The danger was in entering. They
who go forth do it with the air of having authority."
"None pass the halberdiers masked by day, Carlo, but they who have the
secret word."
The Bravo appeared struck with this truth, and there was great
embarrassment expressed in his manner. The terms of his admittance were
so well understood to himself, that he distrusted the expediency of
attempting to get upon the quays by the prison, the way he had entered,
since he had little doubt that his retreat would be intercepted by those
who kept the outer gate, and who were probably, by this time, in the
secret of his true character. It now appeared that egress by the other
route was equally hazardous. He had not been surprised so much by the
substance of the proclamation, as by the publicity the Senate had seen
fit to give to its policy, and he had heard himself denounced, with a
severe pang, it is true, but without terror. Still he had so many means
of disguise, and the practice of personal concealment was so general in
Venice, that he had entertained no great distrust of the result until he
now found himself in this awkward dilemma. Gelsomina read his indecision
in his eye, and regretted that she should have caused him so much
uneasiness.
"It is not so bad as thou seemest to think, Carlo," she observed; "they
have permitted thee to visit thy father at stated hours, and the
permission is a proof that the Senate is not without pity.
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