gathered in force, but no one of them knew the cause of
the commotion, and they were not immediately formidable in the midst of
this armed body of knights and soldiers who kept secret council and
obeyed the slightest word of their commanders. Marco searched their
faces, as well as he might for the uncertain glare of the torches, but
in vain. If he could but find General Visconti and his men, they might
cut their way into the fortress--they, being Venetians, were surely
loyal to the Queen!

His brain was in a whirl--he could think of nothing that was best, every
moment might count--yet he crossed and recrossed his steps, turning down
dark streets and back again into the Piazza; he was no longer sure of
the safety of the castle; he was growing desperate.

But Visconti's men did not reveal themselves, and Marco worked his way
out of the Piazza--since they surely were _not_ there, and since no hint
of what was passing within the fortress came from behind the
porte-cullis--the single opening upon the square.

Little did he dream that Visconti's men, _because they were Venetians
and known to be in sympathy with the Queen_ were kept that night, by
order of the Council of the Realm, in close detention.

The troop of horse stood impassible before the entrance and the sentry
as tranquilly kept guard upon the turrets, as Marco passed them on his
way to a small gate upon the seaward side which he had once noticed and
now hoped had been forgotten, and where, in truth he entered when he
reached it; for it had not been thought important by the planners of
this night's strange revel--possibly because few knew of it, or perhaps,
because there were none from the port who would not be welcome, for the
fleets of Venice were known to be at anchor off the coasts of Turkey,
having sailed thither in glad and unsuspecting temper after the
courtesies of the baptismal and coronation fetes.

* * * * *

It chanced that it was through this same small, unguarded doorway that
Andrea Cornaro had passed when--unaware of the new password for the
night and zealously kept in ignorance thereof by his colleagues in
office--he had been denied admission at the great gate upon the Piazza.
As all persuasion brought him the more strenuous denial, he felt sure of
some perfidy and the more bent upon reaching his niece at all
hazards--for he was not one to be easily overcome by obstacles.

Meanwhile, Messer Andrea, Auditor to th