so remarkable, again presided over his pallid face, he continued, as if there had been no interruption; "I repeat, the bounty and clemency of the state will not be forgotten. If its justice is stern and infallible, its forgiveness is cordial, and its favours ample. Of these facts I have taken much pains to assure thee, Jacopo.-Blessed St. Mark! that one of the scions of thy great stock should waste his substance for the benefit of a race of unbelievers ! But thou hast not named him who seeks thee, with this earnestness?"

"As I have yet to learn his errand, before I go further, Signore, it may be well to know more of his wishes."

"This reserve is uncalled for. Thou art not to distrust the prudence of the republic's ministers, and I should be sorry were the Inquisitors to get an unfavourable opinion of thy zeal. The individual must be denounced."

"I denounce him not. The most that I can say is, that he hath a desire to deal privately

with one, with whom it is almost criminal to

deal at all."

"The prevention of crime is better than its punishment, and such is the true object of all government. Thou wilt not withhold the name of thy correspodent ?"

"It is a noble Neapolitan, who hath long sojourned in Venice, on matters touching a great succession, and some right, even, to the senate's dignity."

"Ha! Don Camillo Monforte! Am I right, sirrah ?"

"Signore, the same !"

The pause which followed was only broken by the clock of the great square striking eleven, or the fourth hour of the night, as it is termed, by the usage of Italy.. The senator started, consulted a time-piece in his own apartment, and again addressed his companion.

"This is well," he said; "thy faith and punctuality shall be remembered. Look to the fisherman, Antonio; the murmurs of the old

man must not be permitted to awaken discontent, for a cause so trifling, as this transfer of his descendant from a gondola to a galley; and most of all, keep thy ears attentive to any rumours on the Rialto. The glory and credit of a patrician name must not be weakened by the errors of boyhood. As to this stranger-quickly, thy mask and cloak-depart as if thou wert merely a friend, bent on some of the idle pleasantries of the hour."

The Bravo resumed his disguise with the readiness of one long practised in its use, but with a composure that was not so easily disconcerted as that of the more sensitive senator. latter did not speak again, though he hurried Jacopo from his presence, by an impatient movement of the hand.

The

When the door was closed and the Signor Gradenigo was again alone, he once more consulted the time-piece, passed his hand slowly and thoughtfully across his brow, and resumed his walk. For nearly an hour this exercise, or

nervous sympathy of the body with a mind that was possibly overworked, continued without any interruption from without. Then came a gentle tap at the door, and at the usual bidding, one entered, closely masked, like him who had departed, as was so much the usage of that city, in the age of which we write. A glance at the figure of his guest seemed to apprize the senator of his character, for the reception, while it was distinguished by the quaint courtesy of the age, was that of one expected.

"I am honoured in the visit of Don Camillo Monforte," said the host, while the individual named laid aside his cloak and silken visor; "though the lateness of the hour had given me reason to apprehend that some casualty had interfered between me and the pleasure."

"A thousand excuses, noble senator, but the coolness of the canals, and the gaiety of the square, together with some apprehension of intruding prematurely on time so precious, has, I fear, kept me out of season. But I trust to

the known goodness of the Signor Gradenigo for my apology."

"The punctuality of the great lords of Lower Italy is not their greatest merit," the Signor Gradenigo drily answered. "The young esteem life so endless, that they take little heed of the minutes that escape them; while we, whom age begins to menace, think chiefly of repairing the omissions of youth. In this manner, Signor Duca, does man sin and repent daily, until the opportunities of doing either are imperceptibly lost. But we will not be more prodigal of the moments than there is need-are we to hope for better views in the Spaniard ?"

"I have neglected little that can move the mind of a reasonable man, and I have, in particular, laid before him, the advantage of conciliating the senate's esteem."

"Therein have you done wisely, Signore, both as respects his interests and your own. The senate is a liberal paymaster to him who serves it well, and a fearful enemy to those who