ing 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
excla