which crowned the granite column against whose pedestal he still leaned. "A truth which warns us to be prudent, for yonder Jew cast a look this way, as if he felt a conscientious scruple in letting any irreverent remark of ours go without reporting. The bearded old rogue is said to have other dealings with the Three Hundred besides asking for the moneys he has lent to their sons. And so, Stefano, thou thinkest the republic will never plant another mast of triumph in San Marco, or bring more trophies to the venerable church ?"

Napoli herself, with her constant change of masters, is as likely to do a great act on the sea, as thy winged beast, just now! Thou art well enough to row a gondola in the canals, Gino, or to follow thy master to his Calabrian castle; but if thou wouldst know what passess in the wide world, thou must be content to listen to mariners of the long course. The day of San Marco has gone by, and that of the heretics more north has come.'

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Thou hast been much of late among the lying Genoese, Stefano, that thou comest hither with these idle tales of what a heretic can do. Genova la Superba! What has a city of walls to compare with one of canals and islands, like this ?-and what has that Apennine republic performed, to be put in comparison with the great deeds of the Queen of the Adriatic? Thou forgettest that Venezia has been

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Zitto, zitto! that has been, caro mio, is a great word with all Italy. Thou art as proud of the past as a Roman of the Trastevere." And the Roman of the Trastevere is right. Is it nothing, Stefano Milano, to be descended from a great and victorious people?"

It is better, Gino Monaldi, to be one of a people which is great and victorious just now. The enjoyment of the past is like the pleasure of the fool who dreams of the wine he drank yesterday."

"This is well for a Neapolitan, whose country never was a nation," returned the gondolier, angrily. "I have heard Don Camillo, who is one educated as well as born in the land, often say that half of the people of Europe have ridden the horse of Sicily, and used the legs of thy Napoli, except those who had the best right to the services of both."

"Even so; and yet the figs are as sweet as ever, and the beccafichi as tender! The ashes of the volcano cover all!" "Gino!" said a voice of authority, near the gondolier. "Signore."

He who interrupted the dialogue, pointed to the boat without saying more.

His friend

A rivederti," hastily muttered the gondolier. squeezed his hand in perfect amity-for, in truth, they were Countrymen by birth, though chance had trained the former on the canals and, at the next instant, Gino was arranging the cushions for his master, having first aroused his subordinate brother of the ar from a profound sleep.

CHAPTER II.

"Hast ever swum in a gondola at Venice?"
SHAKSPEARE.

WHEN Don Camillo Monforte entered the gondola, he did not take his seat in the pavilion. With an arm leaning on the top of the canopy, and his cloak thrown loosely over one shoulder, the young noble stood, in a musing attitude, until his dexterous servitors had extricated the boat from the little fleet which crowded the quay, and had urged it into open water. This duty performed, Gino touched his scarlet cap, and looked at his master, as if to inquire the direction in which they were to proceed. He was answered by a silent gesture, that indicated the route of the great canal.

"Thou hast an ambition, Gino, to show thy skill in the regatta ?" Don Camillo observed, when they had made a little progress. "The motive merits success. Thou wast speaking to a stranger, when I summoned thee to the gondola ? "

"I was asking the news of our Calabrian hills from one who has come into port with his felucca, though the man took the name of San Gennaro to witness that his former luckless voyage should be the last."

How does he call his felucca, and what is the name of the padrone ?"

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La Bella Sorrentina, commanded by a certain Stefano Milano, son of an ancient servant of Sant' Agatta. The bark is none of the worst for speed, and has some reputation for beauty. It ought to be of happy fortune, too, for a good curato recommended it, with many a devout prayer, to the Virgin and to San Francesco."

The noble appeared to lend more attention to the discourse, which, until now, on his part, had been commenced in the listless manner with which a superior encourages an indulged dependent. 'La Bella Sorrentina! Have I not reason to know the bark ?” "Nothing more true, Signore. Her padrone has relations at Sant' Agata, as I have told your eccellenza, and his vessel has lain on the beach, near the castle, many a bleak winter.”

"What brings him to Venice ?"

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'That is what I would give my newest jacket of your eccellenza's colours to know, Signore. I have as little wish to inquire into other people's affairs as any one, and I very well know that discretion is the chief virtue of a godolier. I ventured, however, a deadly hint concerning his errand, such as ancient neighbourhood would warrant, but he was as cautious of his answers as if he were

freighted with the confessions of fifty Christians. Now, if your eccellenza should see fit to give me authority to question him, in your name, the deuce is in't if between respect for his lord, and good management, we could not draw something more than a false bill of lading from him."

Thou wilt take thy choice of my gondolas for the regatta, Gino," observed the Duke of Sant' Agata, entering the pavilion, and throwing himself on the glossy black leathern cushions, without adverting to the suggestion of his servant.

The gondola continued its noiseless course, with the sprite-like movement peculiar to that description of boat. Gino, who, as superior over his fellow, stood perched on the little arched deck in the stern, pushed his oar with accustomed readiness and skill, now causing the light vessel to sheer to the right, and now to the left, as it glided among the multitude of crafts, of all sizes and uses, which it met in its passage. Palace after palace had been passed, and more than one of the principal canals, which diverged towards the different spectacles, or the other places of resort frequented by his master, were left behind, without Don Camillo giving any new direction. At length the boat arrived opposite to a building, which seemed to excite more than common expectation. Giorgio worked his oar with a single hand, looking over his shoulder at Gino, and Gino permitted his blade fairly to trail on the water. Both seemed to await new orders, manifesting something like that species of instinctive sympathy with him they served, which a longpractised horse is apt to show when he draws near a gate that is seldom passed unvisited by his driver.

