"
"Deceive us not--haply thou hast more evil tidings--Venice--"
"Is a fearful state."
"Why hast thou quitted us?--why in a moment of so much importance to our
pupil--a moment that may prove of the last influence on her
happiness--hast thou been absent for a long hour?"
Violetta turned a surprised and unconscious glance towards the clock,
but she spoke not.
"The servants of the state had need of me," returned the monk, easing
the pain of his spirit by a groan.
"I understand thee, father;--thou hast shrived a penitent?"
"Daughter, I have: and few depart more at peace with God and their
fellows!"
Donna Florinda murmured a short prayer for the soul of the dead, piously
crossing herself as she concluded. Her example was imitated by her
pupil, and even the lips of Don Camillo moved, while his head was bowed
by the side of his fair companion in seeming reverence.
"'Twas a just end, father?" demanded Donna Florinda.
"It was an unmerited one!" cried the monk, with fervor, "or there is no
faith in man. I have witnessed the death of one who was better fitted to
live, as happily he was better fitted to die, than those who pronounced
his doom. What a fearful state is Venice!"
"And such are they who are masters of thy person, Violetta," said Don
Camillo: "to these midnight murderers will thy happiness be consigned!
Tell us, father, does thy sad tragedy touch in any manner on the
interests of this fair being? for we are encircled here by mysteries
that are as incomprehensible, while they are nearly as fearful as fate
itself.
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