Randal thought of that dry witticism in Gibbon, "Abu Rafe says he will be
witness for this fact, but who will be witness for Abu Rafe?" but he
remained silent, only fixing on Levy those dark observant eyes, with
their contracted, wary pupils.

"The fact is simply this," resumed Levy: "Count di Peschiera has promised
to pay his sister a dowry of L20,000, in case he has the money to spare.
He can only have it to spare by the marriage we are discussing. On my
part, as I manage his affairs in England for him, I have promised that,
for the said sum of L20,000, I will guarantee the expenses in the way of
that marriage, and settle with Madame di Negra. Now, though Peschiera is
a very liberal, warm-hearted fellow, I don't say that he would have named
so large a sum for his sister's dowry, if in strict truth he did not owe
it to her. It is the amount of her own fortune, which by some
arrangements with her late husband, not exactly legal, he possessed
himself of. If Madame di Negra went to law with him for it, she could
get it back. I have explained this to him; and, in short, you now
understand why the sum is thus assessed. But I have bought up Madame di
Negra's debts, I have bought up young Hazeldean's (for we must make a
match between these two a part of our arrangements). I shall present to
Peschiera, and to these excellent young persons, an account that will
absorb the whole L20,000. That sum will come into my hands. If I settle
the claims against them for half the money, which, making myself the sole
creditor, I have the right to do, the moiety will remain. And if I
choose to give it to you in return for the services which provide
Peschiera with a princely fortune, discharge the debts of his sister, and
secure her a husband in my promising young client, Mr. Hazeldean, that is
my lookout,--all parties are satisfied, and no one need ever be the
wiser. The sum is large, no doubt; it answers to me to give it to you;
does it answer to you to receive it?"