"It's no matter to us where our customers want to go, if they are willing to pay for it; and as to gossiping, there is a saying, 'A silver gag is the best for keeping the mouth closed.'" A few minutes later the bow of the gondola ran up on the sandy shore of San Nicolo.

The stranger made his way forward and leapt out, and with the words, "It may be two hours before I am back," walked rapidly away.
"Why, Messer Francisco," Giuseppi said when their passenger was well out of hearing, "what on earth possessed you to accept a fare to such a place as this?
Of course, for myself, I am glad enough to earn half a ducat, which will buy me a new jacket with silver buttons for the next festa; but to make such a journey as this was too much, and it will be very late before we are back.

If the padrone knew it he would be very angry." "I didn't do it to enable you to earn half a ducat, Giuseppi, although I am glad enough you should do so; but I did it because it seemed to promise the chance of an adventure.

There must be something in this.

A noble--for I have no doubt he is one--would never be coming out to San Nicolo, at this time of night, without some very strong motive.