Where didst thou leave
my wife?"
"Blessed St. Theodore! Signore, the agents of the Republic had little
need of me, and I was put on the first bridge that the gondola passed."
"Thou strivest to deceive me in vain. Thou wast on the Lagunes till a
late hour in the day, and I have notice of thy having visited the prison
of St. Mark as the sun was setting; and this on thy return from the boat
of Donna Violetta."
There was no acting in the wonder of Annina.
"Santissima Maria! You are better served, Signore, than the council
thinks!"
"As thou wilt find to thy cost, unless the truth be spoken. From what
convent did'st thou come?"
"Signore, from none. If your eccellenza has discovered that the Senate
has shut up the Signora Tiepolo in the prison of St. Mark, for
safe-keeping, it is no fault of mine."
"Thy artifice is useless, Annina," observed Don Camillo, calmly. "Thou
wast in the prison, in quest of forbidden articles that thou hadst long
left with thy cousin Gelsomina, the keeper's daughter, who little
suspected thy errand, and on whose innocence and ignorance of the world
thou hast long successfully practised. Donna Violetta is no vulgar
prisoner, to be immured in a jail."
"Santissima Madre di Dio!"
Amazement confined the answer of the girl to this single, but strong
exclamation.
"Thou seest the impossibility of deception. I am acquainted with so much
of thy movements as to render it impossible that thou should'st lead me
far astray.
Pages:
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380