Listen! they proclaim again!"
The trumpet sounded, and the proclamation was repeated between the
granite columns of the Piazzetta, and quite near to the window occupied
by Gelsomina and her unmoved companion.
"Why dost thou mask, Carlo?" she asked, when the officer had done; "it
is not usual to be disguised in the palace at this hour."
"They will believe it the Doge, blushing to be an auditor of his own
liberal justice, or they may mistake me for one of the Three itself."
"They go by the quay to the arsenal; thence they will take boat, as is
customary, for the Rialto."
"Thereby giving this redoubtable Jacopo timely notice to secrete
himself! Your judges up above are mysterious when they should be open;
and open when they should be secret. I must quit thee, Gelsomina; go,
then, back to the room of thy father, and leave me to pass out by the
court of the palace."
"It may not be, Carlo--thou knowest the permission of the authorities--I
have exceeded--why should I wish to conceal it from thee--but it was not
permitted to thee to enter at this hour."
"And thou hast had the courage to transgress the leave for my sake,
Gelsomina?"
The abashed girl hung her head, and the color which glowed about her
temples was like the rosy light of her own Italy.
"Thou would'st have it so," she said.
"A thousand thanks, dearest, kindest, truest Gelsomina; but doubt not my
being able to leave the palace unseen.
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