s know what
the unhappy undergo. It has pleased God to afflict my own poor mother,
who has griefs that, but for her patience and Christian faith, would
have been hard to bear. The little care I had it in my power to show,
first caught Jacopo's eye, for his heart was then full of the duty of
the child. Would your Highness consent to see poor Carlo, or to command
him to be brought hither, his simple tale would give the lie to every
foul slander they have dared to say against him."

"It is unnecessary--it is unnecessary. Thy faith in his innocence, girl,
is more eloquent than any words of his can prove."

A gleam of joy irradiated the face of Gelsomina, who turned eagerly to
the listening monk, as she continued--

"His Highness listens," she said, "and we shall prevail! Father, they
menace in Venice, and alarm the timid, but they will never do the deed
we feared. Is not the God of Jacopo my God, and your God?--the God of
the senate and of the Doge?--of the Council and of the Republic? I would
the secret members of the Three could have seen poor Jacopo, as I have
seen him, coming from his toil, weary with labor and heart-broken with
delay, enter the winter or the summer cell--chilling or scorching as the
season might be--struggling to be cheerful, that the falsely accused
might not feel a greater weight of misery. Oh! venerable and kind
prince, you little know the burden that the feeble are often made to
carry, for to you life has been sunshine; but there are millions who are
condemned to do that they loathe, that they may not do that they dread."

"Child, thou tell'st me nothing new."

"Except in convincing you, Highness, that Jacopo is not the monster they
would have him. I do not know the secret reasons of the councils for
wishing the youth to lend himself to a deception that had nigh proved so
fatal; but all is explained, we have naught now to fear. Come, father;
we will leave the good and just Doge to go to rest, as suits his years,
and we will return to gladden the heart of Jacopo with our success, and
thank the blessed Maria for her favor."

"Stay!" exclaimed the half-stifled old man. "Is this true that thou
tellest me, girl:--Father, can it be so!"

"Signore, I have said all that truth and my conscience have prompted."

The prince seemed bewildered, turning his look from the motionless girl
to the equally immovable member of the Three.

"Come hither, child," he said, his voice trembling as he spoke. "Come