25/27 It stopped suddenly as it came abreast of his own boat, and Matteo, in a state of the highest excitement, jumped from his own boat into that of Francis. My cousins have both disappeared." "Disappeared!" Francis repeated in astonishment "How have they disappeared ?" "Their father has just been round to see mine. He is half mad with grief and anger. You know they had gone to spend the day at the Persanis ?" "Yes, yes," Francis exclaimed; "but do go on, Matteo. Tell me all about it, quickly." "Well, it seems that Polani, for some reason or other, thought he would go and fetch them himself, and at five o'clock he arrived there in his gondola, only to find that they had left two hours before. |