to each other while we are with the council."

The gentlemen entered the palace, and Matteo, who had remained
respectfully at a short distance from the seniors, at once joined his
friend.

"Well, Francis, I congratulate you heartily, though I feel quite
jealous of you. It was splendid to think of your dashing up in your
gondola, and carrying off my pretty cousins from the clutches of that
villain, Ruggiero Mocenigo, just as he was about to lay his hands on
them."

"Are you sure it was Ruggiero, Matteo?"

"Oh, there can't be any doubt about it. You know, he had asked for
Maria's hand, and when Polani refused him, had gone off muttering
threats. You know what his character is. He is capable of any evil
action; besides, they say that he has dissipated his patrimony, in
gaming and other extravagances at Constantinople, and is deep in the
hands of the Jews. If he could have succeeded in carrying off Maria it
would more than have mended his fortunes, for she and her sister are
acknowledged to be the richest heiresses in Venice. Oh, there is not a
shadow of doubt that it's he.

"You won't hear me saying anything against your love of prowling about
in that gondola of yours, since it has brought you such a piece of good
fortune--for it is a piece of good fortune, Francis, to have rendered
such a service to Polani, to say nothing of all the rest of us who are
connected with his family. I can tell you that there are scores of
young men of good birth in Venice, who would give their right hand to
have done what you did."

"I should have considered myself fortunate to have been of service to
any girls threatened by violence, though they had only been fishermen's
daughters," Francis said; "but I am specially pleased because they are
relatives of yours, Matteo."

"To say nothing to their being two of the prettiest girls in Venice,"
Matteo added slyly.

"That counts for something too, no doubt," Francis said laughing,
"though I didn't think of it.

"I wonder," he went on gravely, "whether that was Ruggiero whom I
struck down, and whether he came up again to the surface. He has very
powerful connections, you know, Matteo; and if I have gained friends, I
shall also have gained enemies by the night's work."

"That is so," Matteo agreed. "For your sake, I own that I hope that
Ruggiero is at present at the bottom of the canal. He was certainly no
credit to his friends; and although they would of course have stood by
him, I do