not think they will feel, at heart, in any way displeased to
know that he will trouble them no longer. But if his men got him out
again, I should say you had best be careful, for Ruggiero is about the
last man in Venice I should care to have as an enemy. However, we won't
look at the unpleasant side of the matter, and will hope that his
career has been brought to a close."

"I don't know which way to hope," Francis said gravely. "He will
certainly be a dangerous enemy if he is alive; and yet the thought of
having killed a man troubles me much."

"It would not trouble me at all if I were in your place," Matteo said.
"If you had not killed him, you may be very sure that he would have
killed you, and that the deed would have caused him no compunction
whatever. It was a fair fight, just as if it had been a hostile galley
in mid-sea; and I don't see why the thought of having rid Venice of one
of her worst citizens need trouble you in any way."

"You see I have been brought up with rather different ideas to yours,
Matteo. My father, as a trader, is adverse to fighting of all
kinds--save, of course, in defence of one's country; and although he
has not blamed me in any way for the part I took, I can see that he is
much disquieted, and indeed speaks of sending me back to England at
once."

"Oh, I hope not!" Matteo said earnestly. "Hitherto you and I have been
great friends, Francis, but we shall be more in future. All Polani's
friends will regard you as one of themselves; and I was even thinking,
on my way here, that perhaps you and I might enter the service of the
state together, and get appointed to a war galley in a few years."

"My father's hair would stand up at the thought, Matteo; though, for
myself, I should like nothing so well. However, that could never have
been. Still I am sorry, indeed, at the thought of leaving Venice. I
have been very happy here, and I have made friends, and there is always
something to do or talk about; and the life in London would be so dull
in comparison. But here comes one of the ushers from the palace."

The official came up to them, and asked if either of them was Messer
Francisco Hammond, and, finding that he had come to the right person,
requested Francis to follow him.

Chapter 4: Carried Off.

It was with a feeling of considerable discomfort, and some awe, that
Francis Hammond followed his conductor to the chamber of the Council.
It was a large and stately apartment. The d