brother gave him a sealed document, and the Governor said that it should
not be to-night, but to-morrow. That is all I know, but it is enough."

Zorzi half closed his eyes for a moment, in deep thought; and in a flash
he understood that Contarini wished him out of the way, and was taking
the first means that offered to get rid of him. To keep faith with such
a man would be as foolish as to expect any faithfulness from him. Zorzi
opened his eyes again, and looked at the face of the woman he loved. His
oath to the society had stood between him and her, and he knew that it
was no longer binding on him, since Jacopo Contarini was helping to send
him to destruction. Yet now that it was gone, he saw also that it had
been the least of the obstacles that made up the barrier.

"Of what do they accuse me?" he asked, after a moment's silence. "What
can they prove against me?"

"I cannot tell. It matters very little. Do you understand? To-morrow, if
not to-night, the Governor's men will come here to arrest you, and if
you have not escaped, you will be imprisoned and taken before the
Council. They may accuse you of being involved in a conspiracy--they may
torture you."

She shivered at the thought, and looked into his dark eyes with fear and
pity. His lip curled a little disdainfully.

"Do you think that I shall run away?" he asked.

"You will not stay here, and let them arrest you!" cried Marietta
anxiously.

"Your father left me here to take care of what belongs to him, and there
is much that is valuable. I thank you very much for warning me, but I
know what your brother means to do, and I shall not go away of my own
accord. If he can have me taken off by force, he will come here alone
and search the place. If he searches long enough, he may find what he
wants."

"Is Paolo Godi's manuscript in this room?" asked Marietta quietly.

Zorzi stared at her in surprise.

"How did you know that your father left it with me?" he asked.

"He would not have entrusted it to any one else. That is natural. My
brother wants it. Is that the reason why you will not escape? Or is
there any other?"

"That is the principal reason," answered Zorzi. "Another is that there
is valuable glass here, which your brother would take."

"Which he would steal," said Marietta bitterly. "But Pasquale can bury
it in the garden after you are gone. The principal thing is the book.
Give it to me. I will take care of it till my father comes back. Until
th