Everything depends upon the success of Pisani's attempt, and undertaken, as it is, against great odds, it is of the utmost importance that there should be no mistake as to the position of the enemy.

Whether Francis was wise or not, in accepting Pisani's offer that he should act as his aide-de-camp, may be doubted; but now that he has undertaken it, he must carry out his orders, especially as it is now too late to make other arrangements, did he draw back.
"If you will come into my room, Francisco, I will give you a chart of the passages around Chioggia.

You can study that, and you will then the better understand the information you may receive, from the men you are expecting." Half an hour later Giuseppi arrived with the gondolier he had spoken of, and two old fishermen, and from their explanations, and a study of the map, Francis gained an exact idea of the localities.

From his previous expeditions he had learned where the Genoese were generally posted, and something of the strength of the forces at the various points.
In truth, they kept but a careless watch.

Feeling convinced that the Venetians possessed no forces capable of attacking him, and that their surrender must now be a matter of a few days only, Doria took no precautions.