--by the spirit of my mother! I charge you,' repeated Francisco, again appealing to the captain.