giuseppi, next morning, heard the announcement of the determination of francis, to interfere no further in the matter of the conspiracy at san nicolo, with immense satisfaction. for the last few nights he had scarcely slept, and whenever he dozed off, dreamed either of being tortured in dungeons, or of being murdered in his gondola; and no money could make up for the constant terrors which assailed him. in his waking moments he was more anxious for his employer than for himself, for it was upon him that the vengeance of the conspirators would fall, rather than upon a young gondolier, who was only obeying the orders of his master.
it was, then, with unbounded relief that he heard francis had decided to go no more out to san nicolo.
during the next few days francis went more frequently than usual to the piazza of saint mark, and had no difficulty in recognizing there the various persons he had seen in the hut, and in ascertaining their names and families. one of the citizens he had failed to recognize was a large contractor in the salt works on the mainland. the other was the largest importer of beasts for the supply of meat to the markets of the city.
francis was well satisfied with the knowledge he had gained. it might never be of any use to him, but it might, on the other hand, be of importance when least expected.
as a matter of precaution he drew up an exact account of the proceedings of the two nights on the lagoons, giving an account of the meeting, and the names of the persons present, and placed it in a drawer in his room. he told giuseppi what he had done.
"i do not think there is the least chance of our ever being recognized, giuseppi. there was not enough light for the man to have made out our features. still there is nothing like taking precautions, and if--i don't think it is likely, mind--but if anything should ever happen to me--if i should be missing, for example, and not return by the following morning--you take that paper out of my drawer and drop it into the lion's mouth. then, if you are questioned, tell the whole story."
"but they will never believe me, messer francisco," giuseppi said in alarm.
"they will believe you, because it will be a confirmation of my story; but i don't think that there is the least chance of our ever hearing anything further about it."
"why not denounce them at once without putting your name to it," giuseppi said. "then they could pounce upon them over there, and find out all about it for themselves?"
"i have thought about it, giuseppi, but there is something treacherous in secret denunciations. these men have done me no harm, and as a foreigner their political schemes do not greatly concern me. i should not like to think i had sent twelve men to the dungeons and perhaps to death."
"i think it's a pity you ever went there at all, messer francisco."
"well, perhaps it is, giuseppi; but i never thought it would turn out a serious affair like this. however, i do wish i hadn't gone now; not that i think it really matters, or that we shall ever hear anything more of it. we may, perhaps, some day see the result of this conspiracy, that is, if its objects are such as i guess them to be; namely, to form a party opposed to war with hungary, padua, or genoa."
for some days after this francis abstained from late excursions in the gondola. it was improbable that he or giuseppi would be recognized did their late passenger meet them. still, it was possible that they might be so; and when he went out he sat quietly among the cushions while giuseppi rowed, as it would be a pair-oared gondola the stranger would be looking for. he was sure that the conspirator would feel uneasy when the boat did not come to the rendezvous, especially when they found that, on three successive days, figures were marked as had been arranged on the column at the corner of the piazzetta.
giuseppi learned indeed, a week later, that inquiries had been made among the gondoliers for a boat rowed by two brothers, giovanni and beppo; and the inquirer, who was dressed as a retainer of a noble family, had offered five ducats reward for information concerning it. no such names, however, were down upon the register of gondoliers licensed to ply for hire. giuseppi learned that the search had been conducted quietly but vigorously, and that several young gondoliers who rowed together had been seen and questioned.
the general opinion, among the boatmen, was that some lady must have been carried off, and that her friends were seeking for a clue as to the spot to which she had been taken.
one evening francis had been strolling on the piazza with matteo, and had remained out later than he had done since the night of his last visit to san nicolo. he took his seat in the gondola, and when giuseppi asked him if he would go home, said he would first take a turn or two on the grand canal as the night was close and sultry.
there was no moon now, and most of the gondolas carried torches. giuseppi was paddling quietly, when a pair-oared gondola shot past them, and by the light of the torch it carried, francis recognized the ladies sitting in it to be maria and giulia polani with their duenna; two armed retainers sat behind them. they were, francis supposed, returning from spending the evening at the house of some of their friends. there were but few boats now passing along the canal.
polani's gondola was a considerable distance ahead, when francis heard a sudden shout of, "mind where you are going!"
then there was a crash of two gondolas striking each other, followed by an outburst of shouts and cries of alarm, with, francis thought, the clash of swords.
