zo of Polani. They
rang twice at the bell at the land entrance, before a face appeared at
the little window of the door, and asked who was there.

"I wish to see Signor Polani at once," Francis said.

"The signor retired to rest an hour ago," the man said.

"Never mind that," Francis replied. "I am Francis Hammond, and I have
important news to give him."

As soon as the servitor recognized Francis' voice, he unbarred the
door.

"Have you news of the ladies?" he asked eagerly.

"I have news which will, I hope, lead to something," Francis replied.

A moment later the voice of Polani himself, who, although he had
retired to his room, had not yet gone to sleep, was heard at the top of
the grand stairs, inquiring who it was who had come so late; for
although men had been arriving all day, with reports from the various
islands and villages, he thought that no one would come at this hour
unless his news were important.

Francis at once answered:

"It is I, Signor Polani, Francis Hammond. I have news which I think may
be of importance, although I may be mistaken. Still, it is certainly
news that may lead to something."

The merchant hurried down.

"What is it, Francisco? What have you learned?"

"I have seen the woman Castaldi, and have followed her. I do not know
for certain where she was going, for we have been chased by a large
gondola, and have narrowly escaped with our lives. Still, I have a clue
to their whereabouts."

Francis then related the events of the evening.

"But why did you not run into the boat and give the alarm at once,
Francisco? Any gondolas passing would have given their assistance, when
you declared who she was, for the affair is the talk of the city. If
that woman were in our power we should soon find means to make her
speak."

"Yes, signor; but the moment she was known to be in your power, you may
be sure that they would remove your daughters from the place where they
have been hiding them. I thought, therefore, the best plan would be to
track them. No doubt we should have succeeded in doing so, had it not
been for the attack upon us by another gondola."

"You are right, no doubt, Francisco. Still, it is unfortunate, for I do
not see that we are now any nearer than we were before, except that we
know that this woman is in the habit of coming into the city."

"I think we are nearer, sir, for I had an adventure some time ago that
may afford a clue to their hiding place."

He then t