Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-10-20
The SPY of Venice; or, The Council of Ten.

Y :
The Spy of Venice; or, The Council of Ten.
In the year 1913 the dreadful "Coun-
ell of Ten was at its hight in Venice,
the City of Islands. All men feared that
Council, for they were liable at any mo-
ment to be called before its august pres
ence and be judged for crimes never COM
mitted. No person dared to express q
thought in regard to its workings, for
spies were in the employ of the Council
of Ten, and if their masters uttered a
word against it, they were sure to be
called to stand before its judges. Dukes,
counts and mobiles disappeared myste-
riously. The Venetians knew where they
went, but kept the knowledge in their
own breasts.
1t was midnight The bell Of old st.
Marks had tolled the hour, when gon-
dola pushed forth from under a bridge,
and went smoothly along over the placid
waters. Presently it was followed by
another, and another, until six were in
line. The oars we're muffled and slowly,
silently they glided by the houses. like
ocean spectres.
At last the foremost gondola ran under
stone arch; the others followed. and
the men in them suddenly disappeared
The goDdelas were left under the arch,
hut their late occupants were not in them.
Let us see where they went.
AS the foremost boat touched one side
of the arch, a man rose and opened a
large door in the stone wall and entered
the rest did the same, and found them
selves in narrow underground passage.
They moved on to a small room, dimly
lighted, where they put on masks,
which concealed their features. At a
signal the light was extinguished, and
they again moved on until they came to
an iron door. Three raps were given ;
the door flew open as if by magic, and
they entered large room brilliantly
lighted by many lamps which hung from
the ceiling. There were twenty stone
chairs, draped in black, on raised plat
forms; the highest one was likewise cov'
cred with black, but had a sword sus-
pended over it. In inches in the wall
were instruments of torture concealed by
black curtains. Woe to the man who
trod that room of Judgment as pris-
oner.
The room that / have described was
the chamber of the League Of Twelve,
a band formed to battle the Ten. The
twelve men who composed this league
were dukes who had escaped the cham
ber of the Ten. This apartment, then,
was their place of meeting.
When the Twelve had seated them
selves in stone chairs, voice cried out,
"Are the Twelve In councilY
They are" came from eleven lips,
as their owners raised their masks to let
the chief see their faces.
1t would be difficult to describe their
faces; suffice it TO say that determine
ton was written upon them. Their
masks we're replaced, and the chief said
Proceed to business Who will speak
erst7
"Iwill," answered one, as he rose from
his seat
League Of Twelve, until to-day /
thought that our order was known to none
in Venice save ourselves, but now think
/ am mistaken.
Here the speaker paused, and the chief
cried out
"Go on. Who is the traitor 2
"No one is a traitor, worthy chief !
bnt listen, and will tell you. Many Of
you have seen the old sstrologer, with a
long white beard, and whose form is bent
with age, have you not
I'VE have" was the response
"Well, / met him in the street to-day;
BE took my hand aud said Beware
ssked him Why, aud he said Beware,
asd left NE
The speaker took bis seat and nut
tered curses were heard. But all was
soon hushed, and the chief arose.
"League Of Twelve" said be. that
old man Knows more thAn be should
know. BE mus die, for you know dead
ma tel 20 tales Bat what have you
70 ssy3" Aud be resumed bis seat.