something to eat. I've got ten
soldi in my pocket that I picked up when Luigi wasn't looking, and I'm
as hungry as a bear. They won't follow us any more, but we'll keep out
of sight until the shops are open, anyway."

For an hour or more they wandered quietly about, through the by-ways of
the town, until they found a small bake-shop on an unfrequented street;
and when an old woman appeared and took down the shutters, they went in
and boldly asked for bread and cheese. The woman eyed them with some
curiosity, but asked no questions, and they got out as quickly as
possible and hid behind an empty house on the outskirts of the village
to eat their breakfast.

"I'm sure of one thing," said Beppo, as he munched his bread. "I'm not
going to tell our story to any one after this. People would only think
we were lying. We'll find our own way to the villa, and earn our money
as we go along. Padua is only about thirty miles from here, anyway."

"Oh, Beppo," said Beppina, much impressed, "how did you know that?"

"Geography," said Beppo proudly. "You remember how I knew about Ravenna
and Rimini, and, besides, the other day I asked a tourist to let me see
the map in the guidebook. Padua is almost straight west from here. We
can go away from the sun in the morning and toward it in the afternoon,
and we can't help running into it. We'll dance in the villages as we go
along, and when we get to Padua it will be easy enough to find the
villa."

Beppina had some secret doubts. She remembered how sure Beppo was about
finding his way in Florence, but she didn't say a word. She was willing
to take any risk if only they could keep out of the clutches of
Carlotta.

"Do you suppose they are hunting for us in Venice?" she asked.

"I shouldn't wonder," answered her brother, glancing at the sun. Then
he chuckled, "I'll bet they're mad! I hope they'll never find their old
boats!"

"Let's get away from here as fast as we can," urged Beppina. "They
might follow us, or they might send word to the police."

"That's true," said Beppo. "We can't be too careful."

They had finished their breakfast by this time, and, taking their
direction from the sun, set forth at once toward the west. Soon they
were out among the suburbs. Then they passed stately villas owned by
wealthy Venetians, and beyond that came into open country. It was much
easier walking than it had been in the mountains, for the land was
level, or gently roll