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 unfavorable 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
correspondent?"
"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 rumors on the Rialto.
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