concealment was so general in
Venice, that he had entertained no great distrust of the result until he
now found himself in this awkward dilemma. Gelsomina read his indecision
in his eye, and regretted that she should have caused him so much
uneasiness.

"It is not so bad as thou seemest to think, Carlo," she observed; "they
have permitted thee to visit thy father at stated hours, and the
permission is a proof that the Senate is not without pity. Now that I,
to oblige thy wishes, have forgotten one of their injunctions, they will
not be so hard of heart as to visit the fault as a crime."

Jacopo gazed at her with pity, for well did he understand how little she
knew of the real nature and wily policy of the state.

"It is time that we should part," he said, "lest thy innocence should be
made to pay the price of my mistake. I am now near the public corridor,
and must trust to my fortune to gain the quay."

Gelsomina hung upon his arm, unwilling to trust him to his own guidance
in that fearful building.

"It will not do, Carlo; thou wilt stumble on a soldier, and thy fault
will be known; perhaps they will refuse to let thee come again; perhaps
altogether shut the door of thy poor father's cell."

Jacopo made a gesture for her to lead the way, and followed. With a
beating, but still lightened heart, Gelsomina glided along the passages,
carefully locking each door, as of wont, behind her, when she had passed
through it. At length they reached the well known Bridge of Sighs. The
anxious girl went on with a lighter step, when she found herself
approaching her own abode, for she was busy in planning the means of
concealing her companion in her father's rooms, should there be hazard
in his passing out of the prison during the day.

"But a single minute, Carlo," she whispered, applying the key to the
door which opened into the latter building--the lock yielded, but the
hinges refused to turn. Gelsomina paled as she added--"They have drawn
the bolts within!"

"No matter; I will go down by the court of the palace, and boldly pass
the halberdier unmasked."

Gelsomina, after all, saw but little risk of his being known by the
mercenaries who served the Doge, and, anxious to relieve him from so
awkward a position, she flew back to the other end of the gallery.
Another key was applied to the door by which they had just entered, with
the same result. Gelsomina staggered back, and sought support against
the waft.

"We can nei