To such a pass of corruption had double-dealing and mystery
reduced the household of the fairest and richest in Venice! The gondola
lay at the marble steps of the water gate, held against the stones by
two of its crew. Don Camillo saw at a glance that the masked gondoliers
had neglected none of the precautions he had prescribed, and he inwardly
commended their punctuality. Each wore a short rapier at his girdle, and
he fancied he could trace beneath the folds of their garments evidence
of the presence of the clumsy fire-arms in use at that period. These
observations were made while the Carmelite and Violetta entered the
boat. Donna Florinda followed, and Annina was about to imitate her
example, when she was arrested by the arm of Don Camillo.
"Thy service ends here," whispered the bridegroom. "Seek another
mistress; in fault of a better, thou mayest devote thyself to Venice."
The little interruption caused Don Camillo to look backwards, and for a
single moment he paused to scrutinize the group of eyes that crowded the
hall of the palace, at a respectful distance.
"Adieu, my friends!" he added. "Those among ye who love your mistress
shall be remembered."
He would have said more, but a rude seizure of his arms caused him to
turn hastily away. He was firm in the grasp of the two gondoliers who
had landed. While he was yet in too much astonishment to struggle,
Annina, obedient to a signal, darted past him and leaped into the boat.
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