I told her that I should speak to you this evening, and she is doubtless in a tremble as to the result, for she told me frankly that, although she loved you, she feared you only regarded her with the affection of a brother, and she implored me, above all, not to give you a hint of her feelings towards you, until I was convinced that you really loved her." Two months later, the marriage of Francis Hammond and Giulia Polani took place.

There were great festivities, and the merchant spent a considerable sum in giving a feast, on the occasion, to all the poor of Venice.

Maria told Francis, in confidence, that she had always made up her mind that he would marry Giulia.
"The child was silly enough to fall in love with you from the first, Francisco, and I was sure that you, in your dull English fashion, cared for her.

My father confided to me, long since, that he hoped it would come about." Francis Hammond lived for many years with his wife in Venice, paying occasional visits to England.

He was joined, soon after his marriage, by his brother, who, after serving for some years in the business, entered it as a partner, when Messer Polani's increasing years rendered it necessary for him to retire from an active participation in it.
Some months after his marriage, Francis was saddened by the death of Admiral Pisani, who never recovered from the fatigue and hardships he suffered during the siege of Chioggia.