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Updated: May 3, 2025
"Never mind the gondola," Francis said cheerfully. "If they had smashed a hundred it would not matter." "But the woman has got away and we have learned nothing," Giuseppi said, surprised at his master's cheerfulness. "I think we have learned something, Giuseppi. I think we have learned everything. I have no doubt the girls are confined in that hut on San Nicolo.
If the padrone knew it he would be very angry." "I didn't do it to enable you to earn half a ducat, Giuseppi, although I am glad enough you should do so; but I did it because it seemed to promise the chance of an adventure. There must be something in this. A noble for I have no doubt he is one would never be coming out to San Nicolo, at this time of night, without some very strong motive.
Run no risk if you can help it. I would not, for much, that harm befell you." Francis at once accepted the commission, and left the admiral in order to make his preparations. "Giuseppi," he said, as he took his place in the boat, "I want you to find for me, for service tonight, a gondolier who is a native of Chioggia, and who knows every foot of the country round, and every winding of the canals.
In a very few minutes the regular breathing of Giuseppi, who had curled himself up in the bottom of the boat, showed that he had gone to sleep; and he did not stir until, an hour and a half after the return of Francis, the latter heard the fall of footsteps approaching the gondola. "Wake up, Giuseppi, here comes our fare!"
Giuseppi, as convinced as Matteo of the shallowness of the water, stepped into it, but was surprised to find that, before he had gone many paces, the water was up to his waist. "Well, I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it," Matteo said when he returned, "but I think he must have got into a deep hole among the rocks. However, we shall soon see," and he too began to undress.
The boat they were following again passed under the Ponto Maggiore, and for some distance followed the line of the Grand Canal. "Keep your eye upon it, Giuseppi. It is sure to turn off one way or the other soon, and if it is too far ahead of us when it does so, then it may give us the slip altogether."
"But I have heard nothing about it yet," Giulia said; "and everyone else seems to know how it was done." "Matteo, do you tell Giulia," Maria ordered. "I have lots of questions to ask Francis." "By the way, Francis," Messer Polani said, "you will be glad to hear that I have succeeded in getting home your man Giuseppi.
But Francis paid no attention to Matteo's words. He was gazing down into the clear smooth water, which was so transparent that every stone and pebble at the bottom could be seen. "The water looks extremely shallow, Giuseppi. What do you think?" "It seems to me, signor, that there is not a foot of water between the rocks and the shore."
Therefore, after taking the same precautions as before, to conceal all signs of his presence, he made his way across the sands back to his gondola. "Heaven be praised, you are back again!" Giuseppi said, when he heard his low whistle, as he came down to the boat. "I have been in a fever ever since I lost sight of you. Have you succeeded?"
"I think, sir, the best plan will be to row straight back, and leave our fare to find his way home as best he may." "I mean to find something out about it if I can, Giuseppi. A state secret may be dangerous, but it may be valuable. Anyhow, there can be no great risk in it.
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