I am glad your trouble hath no other source, for I had heard that the young heir of your house hath shown a prodigal disposition of late, and I feared that matter might have come to your knowledge, as one of the council, that a father might not wish to learn." The selfish features of the Signor Gradenigo instantly underwent a change.

He glanced curiously, and with a strong distrust, but in a covert manner, at the fallen eyes of his two companions, anxious to penetrate their secret thoughts ere he ventured to expose his own.
"Is there aught of complaint against the youth ?" he demanded in a voice of hesitation.

"You understand a father's interest, and will not conceal the truth." "Signore, you know that the agents of the police are active, and little that comes to their knowledge fails to reach the ears of the council.
But, at the worst, the matter is not of life or death.

It can only cost the inconsiderate young man a visit to Dalmatia, or an order to waste the summer at the foot of the Alps." "Youth is the season of indiscretion, as ye know, Signori," returned the father, breathing more freely--"and as none become old that have not been young, I have little need to awaken your recollection of its weaknesses.

I trust my son is incapable of designing aught against the Republic ?" "Of that he is not suspected." A slight expression of irony crossed the features of the old senator as he spoke.