a, that on that very night
the Signoria should be overthrown, and Falieri elected Sovereign Duke
of Venice.

"Antonio gazed at Bodoeri in speechless amazement. Bodoeri took the
youth's silence to be hesitation as to taking part in this fell deed,
and cried, in anger--

"'"Cowardly fool! you cannot now get out of this place. You must either
die or take up arms with us. But, before you decide, speak with _him_."

"'A tall, noble form now advanced from the dark background of the
chamber. As soon as Antonio recognised the features of this man's face
he fell on his knees crying, "Oh, my father and benefactor, Bertuccio
Nonolo!"

"'Nenolo raised him, took him in his arms, and said, in gentle tones--

"'"Yes, I am that Bertuccio Nenolo whom you believed to be buried in
the ocean depths, and who has just escaped from the captivity in which
he has been held by Morbassan; the same Bertuccio Nenolo who adopted
you, and could never have supposed that the silly servants whom Bodoeri
sent to take possession of the house (which he had bought) would have
driven you out into the world. Blind youth! do you hesitate to take up
arms against the despotic caste which murdered your father? Go to the
Fontego, and you will see the stains of your father's blood on the
stones of its flooring to this hour. When the Signoria made over the
building which you know by the name of the Fontego to the German
merchants, every one to whom chambers in it were allotted was forbidden
to take his keys away with him when he went on any journey. This law
your father contravened, and, by so doing, had rendered himself liable
to severe punishment. But when his chambers were opened, on his return,
a chest full of counterfeit Venetian money was found among his effects.
It was in vain that he protested his innocence; it was but too clear
that some malicious devil or other--very probably the Fontegaro
himself--had placed the chest there, with a view to your father's
destruction. The inexorable judges, satisfied with the evidence that
the chest had been found in your father's rooms, sentenced him to
death. He was executed in the court of the Fontego; and you would have
been no more if the faithful Margareta had not saved you. I, being your
father's most faithful friend, adopted you; and your father's name was
concealed from you that you might not, yourself, betray yourself to the
Signoria. But now, Anton Dalbirger, the time has come. Take up arms,
and avenge your