Thou wilt not withhold the name of thy correspondent ?" "It is a noble Neapolitan, who hath long sojourned in Venice, on matters touching a great succession, and some right even to the senate's dignity." "Ha! Don Camillo Monforte! Am I right, sirrah ?" "Signore, the same!" The pause which followed was only broken by the clock of the great square striking eleven, or the fourth hour of the night, as it is termed, by the usage of Italy.

The senator started, consulted a time-piece in his own apartment, and again addressed his companion.
"This is well," he said; "thy faith and punctuality shall be remembered.
Look to the fisherman Antonio; the murmurs of the old man must not be permitted to awaken discontent, for a cause so trifling as this transfer of his descendant from a gondola to a galley; and most of all, keep thy ears attentive to any rumors on the Rialto.

The glory and credit of a patrician name must not be weakened by the errors of boyhood.

As to this stranger--quickly, thy mask and cloak--depart as if thou wert merely a friend bent on some of the idle pleasantries of the hour." The Bravo resumed his disguise with the readiness of one long practised in its use, but with a composure that was not so easily disconcerted as that of the more sensitive senator.

The latter did not speak again, though he hurried Jacopo from his presence by an impatient movement of the hand.
When the door was closed and the Signor Gradenigo was again alone, he once more consulted the time-piece, passed his hand slowly and thoughtfully across his brow, and resumed his walk.