mistress's window, than I utter my pathetic
wishes to the lady--when there is opportunity, and I am in the humor."

"Thou knowest the danger of alarming the senate?"

"Fear me not. My progress is by secret and gradual means. Neither my
countenance nor my mind is unused to a mask--thanks to necessity! My
spirits have been too buoyant not to have made me acquainted with
duplicity!"

"Thou speakest, ungrateful boy, as if I denied thy youth the usual
indulgences of thy years and rank. It is thy excesses, and not thy
spirits, I would check. But I would not now harden thee with reproof.
Giacomo, thou hast a rival in the stranger. His act in the Giudecca has
won upon the fancy of the girl; and like all of generous and ardent
natures, ignorant as she is of his merits, she supplies his character
with all necessary qualities by her own ingenuity."

"I would she did the same by me!"

"With thee, Sirrah, my ward might be required to forget, rather than
invent. Hast thou bethought thee of turning the eyes of the council on
the danger which besets their heiress?"

"I have."

"And the means?"

"The plainest and the most certain--the lion's mouth."

"Ha! that, indeed, is a bold adventure."

"And, like all bold adventures, it is the more likely to succeed. For
once, fortune hath not been a niggard with me. I have given them the
Neapolitan's signet by way of proof."

"Giacomo! dost thou know the hazard of thy temerity? I hope there is no
clue left in the handwriting, or by any other means taken to obtain the
ring?"

"Father, though I may have overlooked thy instruction in less weighty
matters, not an admonition which touches the policy of Venice hath been
forgotten. The Neapolitan stands accused, and if thy council is
faithful, he will be a suspected, if not a banished man."

"That the Council of Three will perform its trust is beyond dispute. I
would I were as certain that thy indiscreet zeal may not lead to some
unpleasant exposure!"

The shameless son stared at the father a moment in doubt, and then he
passed into the more private parts of the palace, like one too much
accustomed to double-dealing, to lend it a second, or a serious thought.
The senator remained. His silent walk was now manifestly disturbed by
great uneasiness; and he frequently passed a hand across his brow, as if
he mused in pain. While thus occupied, a figure stole through the long
suite of ante-chambers, and stopped near the door of the room he