The state will investigate the matter to the bottom." Now that they were in the open air, the merchant could see that the close confinement and anxiety had told greatly upon his daughters.

Both were pale and hollow eyed, and looked as if they had suffered a long illness.

Seeing how shaken they were, he ordered one of the retainers to go to the gondola, and tell the men to row it round to the nearest point to the hut.

The party then walked along down to the shore.
In a few minutes the gondola arrived.

Polani, his two daughters, and Francis took their places in it.