"However, that can hardly be, for even if Ruggiero convinced the council that he was wholly innocent of this affair, no blame could fall on me, for I neither accused nor identified him.
However, it is certainly towards the prisons we are going." The boat, indeed, was passing the Piazzetta without stopping, and turned down the canal behind, to the prisons in rear of the palace.
They stopped at the water gate, close to the Bridge of Sighs, and Francis and his conductor entered.

They proceeded along two or three passages, until they came to a door where an official was standing.

A word was spoken, and they passed in.
The chamber they entered was bare and vaulted, and contained no furniture whatever, but at one end was a low stone slab, upon which something was lying covered with a cloak.

Four of the members of the council were standing in a group, talking, when Francis entered.

Signor Polani, with two of his friends, stood apart at one side of the chamber.