"row, giuseppi!" he exclaimed, leaping from his seat and catching up the other oar; and with swift and powerful strokes the two lads drove the gondola towards the scene of what was either an accident, or an attempt at crime.
they had no doubt which it was when they arrived at the spot. a four-oared gondola lay alongside that of the polanis, and the gondoliers with their oars, and the two retainers with their swords, had offered a stout resistance to an armed party who were trying to board her from the other craft, but their resistance was well nigh over by the time francis brought his gondola alongside.
one of the retainers had fallen with a sword thrust through his body, and a gondolier had been knocked overboard by a blow from an oar. the two girls were standing up screaming, and the surviving retainer was being borne backwards by three or four armed men, who were slashing furiously at him.
"quick, ladies, jump into my boat!" francis exclaimed as he came alongside, and, leaning over, he dragged them one after the other into his boat, just as their last defender fell.
with a fierce oath the leader of the assailants was about to spring into the gondola, when francis, snatching up his oar, smote him with all his strength on the head as he was in the act of springing, and he fell with a heavy splash into the water between the boats.
a shout of alarm and rage rose from his followers, but the gondolas were now separated, and in another moment that of francis was flying along the canal at the top of its speed.
"calm yourselves, ladies," francis said. "there is no fear of pursuit. they will stop to pick up the man i knocked into the canal, and by the time they get him on board we shall be out of their reach."
"what will become of the signora?" the eldest girl asked, when they recovered a little from their agitation.
"no harm will befall her, you may be sure," francis said. "it was evidently an attempt to carry you off, and now that you have escaped they will care nothing for your duenna. she seemed to have lost her head altogether, for as i lifted you into the boat she clung so fast to your garments that i fancy a portion of them were left in her grasp."
"do you know where to take us? i see you are going in the right direction?" the girl asked.
"to the palazzo polani," francis said. "i have the honour of being a friend of your cousin, matteo giustiniani, and being with him one day when you passed in your gondola, he named you to me."
"a friend of matteo!" the girl repeated in surprise. "pardon me, signor, i thought you were two passing gondoliers. it was so dark that i could not recognize you; and, you see, it is so unusual to see a gentleman rowing."
"i am english, signora, and we are fond of strong exercise, and so after nightfall, when it cannot shock my friends, i often take an oar myself."
"i thank you, sir, with all my heart, for my sister and myself, for the service you have rendered us. i can hardly understand what has passed, even now it seems like a dream. we were going quietly along home, when a large dark gondola dashed out from one of the side canals, and nearly ran us down. our gondolier shouted to warn them, but they ran alongside, and then some men jumped on board, and there was a terrible fight, and every moment i expected that the gondola would have been upset. beppo was knocked overboard, and i saw old nicolini fall; and then, just as it seemed all over, you appeared suddenly by our side, and dragged us on board this boat before i had time to think."
"i am afraid i was rather rough, signora, but there was no time to stand on ceremony. here is the palazzo."
the boat was brought up by the side of the steps. francis leapt ashore and rang the bell, and then assisted the girls to land. in a minute the door was thrown open, and two servitors with torches appeared. there was an exclamation of astonishment as they saw the young ladies alone with a strange attendant.
"i will do myself the honour of calling tomorrow to inquire if you are any the worse for your adventure, signora."
"no, indeed," the eldest girl said. "you must come up with us and see our father. we must tell him what has happened; and he will be angry indeed, did we suffer our rescuer to depart without his having an opportunity of thanking him."
francis bowed and followed the girls upstairs. they entered a large, very handsomely furnished apartment where a tall man was sitting reading.
"why, girls," he exclaimed as he rose, "what has happened? you look strangely excited. where is your duenna? and who is this young gentleman who accompanies you?"
"we have been attacked, father, on our way home," both the girls exclaimed.
"attacked?" signor polani repeated. "who has dared to venture on such an outrage?"
