You were right, Francisco, it was that beldam Castaldi.

She went with them there in the morning, and left them there, and was to have come in the gondola for them at six.

At three o'clock she arrived, saying that their father had met with a serious accident, having fallen down the steps of one of the bridges and broken his leg, and that he had sent her to fetch them at once.
"Of course, they left with her instantly.

Polani questioned the lackeys, who had aided them to embark.

They said that the gondola was not one of his boats, but was apparently a hired gondola, with a closed cabin.