I have
already been informed that we shall be wanted to-night."
The quick movement of suspicion made by the Bravo escaped the
observation of the padrone, whose eye was running over the felucca's
gear, with a sailor's habitual attention to that part of his vessel,
when there was question of its service.
"Thou art right, Stefano. But there is little harm in repeated caution.
Preparation is the first duty in a delicate commission."'
"Will you look for yourself, Signor Roderigo?" said the mariner, in a
lower tone. "La Bella Sorrentina is not the Bucentaur, nor a galley of
the Grand Master of Malta; but, for her size, better rooms are not to be
had in the palace of the Doge. When they told me there was a lady in the
freight, the honor of Calabria was stirred in her behalf."
"'Tis well. If they have named to thee all the particulars, thou wilt
not fail to do thyself credit."
"I do not say that they have shown me half of them, good Signore,"
interrupted Stefano. "The secresy of your Venetian shipments is my
greatest objection to the trade. It has more than once happened to me,
that I have lain weeks in the canals, with my hold as clean as a
friar's conscience, when orders have come to weigh, with some such cargo
as a messenger, who has got into his berth as we cleared the port, to
get out of it on the coast of Dalmatia, or among the Greek islands."
"In such cases thou hast earned thy money easily.
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