to oblige me, and in
the second, I know that it is his intention to do something to your
advantage. He has spoken to me about it several times, for you had your
share of the danger when we first rescued his daughters, and again when
we were chased by that four-oared gondola. He has been too busy with
the search for his daughters to give the matter his attention, but I
know that he is conscious of his obligation to you, and that he intends
to reward you largely. Therefore, I am sure that he will offer no
objection to your accompanying me.

"What do you say, Beppo?"

"I do not like to stand in the way of the lad's wishes, Messer
Francisco; but, you see, he is of an age now to be very useful to me.
If Giuseppi leaves me, I shall have to hire another hand for the
gondola, or to take a partner."

"Well, we will talk it over presently," Francis said. "Here we are at
the steps of the palazzo, and here comes Matteo himself. It is lucky I
was not five minutes later, or I should have missed him."

Chapter 7: On Board A Trader.

"Have you heard the news, Francisco? My cousins are rescued! I have
been out this morning and have only just heard it, and I was on the
point of starting to tell you."

"Your news is old, Matteo. I knew it hours ago."

"And I hear," Matteo went on, "that Polani found them in a hut on San
Nicolo. My father cannot think how he came to hear of their hiding
place. He says Polani would not say how he learned the news. My father
supposes he heard it from some member of Ruggiero's household."

Francis hesitated for a moment. He had at first been on the point of
telling Matteo of the share he had had in the recovery of the girls;
but he thought that although his friend could be trusted not to repeat
the news wilfully, he might accidentally say something which would lead
to the fact being known, and that as Polani had strongly enjoined the
necessity of keeping the secret, and had himself declined to mention,
even to the council, the source from which he obtained his information,
he would look upon him as a babbler, and unworthy of trust, did he find
that Matteo had been let into the secret.

"It does not much matter who it is Polani learned the news from. The
great point is, he has found his daughters safe from all injury, and I
hear has brought back with him the woman who betrayed them. It is
fortunate indeed that he took such prompt measures with Ruggiero, and
thus prevented his escaping from th