I doubt not the poor fellow hath struck a blow, since quitting the palace, that the council will not forgive! The sight of gold hath been too strong, and he hath offended those who have so long borne with him.

God forgive me, that I have had communion with such a man! but when the heart is heavy, the pity of even a dog will warm our feelings.

Few care for me now, or the friendship of such as he could never have been welcome." Antonio ceased, for the gondola of the state came with a rushing noise to the side of his own boat, where it was suddenly stopped by a backward sweep of the oars.

The water was still in ebullition, when a form passed into the gondola of the fisherman, the larger boat shot away again to the distance of a few hundred feet, and remained at rest.
Antonio witnessed this movement in silent curiosity; but when he saw the gondoliers of the state lying on their oars, he glanced his eye again furtively in the direction of Jacopo, saw that all was safe, and faced his companion with confidence.

The brightness of the moon enabled him to distinguish the dress and aspect of a bare-footed Carmelite.