"we don't know, father," maria said. "it was a four-oared gondola that ran suddenly into us. we thought it was an accident till a number of men, with their swords drawn, leaped on board. then nicolini and francia drew their swords and tried to defend us, and beppo and jacopo both fought bravely too with their oars; but beppo was knocked overboard, and i am afraid nicolini and francia are killed, and in another moment they would have got at us, when this young gentleman came alongside in his gondola, and dragged us on board, for we were too bewildered and frightened to do anything. one of them--he seemed the leader of the party--tried to jump on board, but our protector struck him a terrible blow with his oar, and he fell into the water, and then the gondola made off, and, so far as we could see, they did not chase us."
"it is a scandalous outrage, and i will demand justice at the hands of the council.
"young sir, you have laid me under an obligation i shall never forget. you have saved my daughter from the worst calamity that could befall her. who is it to whom i am thus indebted?"
"my name is francis hammond. my father is an english merchant who has, for the last four years, established himself here."
"i know him well by repute," polani said. "i trust i shall know more of him in the future.
"but where is your duenna, girls?"
"she remained behind in the gondola, father; she seemed too frightened to move."
"the lady seemed to have lost her head altogether," francis said. "as i was lifting your daughters into my gondola, in a very hasty and unceremonious way--for the resistance of your servitors was all but overcome, and there was no time to be lost--she held so tightly to their robes that they were rent in her hands."
signor polani struck a gong.
"let a gondola be manned instantly," he said, "and let six of you take arms and go in search of our boat. let another man at once summon a leech, for some of those on board are, i fear, grievously wounded, if not killed."
but there was no occasion to carry out the order concerning the boat, for before it was ready to start the missing gondola arrived at the steps, rowed by the remaining gondolier. the duenna was lifted out sobbing hysterically, and the bodies of the two retainers were then landed. one was dead; the other expired a few minutes after being brought ashore.
"you did not observe anything particular about the gondola, maria, or you, giulia?"
"no, father, i saw no mark or escutcheon upon it, though they might have been there without my noticing them. i was too frightened to see anything; it came so suddenly upon us."
"it was, as far as i noticed, a plain black gondola," francis said. "the men concerned in the affair were all dressed in dark clothes, without any distinguishing badges."
"how was it you came to interfere in the fray, young gentleman? few of our people would have done so, holding it to be a dangerous thing, for a man to mix himself up in a quarrel in which he had no concern."
"i should probably have mixed myself up in it, in any case, when i heard the cry of women," francis replied; "but, in truth, i recognized the signoras as their gondola passed mine, and knew them to be cousins of my friend matteo giustiniani. therefore when i heard the outcry ahead, i naturally hastened up to do what i could in the matter."
"and well you did it," polani said heartily. "i trust that the man you felled into the water is he who is the author of this outrage. i do not think i need seek far for him. my suspicions point very strongly in one direction, and tomorrow i will lay the matter before the council and demand reparation."
"and now, signor, if you will permit me i will take my leave," francis said. "the hour is late, and the signoras will require rest after their fright and emotion."
"i will see you tomorrow, sir. i shall do myself the honour of calling early upon your father, to thank him for the great service you have rendered me."
signor polani accompanied francis to the steps, while two servants held torches while he took his seat in the gondola, and remained standing there until the barque had shot away beyond the circle of light.
"we seem fated to have adventures, giuseppi."
"we do indeed, messer francisco, and this is more to my liking than the last. we arrived just at the nick of time; another half minute and those young ladies would have been carried off. that was a rare blow you dealt their leader. i fancy he never came up again, and that that is why we got away without being chased."
"i am of that opinion myself, giuseppi."
"if that is the case we shall not have heard the last of it, messer francisco. only someone of a powerful family would venture upon so bold a deed, as to try to carry off ladies of birth on the grand canal, and you may find that this adventure has created for you enemies not to be despised."
"i can't help it if it has," francis said carelessly. "on the other hand, it will gain for me an influential friend in signor polani, who is not only one of the richest merchants of venice, but closely related to a number of the best families of the city."
"his influence will not protect you against the point of a dagger," giuseppi said. "your share in this business cannot but become public, and i think that it would be wise to give up our evening excursions at present."
