This evening we will row over to Lido and look at her." A few minutes later Mr.Hammond came down.

Beppo and his son took off their jackets, and in their snow white shirts and black trousers, set off by the red scarf and a red ribbon round their broad hats, took their places on the bow and stern.

Mr.Hammond sat down on the cushions in the middle of the boat, and with an easy, noiseless motion the gondola glided away from the stairs.

Francis, with a little sigh, turned away and strolled off for a couple of hours' work with the preceptor, with whom he had continued his studies since he came to Venice.
This work consisted chiefly of learning various languages, for in those days there was little else to learn.

Latin was almost universally spoken by educated men in southern Europe, and Greeks, Italians, Spaniards, and Frenchmen were able to converse in this common medium.
French Francis understood, for it was the language in use in the court and among the upper classes in England.