y
beyond anything that my ambition could ever have aspired to. I can only
say that I will try my best to do justice to your kindness to me."

"I have no fear as to that, Francisco," the merchant said. "You have
shown so much thoughtfulness, in this business, that I shall have no
fear of entrusting even weighty affairs of business in your hands; and
you must remember always that I shall still consider myself your
debtor. I thoroughly agree with your father's views as to the necessity
for your leaving Venice, as soon as possible. In a few months this
matter will have blown over, the angry feelings excited will calm down,
and you will then be able to come and go in safety; but at present you
were best out of the town, and I have, therefore, arranged with your
father that you shall embark tonight on board the Bonito, which sails
tomorrow. You will have much to say to your father now, but I hope you
will find time to come round, and say goodbye to my daughters, this
evening."

"Your adventures, Francis," Mr. Hammond said when the merchant had left
them, "have turned out fortunate, indeed. You have an opening now
beyond anything we could have hoped for. Signor Polani has expressed
himself most warmly. He told me that I need concern myself no further
with your future, for that would now be his affair. The arrangement
that he has made with me, will enable me to hold my head as high as any
in the City, for it will give me almost a monopoly of the Venetian
trade; and although he said that he had long been thinking of entering
into trade direct with England, there is no doubt that it is his
feeling towards you, which has influenced him now in the matter.

"My business here has more than answered my expectations, in one
respect, but has fallen short in another. I have bought cheaply, and
the business should have been a very profitable one; but my partner in
London is either not acting fairly by me, or he is mismanaging matters
altogether. This offer, then, of Signor Polani is in every respect
acceptable. I shall give up my own business and start anew, and
selling, as I shall, on commission, shall run no risk, while the
profits will be far larger than I could myself make, for Polani will
carry it on on a great scale.

"As for you, you will soon learn the ways of trade, and will be able to
come home and join me, and eventually succeed me in the business.

"No fairer prospect could well open to a young man, and if you show
yours