"i don't agree with you, giuseppi. we don't go about with torches burning, so no one who meets us is likely to recognize us. one gondola in the dark is pretty much like another, and however many enemies i had, i should not be afraid of traversing the canals."
the next morning, at breakfast time, francis related to his father his adventure of the previous evening.
"it is a mistake, my son, to mix yourself up in broils which do not concern you; but in the present instance it may be that your adventure will turn out to be advantageous to your prospects. signor polani is one of the most illustrious merchants of venice. his name is known everywhere in the east, and there is not a port in the levant where his galleys do not trade. the friendship of such a man cannot but be most useful to me.
"upon the other hand, you will probably make some enemies by your interference with the plans of some unscrupulous young noble, and venice is not a healthy city for those who have powerful enemies; still i think that the advantages will more than balance the risk.
"however, francis, you must curb your spirit of adventure. you are not the son of a baron or count, and the winning of honour and glory by deeds of arms neither befits you, nor would be of advantage to you in any way. a trader of the city of london should be distinguished for his probity and his attention to business; and methinks that, ere long, it will be well to send you home to take your place in the counting house under the eye of my partner, john pearson.
"hitherto i have not checked your love for arms, or your intercourse with youths of far higher rank than your own; but i have been for some time doubting the wisdom of my course in bringing you out here with me, and have regretted that i did not leave you in good hands at home. the events of last night show that the time is fast approaching when you can no longer be considered a boy, and it will be better for you to turn at once into the groove in which you are to travel, than to continue a mode of life which will unfit you for the career of a city trader."
francis knew too well his duty towards his father to make any reply, but his heart sank at the prospect of settling down in the establishment in london. his life there had not been an unpleasant one, but he knew that he should find it terribly dull, after the freedom and liberty he had enjoyed in venice. he had never, however, even to himself, indulged the idea that any other career, save that of his father, could be his; and had regarded it as a matter of course that, some day, he would take his place in the shop in cheapside.
now that it was suddenly presented to him as something which would shortly take place, a feeling of repugnance towards the life came over him. not that he dreamt for a moment of trying to induce his father to allow him to seek some other calling. he had been always taught to consider the position of a trader of good standing, of the city of london, as one of the most desirable possible. the line between the noble and the citizen was so strongly marked that no one thought of overstepping it. the citizens of london were as proud of their position and as tenacious of their rights as were the nobles themselves. they were ready enough to take up arms to defend their privileges and to resist oppression, whether it came from king or noble; but few indeed, even of the wilder spirits of the city, ever thought of taking to arms as a profession.
it was true that honour and rank were to be gained, by those who rode in the train of great nobles to the wars, but the nobles drew their following from their own estates, and not from among the dwellers in the cities; and, although the bodies of men-at-arms and archers, furnished by the city to the king in his wars, always did their duty stoutly in the field, they had no opportunity of distinguishing themselves singly. the deeds which attracted attention, and led to honour and rank, were performed by the esquires and candidates for the rank of knighthood, who rode behind the barons into the thick of the french chivalry.
therefore francis hammond had never thought of taking to the profession of arms in his own country; though, when the news arrived in venice of desperate fighting at sea with the genoese, he had thought, to himself, that the most glorious thing in life must be to command a well-manned galley, as she advanced to the encounter of an enemy superior in numbers. he had never dreamed that such an aspiration could ever be satisfied--it was merely one of the fancies in which lads so often indulge.
still, the thought that he was soon to return and take his place in the shop in chepe was exceedingly unpleasant to him.
soon after breakfast the bell at the water gate rang loudly, and a minute later the servant entered with the news that signor polani was below, and begged an interview. mr. hammond at once went down to the steps to receive his visitor, whom he saluted with all ceremony, and conducted upstairs.
"i am known to you by name, no doubt, signor hammond, as you are to me," the venetian said, when the first formal greetings were over. "i am not a man of ceremony, nor, i judge, are you; but even if i were, the present is not an occasion for it. your son has doubtless told you of the inestimable service, which he rendered to me last night, by saving my daughters, or rather my eldest daughter--for it was doubtless she whom the villains sought--from being borne off by one of the worst and most disreputable of the many bad and disreputable young men of this city."
