There is not a gondolier in Venice but will resort to thy shop if the intercourse with this fellow can be fairly settled." Annina hesitated; long practised in the small, but secret exceedingly hazardous commerce which her father, notwithstanding the vigilance and severity of the Venetian police, had thus far successfully driven, she neither liked to risk an exposure of her views to an utter stranger, nor to abandon a bargain that promised to be lucrative.

That Gino trifled with her as to his true errand needed no confirmation, since a servant of the Duke of Sant' Agata was not likely to need a disguise to search a priest; but she knew his zeal for her personal welfare too well to distrust his faith in a matter that concerned her own safety.
"If thou distrust that any here are the spies of the authorities," she observed to the padrone, with a manner that readily betrayed her wishes, "it will be in Gino's power to undeceive thee.

Thou wilt testify, Gino, that I am not to be suspected of treachery in an affair like this." "Leave me to put a word into the private ear of the Calabrian," said the gondolier, significantly.--"Stefano Milano, if thou love me," he continued, when they were a little apart, "keep the girl in parley, and treat with her fairly for thy adventure." "Shall I sell the vintage of Don Camillo, or that of the Viceroy of Sicily, caro?
There is as much wine of each on board the Bella Sorrentina, as would float the fleet of the Republic." "If, in truth, thou art dry, then feign that thou hast it, and differ in thy prices.

Entertain her but a minute with fair words, while I can get unseen into my gondola; and then, for the sake of an old and tried friend, put her tenderly on the quay, in the best manner thou art able." "I begin to see into the nature of the trade," returned the pliant padrone, placing a finger on the side of his nose.

"I will discourse the woman by the hour about the flavor of the liquor, or, if thou wilt, of her own beauty; but to squeeze a drop of anything better than the water of the Lagunes out of the ribs of the felucca, would be a miracle worthy of San Teodoro." "There is but little need to touch on aught but the quality of thy wine.