But I bethought me of thy mother, and
crossed the canal."
"Thou wast wrong. My mother rests much as she has done for many
months--thou must have seen that we are not taking the usual route to
the cell?"
"I have; but as we are not accustomed to meet in thy father's rooms, on
this errand, I thought this the necessary direction."
"Hast thou much knowledge of the palace and the prison, Carlo?"
"More than I could wish, good Gelsomina; but why am I thus questioned,
at a moment when I would be otherwise employed?"
The timid and conscious girl did not answer. Her cheek was never bright,
for, like a flower reared in the shade, it had the delicate hue of her
secluded life; but at this question it became pale. Accustomed to the
ingenuous habits of the sensitive being at his side, the Bravo studied
her speaking features intently. He moved swiftly to a window, and
looking out, his eye fell upon a narrow and gloomy canal. Crossing the
gallery, he cast a glance beneath him, and saw the same dark watery
passage, leading between the masonry of two massive piles to the quay
and the port.
"Gelsomina!" he cried, recoiling from the sight, "this is the Bridge of
Sighs!"
"It is, Carlo; hast thou ever crossed it before?"
"Never: nor do I understand why I cross it now. I have long thought that
it might one day be my fortune to walk this fatal passage, but I could
not dream of such a keeper!"
The eye of Gelsomina brightened, and her smile was cheerful.
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