To pass the men and rush into the canopy needed but a moment; to perceive that it was empty was the work of a glance.
"Villains, have you dared to be false!" cried the confounded noble.
At that instant the clock of the city began to tell the hour of two, and it was only as that appointed signal sounded heavy and melancholy on the night-air, that the undeceived Camillo got a certain glimpse of the truth.
"Gino," he said, repressing his voice, like one summoning a desperate resolution--"are thy fellows true ?" "As faithful as your own vassals, Signore." "And thou didst not fail to deliver the note to my agent ?" "He had it before the ink was dry, eccellenza." "The mercenary villain! He told thee where to find the gondola, equipped as I see it ?" "Signore, he did; and I do the man the justice to say that nothing is wanting, either to speed or comfort." "Aye, he even deals in duplicates, so tender is his care!" muttered Don Camillo between his teeth.

"Pull away, men; your own safety and my happiness now depend on your arms.

A thousand ducats if you equal my hopes--my just anger if you disappoint them!" Don Camillo threw himself on the cushions as he spoke, in bitterness of heart, though he seconded his words by a gesture which bid the men proceed.

Gino, who occupied the stern and managed the directing oar, opened a small window in the canopy which communicated with the interior, and bent to take his master's directions as the boat sprang ahead.

Rising from his stooping posture, the practised gondolier gave a sweep with his blade, which caused the sluggish element of the narrow canal to whirl in eddies, and then the gondola glided into the great canal, as if it obeyed an instinct..