But who could have thought of your being hidden away all the time at San Nicolo! As for me, I have spent most of my time in a gondola, going out and staring up at every house I passed, in hopes of seeing a handkerchief waved from a casement.

And so has Francisco; he has been just as busy in the search as anyone, I can assure you." "Francisco is different," Maria said, not observing the signs Francis was making for her to be silent.

"Francisco has got eyes in his head, and a brain in his skull, which is more, it seems, than any of the Venetians have; and had he not brought father to our hiding place, there we should have remained until Ruggiero Mocenigo came and carried us away." "Francisco brought your father the news!" Matteo exclaimed in astonishment.

"Why, was it he who found you out, after all ?" "Did you not know that, Matteo?
Of course it was Francisco! As I told you, he has got brains; and if it had not been for him, we should certainly never have been rescued.

Giulia and I owe him everything--don't we, Giulia ?" "Forgive me for not telling you, Matteo," Francis said to his astonished friend; "but Signor Polani, and my father, both impressed upon me so strongly that I should keep silent as to my share in the business, that I thought it better not even to mention it to you at present.