ound means to cast a glance at the water, when she saw that the boat
had already quitted the canals, and was rowing easily out upon the
Lagunes. Perceiving how completely she was in the power of Don Camillo,
she began to feel the necessity of being more explicit.

"Your eccellenza has probably suspected that the council found means to
be acquainted with your intention to fly from the city with Donna
Violetta?"

"All that is known to me."

"Why they chose me to be the servitor of the noble lady is beyond my
powers to discover. Our Lady of Loretto! I am not the person to be sent
for, when the state wishes to part two lovers!"

"I have borne with thee, Annina, because I would let the gondola get
beyond the limits of the city; but now thou must throw aside thy
subterfuge, and speak plainly. Where didst thou leave my wife?"

"Does your eccellenza then think the state will admit the marriage to be
legal?"

"Girl, answer, or I will find means to make thee. Where didst thou leave
my wife?"

"Blessed St. Theodore! Signore, the agents of the Republic had little
need of me, and I was put on the first bridge that the gondola passed."

"Thou strivest to deceive me in vain. Thou wast on the Lagunes till a
late hour in the day, and I have notice of thy having visited the prison
of St. Mark as the sun was setting; and this on thy return from the boat
of Donna Violetta."

There was no acting in the wonder of Annina.

"Santissima Maria! You are better served, Signore, than the council
thinks!"

"As thou wilt find to thy cost, unless the truth be spoken. From what
convent did'st thou come?"

"Signore, from none. If your eccellenza has discovered that the Senate
has shut up the Signora Tiepolo in the prison of St. Mark, for
safe-keeping, it is no fault of mine."

"Thy artifice is useless, Annina," observed Don Camillo, calmly. "Thou
wast in the prison, in quest of forbidden articles that thou hadst long
left with thy cousin Gelsomina, the keeper's daughter, who little
suspected thy errand, and on whose innocence and ignorance of the world
thou hast long successfully practised. Donna Violetta is no vulgar
prisoner, to be immured in a jail."

"Santissima Madre di Dio!"

Amazement confined the answer of the girl to this single, but strong
exclamation.

"Thou seest the impossibility of deception. I am acquainted with so much
of thy movements as to render it impossible that thou should'st lead me
far astray. Thou art not w