"i am indeed glad, signor polani, that my son was able to be of service to you. i have somewhat blamed myself that i have let him have his own way so much, and permitted him to give himself up to exercises of arms, more befitting the son of a warlike noble than of a peaceful trader; but the quickness and boldness, which the mastery of arms gives, was yesterday of service, and i no longer regret the time he has spent, since it has enabled him to be of aid to the daughters of signor polani."
"a mastery of arms is always useful, whether a man be a peace-loving citizen, or one who would carve his way to fame by means of his weapons. we merchants of the mediterranean might give up our trade, if we were not prepared to defend our ships against the corsairs of barbary, and the pirates who haunt every inlet and islet of the levant now, as they have ever done since the days of rome. besides, it is the duty of every citizen to defend his native city when attacked. and lastly, there are the private enemies, that every man who rises but in the smallest degree above his fellows is sure to create for himself.
"moreover, a training in arms, as you say, gives readiness and quickness, it enables the mind to remain calm and steadfast amidst dangers of all sorts, and, methinks, it adds not a little to a man's dignity and self respect to know that he is equal, man to man, to any with whom he may come in contact. here in venice we are all soldiers and sailors, and your son will make no worse merchant, but rather the better, for being able to wield sword and dagger.
"even now," he said with a smile, "he has proved the advantage of his training; for, though i say it not boastfully, nicholas polani has it in his power to be of some use to his friends, and foremost among them he will henceforward count your brave son, and, if you will permit him, yourself.
"but you will, i trust, excuse my paying you but a short visit this morning, for i am on my way to lay a complaint before the council. i have already been round to several of my friends, and phillipo giustiniani and some six others, nearest related to me, will go with me, being all aggrieved at this outrage to a family nearly connected. i crave you to permit me to take your son with me, in order that he may be at hand, if called upon, to say what he knows of the affair."
"assuredly it is his duty to go with you if you desire it; although i own i am not sorry that he could see, as he tells me, no badge or cognizance which would enable him to say aught which can lead to the identification of those who would have abducted your daughter. it is but too well known a fact that it is dangerous to make enemies in venice, for even the most powerful protection does not avail against the stab of a dagger."
"that is true enough," the merchant said. "the frequency of assassinations is a disgrace to our city; nor will it ever be put down until some men of high rank are executed, and the seignory show that they are as jealous of the lives of private citizens, as they are of the honour and well being of the republic."
francis gladly threw aside his books when he was told that signor polani desired him to accompany him, and was soon seated by the side of the merchant in his gondola.
"how old are you, my friend?" the merchant asked him, as the boat threaded the mazes of the canals.
"i am just sixteen, signor."
"no more!" the merchant said in surprise. "i had taken you for well-nigh two years older. i have but just come from the palazzo giustiniani, and my young kinsman, matteo, tells me that in the school of arms there are none of our young nobles who are your match with rapier or battleaxe."
"i fear, sir," francis said modestly, "that i have given up more time to the study of arms than befits the son of a sober trader."
"not at all," the venetian replied. "we traders have to defend our rights and our liberties, our goods and our ships, just as much as the nobles have to defend their privileges and their castles. here in venice there are no such distinctions of rank as there are elsewhere. certain families, distinguished among the rest by their long standing, wealth, influence, or the services they have rendered to the state, are of senatorial rank, and constitute our nobility; but there are no titles among us. we are all citizens of the republic, with our rights and privileges, which cannot be infringed even by the most powerful; and the poorest citizen has an equal right to make himself as proficient in the arms, which he may be called upon to wield in defence of the state, as the doge himself. in your country also, i believe, all men are obliged to learn the use of arms, to practise shooting at the butts, and to make themselves efficient, if called upon to take part in the wars of the country. and i have heard that at the jousts, the champions of the city of london have ere now held their own against those of the court."
"they have done so," francis said; "and yet, i know not why, it is considered unseemly for the sons of well-to-do citizens to be too fond of military exercises."
"the idea is a foolish one," the venetian said hotly. "i myself have, a score of times, defended my ships against corsairs and pirates, genoese, and other enemies. i have fought against the greeks, and been forced to busy myself in more than one serious fray in the streets of constantinople, alexandria, and other ports, and have served in the galleys of the state. all men who live by trade must be in favour of peace; but they must also be prepared to defend their goods, and the better able they are to do it, the more the honour to them.