The edifice which caused this hesitation in the two gondoliers was one of those residences of Venice, which are quite as remarkable for their external riches and ornaments as for their singular situation amid the waters. A massive rustic basement of marble was seated as solidly in the element as if it grew from a living rock, while story was seemingly raised on story, in the wanton observance of the most capricious rules of meretricious architec ture, until the pile reached an altitude that is little known, except in the dwellings of princes. Colonnades, medallions, and massive cornices, overhung the canal, as if the art of man had taken pride in loading the superstructure in a manner to mock the unstable element which concealed its base. A flight of steps, on which each gentle undulation produced by the passage of the barge washed wave, conducted to a vast vestibule, that answered many of the purposes of a court. Two or three gondolas were moored near, but the absence of their people showed they were for the use of those who dwelt within. The boats were protected from rough collision with the passing craft, by piles driven obliquely into the bottom. Similar spars, with painted and ornamented heads, that sometimes bore the colours and arms of the proprietor, formed a sort of little haven for the gondolas of the household before the door of every dwelling of mark.

"Where is it the pleasure of your eccellenza to be rowed?" asked Gino, when he found his sympathetic delay had produced no order.

"To the Palazzo."

Giorgio threw a glance of surprise back at his comrade, but the obedient gondola shot by the gloomy, though rich abode, as if the ittle bark had suddenly obeyed an inward impulse. In a moment more it whirled aside, and the hollow sound, caused by the splash of water between high walls, announced its entrance into a narrower canal. With shortened oars, the men still urged the boat ahead, now turning short into some new channel, now glancing beneath a low bridge, and now uttering, in the sweet shrill tones of the country and their craft, the well-known warning to those who were darting in an opposite direction. A back stroke of Gino's oar, however, soon brought the side of the arrested boat to a flight of steps.

Thou wilt follow me," said Don Camillo, as he placed his foot, with the customary caution on the moist stone, and laid a hand on the shoulder of Gino; "I have need of thee."

Neither the vestibule, nor the entrance, nor the other visible accessories of the dwelling, were so indicative of luxury and wealth as that of the palace on the great canal. Still, they were all such as denoted the residence of a noble of consideration.

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"Thou wilt do wisely, Gino, to trust thy fortunes to the new gondola," said the master as he mounted the heavy stone stairs, to an upper floor, pointing as he spoke to a new and beautiful boat, which lay in a corner of the large vestibule, as carriages are seen standing in the courts of houses built on more solid ground. "He who would find favour with Jupiter must put his own shoulder to the wheel, thou knowest, my friend."

The eyes of Gino brightened, and he was voluble in his expression of thanks. They had ascended to the first floor, and were already deep in a suite of gloomy apartments, before the gratitude and professional pride of the gondolier were exhausted.

Aided by a powerful arm and a fleet gondola, thy chance will be as good as another's, Gino," said Don Camillo closing the door of his cabinet on his servant; "at present, thou mayst give some proof of zeal in my service, in another manner. Is the face of a man called Jacopo Frontoni known to thee?"

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Eccellenza!" exclaimed the gondolier, gasping for breath.

"I ask thee if thou knowest the countenance of one named Frontoni ?"

"His countenance, Signore !"

By what else wouldst thou distinguish a man ?”

"A man, Signor' Don Camillo !"

"Art thou mocking thy master, Gino? I have asked thee if thou art acquainted with the person of a certain Jacopo Frontoni; a dweller here in Venice ?"

here are many of the name of Frontoni, and it is important ou shouldst not mistake the man. Jacopo, of that family, uth of some five-and-twenty, of an active frame and melanvisage, and of less vivacity of temperament than is wont years.'

Ecellenza, yes."

e who resorts but little with his fellows, and who is rather for the silence and industry with which he attends to his ns, than for any of the usual pleasantries and trifling of men cast. A certain Jacopo Frontoni, that hath his abode somenear the arsenal?"

spetto! Signor' Duca, the man is as well known to us gonas the bridge of the Rialto! Your eccellenza has no need ble yourself to describe him."

Camillo Monforte was searching among the papers of a se. He raised his eyes in some little amazement, at the sally ependant, and then he quietly resumed his occupation. hou knowest the man, it is enough."

ellenza, yes. And what is your pleasure with this accursed

Duke of Sant' Agata seemed to recollect himself. He rethe papers which had been deranged, and he closed the

o," he said, in a tone of confidence and amity, "thou wert my estates, though so long trained here to the oar in Ved thou hast passed thy life in my service.”

ellenza, yes.

my desire that thou shouldst end thy days where they began. ad much confidence in thy discretion hitherto, and I have ion in saying it has never failed thee, notwithstanding thou essarily been a witness of some exploits of youth, which ave drawn embarrassment on thy master, were thy tongue osed to silence."

ellenza, yes."

Camillo smiled; but the gleam of humour gave way to a grave and anxious thought.

hou knowest the person of him I have named, our affair is Take this packet," he continued, placing a sealed letter than usual size into the hand of the gondolier, and drawing finger a signet ring, "with this token of thy authority. hat arch of the Doge's palace, which leads to the canal of co, beneath the Bridge of Sighs, thou wilt find Jacopo. the packet; and should he demand it, withhold not the Tait his bidding, and return with the answer."

eceived this commission with profound respect but with