Giulia's bright colour fled at once, and Maria said angrily: "You have no right to be always running into danger, Francisco.

You are not a Venetian, and there is no reason why you should be always running risks greater than those which most Venetians are likely to encounter.
You ought to think of us who care for you, if you don't choose to think of yourself." "I did not volunteer for the service," Francis said.

"I was asked by the admiral to undertake it, and even had I wished it, I could hardly have refused.

The admiral selected me, not from any merit on my part, but because he knows that my boat is one of the fastest on the lagoons, and that I can easily run away from any of the Genoese rowboats.

He particularly ordered me to run no unnecessary risks." "That is all very well," Maria said; "but you know very well that you will run risks, and put yourself in the way of danger, if there is a chance of doing so.
"You should tell him not to go, father!" "I cannot do that, Maria; for the service he has undertaken is a very important one to Venice.