"We met by agreement in the Piazza, somewhat before that hour, and proceeded together on foot to my house." "Who were your companions ?" Ruggiero gave the names of six young men, all connections of his family, and summonses were immediately sent for them to attend before the council.
"In the meantime, Messer Francisco Hammond, you can tell us whether you recognize in the accused one of the assailants last night." "I cannot recognize him, your excellency," Francis said; "but I can say certainly that he was not the leader of the party, whom I struck with my oar.

The blow fell on the temple, and assuredly there would be marks of such a blow remaining today." As Francis was speaking, Ruggiero looked at him with a cold piercing glance, which expressed the reverse of gratitude for the evidence which he was giving in his favour, and something like a chill ran through him as he resumed his seat behind Signor Polani and his friends.
There was silence for a quarter of an hour.

Occasionally the members of the council spoke in low tones to each other, but no word was spoken aloud, until the appearance of the first of the young men who had been summoned.

One after another they gave their evidence, and all were unanimous in declaring that they had spent the evening with Ruggiero Mocenigo, and that he did not leave the room, from the moment of his arrival there soon after nine o'clock, until they left him at two in the morning.
"You have heard my witnesses," Ruggiero said, when the last had given his testimony; "and I now ask your excellencies, whether it is right that a gentleman, of good family, should be exposed to a villainous accusation of this kind, on the barest grounds of suspicion ?" "You have heard the evidence which has been given, Signor Polani," the doge said.

"Do you withdraw your accusation against Signor Mocenigo ?" "I acknowledge, your excellency," Signor Polani said, rising, "that Ruggiero Mocenigo has proved that he took no personal part in the affair, but I will submit to you that this in no way proves that he is not the author of the attempt.