The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1880-07-02

anu naNlllg nothing else 10 90, Ilt
hastened to the spot, and elbowed
his way to the center. By the red
pillar of the balcony an usher was
reading out the sentence of some un-
known felon, with all the pompous
circumlocutions so much in favor in
those days. The wretched prisoner
just brought out of dark cell, seem
ed scarcely to realize the scene, as
his eyes, unused now to the light OF
the sun, gazed vacantE on the ex-
cited mob that surrounded the low
scaffold on which he was standing.
The sentence having been read, the
prisoner was taken back to jail
where he was to undergo the term OF
imprisonment to which he had Just
been condemned and the crowd,
the sight being over, gradu-
ally dispersed.
This Incident was in itself very
trifling, and Sir John would proba-
bic have forgotten it within a week
had it not been for its strange conse-
quences. Whilst pushing and el-
bowling his way in the crowd il
seems that some clever pickpocket
had robbed him of his lace hand
kerchief. 1t is certainly very un-
pleasant to be robbed even of val
ueless article; but in this case the
thief had. obtained q valuable prize
and besides, there was for Sir John
Hawser the additional sting of hav-
sng been robbed by an Italian. He
would have been less angry if it
had happened in London; the pick
pockets there were so clever that
there was no shame in being their
victim; but to have been plundered
by clumsy Venetian was too much
for his equanimity, and he burst
out in torrent of abuse.
Speaking mostly IN Italian, but
mixing a few English anathemas in
his speech, he related his loss to the
bystanders, and was advised bythem
to complain to the police, or rather
to those officials who, under the
Serenissima, fulfilled the present du-
ties of the police. Though without
great faith in this plan, he followed
it, and gave notice to the authori-
ties. He was assured by a very
stately official that he need have no
fear, and that his property would
soon be found and restored. to him.
Forced to be content with this vague
consolation, he went home to his
supper and bed.
For three or four days afterward
he continued visiting the principal
monuments and churches, but with
out receiving any further informa-
ton about his lace handkerchief. |
have said that Sir John was young
and brave; rs a consequence he was
impetuous and fiery; whilst being
born and bred in free-thinl1ing,
free-speaking country, he was apt TO
express his thoughts as they came
to his mind, without reflection and
without fear. 1t is not surprising,
therefore, that one night under the
arcades of the Procuratio, while re
lating his loss to few friends, he
should have said what he thought of
the vaunted secret police of Venice.
They were, he said, a stupid set of
fools, very pompous and very state
ly, trying to hide their ignorance
and incapacity under very high
sounding phrases, but the meanest
London detective was worth the lot
of them. As to the Secret Council
he did not believe it existed at all /;
or, if it did. it was no better than the
rest.
All, Sir Johnl if YOU must needs
speak so irreverently of the Serenis-
sima, why did YOU not use your own
language? Why did you express
your rash thoughts in Italian? Did
YOU not know that walls have ears,
and that every stone in Venice is a
spy?
His friends, astonished by his sud
den outburst, attributed it at first to
those last glasses of giao sdnto they
had been drinking together, but
knowing full well the jealous care of
Serenissima for its reputation, they
instinctively shrunk from him as
from a dangerous man, they disap-
peared around dark corners, down
side alleys, and very soon Sir John
found himself alone.
Alonel AT least so he thought ;
but silent figure had been follow
ing him for some time, and was now
eagerly and stealthily lodging him.
So earnestly it walked, so noiselessly
it stepped, that for a long time Sir
John did not notice this unwelcome
shadow. and even when he did he
attached no importance to it. But
at last he began to feel some doubts
about this follower. Nothing could
be guessed from his appearance ;
completely wrapped up in dark
cloak, and with a wide hat shading
and concealing the part of his face.
A man who would not have been
recognized by his own brother. 1t
was only the peculiar way in which
he followed, and the ability with
which he ayailed himself OF every
nook and corner that implied a
danger.
Fearless still, but somewhat an
noyed, Sir John pursued his way
through the maze of the alleys that
led from the Piazza to his temporary
home. Determined to try to throw
off his masked companion, he
quickened his step; but at the next
turning a glance back showed it
was no use. Having by this time
reached the Ponte San Moise-one
one of the innumerable bridges that
cross the minor canals of Venice
he stopped on the steps to see what
the shadow would do. Astonished
at first at this new ruse, the man
hesitated a second, but a second,
only, and then disappeared in the
shadow of the church, Our hero
vainly strained his eyes in trying to
find out whether he had really gone,
or whether he was only hiding
behind the columns and watching.