But do not let us stand talking here any longer.

It is high time for you to be in bed." But though Francis retired to his room, it was more than an hour before he got into bed.

His window looked down upon one of the canals running into the Grand Canal.

Gondolas lighted by lanterns, or by torches held by servitors, passed constantly backwards and forwards beneath his window, and by leaning out he could see the passing lights of those on the Grand Canal.

Snatches of song and laughter came up to him, and sometimes the note of a musical instrument.