"but here we are at the piazzetta."
a group of nobles were standing near the landing place, and signor polani at once went up to them, and introduced francis to them as the gentleman who had done his daughter and their kinswoman such good service. francis was warmly thanked and congratulated by them all.
"will you wait near the entrance?" signor polani said. "i see that my young cousin, matteo, has accompanied his father, and you will, no doubt, find enough to say to each other while we are with the council."
the gentlemen entered the palace, and matteo, who had remained respectfully at a short distance from the seniors, at once joined his friend.
"well, francis, i congratulate you heartily, though i feel quite jealous of you. it was splendid to think of your dashing up in your gondola, and carrying off my pretty cousins from the clutches of that villain, ruggiero mocenigo, just as he was about to lay his hands on them."
"are you sure it was ruggiero, matteo?"
"oh, there can't be any doubt about it. you know, he had asked for maria's hand, and when polani refused him, had gone off muttering threats. you know what his character is. he is capable of any evil action; besides, they say that he has dissipated his patrimony, in gaming and other extravagances at constantinople, and is deep in the hands of the jews. if he could have succeeded in carrying off maria it would more than have mended his fortunes, for she and her sister are acknowledged to be the richest heiresses in venice. oh, there is not a shadow of doubt that it's he.
"you won't hear me saying anything against your love of prowling about in that gondola of yours, since it has brought you such a piece of good fortune--for it is a piece of good fortune, francis, to have rendered such a service to polani, to say nothing of all the rest of us who are connected with his family. i can tell you that there are scores of young men of good birth in venice, who would give their right hand to have done what you did."
"i should have considered myself fortunate to have been of service to any girls threatened by violence, though they had only been fishermen's daughters," francis said; "but i am specially pleased because they are relatives of yours, matteo."
"to say nothing to their being two of the prettiest girls in venice," matteo added slyly.
"that counts for something too, no doubt," francis said laughing, "though i didn't think of it.
"i wonder," he went on gravely, "whether that was ruggiero whom i struck down, and whether he came up again to the surface. he has very powerful connections, you know, matteo; and if i have gained friends, i shall also have gained enemies by the night's work."
"that is so," matteo agreed. "for your sake, i own that i hope that ruggiero is at present at the bottom of the canal. he was certainly no credit to his friends; and although they would of course have stood by him, i do not think they will feel, at heart, in any way displeased to know that he will trouble them no longer. but if his men got him out again, i should say you had best be careful, for ruggiero is about the last man in venice i should care to have as an enemy. however, we won't look at the unpleasant side of the matter, and will hope that his career has been brought to a close."
"i don't know which way to hope," francis said gravely. "he will certainly be a dangerous enemy if he is alive; and yet the thought of having killed a man troubles me much."
"it would not trouble me at all if i were in your place," matteo said. "if you had not killed him, you may be very sure that he would have killed you, and that the deed would have caused him no compunction whatever. it was a fair fight, just as if it had been a hostile galley in mid-sea; and i don't see why the thought of having rid venice of one of her worst citizens need trouble you in any way."
"you see i have been brought up with rather different ideas to yours, matteo. my father, as a trader, is adverse to fighting of all kinds--save, of course, in defence of one's country; and although he has not blamed me in any way for the part i took, i can see that he is much disquieted, and indeed speaks of sending me back to england at once."
"oh, i hope not!" matteo said earnestly. "hitherto you and i have been great friends, francis, but we shall be more in future. all polani's friends will regard you as one of themselves; and i was even thinking, on my way here, that perhaps you and i might enter the service of the state together, and get appointed to a war galley in a few years."
"my father's hair would stand up at the thought, matteo; though, for myself, i should like nothing so well. however, that could never have been. still i am sorry, indeed, at the thought of leaving venice. i have been very happy here, and i have made friends, and there is always something to do or talk about; and the life in london would be so dull in comparison. but here comes one of the ushers from the palace."
the official came up to them, and asked if either of them was messer francisco hammond, and, finding that he had come to the right person, requested francis to follow him.
