drew about
the royal person with instinctive readiness, closing the space in his
front.

"We shall look into this at our leisure," said the Doge. "Let the
festivities proceed."

Jacopo bowed low, and withdrew. As he moved along the deck of the
Bucentaur, the senators made way, as if pestilence was in his path,
though it was quite apparent, by the expression of their faces, that it
was in obedience to a feeling of a mixed character. The avoided, but
still tolerated Bravo descended to his gondola, and the usual signals
were given to the multitude beneath, who believed the customary
ceremonies were ended.

"Let the gondolier of Don Camillo Monforte stand forth," cried a herald,
obedient to the beck of a superior.

"Highness, here," answered Gino, troubled and hurried.

"Thou art of Calabria?"

"Highness, yes."

"But of long practice on our Venetian canals or thy gondola could never
have outstripped those of the readiest oarsmen. Thou servest a noble
master?"

"Highness, yes."

"And it would seem that the Duke of St. Agata is happy in the possession
of an honest and faithful follower?"

"Highness, too happy."

"Kneel, and receive the reward of thy resolution and skill."

Gino, unlike those who had preceded him, bent a willing knee to the
deck, and took the prize with a low and humble inclination of the body.
At this moment the attention of the spectators was drawn from the short
and simple ceremony by a loud shout, which arose from the water at no
great distance from the privileged bark of the senate. A common movement
drew all to the side of the galley, and the successful gondolier was
quickly forgotten.

A hundred boats were moving in a body towards the Lido, while the space
they covered on the water presented one compact mass of the red caps of
fishermen. In the midst of this marine picture was seen the bare head of
Antonio, borne along in the floating multitude, without any effort of
his own. The general impulsion was received from the vigorous arms of
some thirty or forty of their number, who towed those in the rear by
applying their force to three or four large gondolas in advance.

There was no mistaking the object of this singular and characteristic
procession. The tenants of the Lagunes, with the fickleness with which
extreme ignorance acts on human passions, had suddenly experienced a
violent revolution in their feelings towards their ancient comrade. He
who, an hour before, had been derided as