owever; and as there seemeth little probability of our coming to an
understanding, I will go my way. A most happy night to thee."

"Cospetto!--Signore, you are far too quick in your ideas and movements
for one little used to negotiations of this sort. Here is a ring whose
signet may help us to understand each other."

The stranger took the jewel, and holding the stone in a manner to
receive the light of the moon, he started in a manner to betray both
surprise and pleasure.

"This is the falcon crest of the Neapolitan--he that is the lord of
Sant' Agata!"

"And of many other fiefs, good Signore, to say nothing of the honors he
claims in Venice. Am I right in supposing my errand with you?"

"Thou hast found one whose present business has no other object than Don
Camillo Monforte. But thy errand was not solely to exhibit the signet?"

"So little so, that I have a packet here which waits only for a
certainty of the person with whom I speak, to be placed into his hands."

The stranger mused a moment; then glancing a look about him, he answered
hurriedly--

"This is no place to unmask, friend, even though we only wear our
disguises in pleasantry. Tarry here, and at my return I will conduct
thee to a more fitting spot."

The words were scarcely uttered when Gino found himself standing in the
middle of the court alone. The masked stranger had passed swiftly on,
and was at the bottom of the Giant's Stairs ere the gondolier had time
for reflection. He ascended with a light and rapid step, and without
regarding the halberdier, he approached the first of three or four
orifices which opened into the wall of the palace, and which, from the
heads of the animal being carved in relief around them, had become
famous as the receptacles of secret accusations under the name of the
Lion's Mouths. Something he dropped into the grinning aperture of the
marble, though what, the distance and the obscurity of the gallery
prevented Gino from perceiving; and then his form was seen gliding like
a phantom down the flight of massive steps.

Gino had retired towards the arch of the water-gate, in expectation that
the stranger would rejoin him within its shadows; but, to his great
alarm, he saw the form darting through the outer portal of the palace
into the square of St. Mark. It was not a moment ere Gino, breathless
with haste, was in chase. On reaching the bright and gay scene of the
piazza, which contrasted with the gloomy court he had ju