omised to be lucrative. That Gino trifled
with her as to his true errand needed no confirmation, since a servant
of the Duke of Sant' Agata was not likely to need a disguise to search a
priest; but she knew his zeal for her personal welfare too well to
distrust his faith in a matter that concerned her own safety.

"If thou distrust that any here are the spies of the authorities," she
observed to the padrone, with a manner that readily betrayed her wishes,
"it will be in Gino's power to undeceive thee. Thou wilt testify, Gino,
that I am not to be suspected of treachery in an affair like this."

"Leave me to put a word into the private ear of the Calabrian," said the
gondolier, significantly.--"Stefano Milano, if thou love me," he
continued, when they were a little apart, "keep the girl in parley, and
treat with her fairly for thy adventure."

"Shall I sell the vintage of Don Camillo, or that of the Viceroy of
Sicily, caro? There is as much wine of each on board the Bella
Sorrentina, as would float the fleet of the Republic."

"If, in truth, thou art dry, then feign that thou hast it, and differ in
thy prices. Entertain her but a minute with fair words, while I can get
unseen into my gondola; and then, for the sake of an old and tried
friend, put her tenderly on the quay, in the best manner thou art able."

"I begin to see into the nature of the trade," returned the pliant
padrone, placing a finger on the side of his nose. "I will discourse the
woman by the hour about the flavor of the liquor, or, if thou wilt, of
her own beauty; but to squeeze a drop of anything better than the water
of the Lagunes out of the ribs of the felucca, would be a miracle worthy
of San Teodoro."

"There is but little need to touch on aught but the quality of thy
wine. The girl is not like most of her sex, and she takes sudden offence
when there is question of her appearance. Indeed, the mask she wears is
as much to hide a face that has little to tempt the eye, as from any
wish at concealment."

"Since Gino has entered frankly into the matter," resumed the
quick-witted Calabrian, cheerfully, and with an air of sudden confidence
to the expectant Annina, "I begin to see more probability of our
understanding each other's meaning. Deign, bella donna, to go into my
poor cabin, where we will speak more at our ease, and something more to
our mutual profit and mutual security."

Annina was not without secret doubts, but she suffered the padrone