The record-union., 1897-10-17

"Sure?"
at is the Inglese, signore; 1 heard
the step-the step of a young man..
Give me that, them
He took from the Moor's hand
knife, and glided out. His cloaked
spectrestalk in a moment was doub-
ling round the opening. before ever
Brescia could dream that death was
upon her. Suddenly, in the night, a
cry. Ronaldo, conscious of a human
form in the gloom, and Of nothing more,
hurried off. Round the quay-corner
lolled gondola He plunged into the
cabin, whistled, and Ali was at the oar
Two minutes afterwards Brand ar
rived, and babe his two barcarolli await
him. Had she come? He peered into
the archway and saw nothing; heard,
however, a groan; and tumbled upon
his hands over Brescia- What the
mischief" he began to say, then,
realizing a claim upon his help, half
lifted the body toward the opening.
There was no moon, but the vault was
rich with glories. AS he noticed the
slit throat, the old dame, leaning heavy
upon him, began to humble He bent
to hear what he took to be only the
rawlings of death. "Mauro Bellini-he
hurt my life-a girl-a poor young
thing. Then he sent me up in the
cells-ah, years. Now-he kills me. Tell
him-who are you?-ah, if I could be
the death of him-yet; I, Brescia. I
would trouble-end him-somehow-
ah!" She stiffened suddenly. Brand
said, ''She's dead, / suppose" and at
the same time noticed his bosom, his
hands, all red. A measured tread
startled him. Glancing, he beheld three
Of Gordon of the city shirri, on their
nightly rounds, approach The quick
thought of the blood on him, of Conti-
mental official over zeal, a night i'm the
dungeons, flashed upon him, and with
a mo, thank you!" he gently deposited
the body and took to running. Half
laughing-at first; in two minutes not
laughing. The men were after him.
Brand had no notion whittier he went.
The narrow CALI of Venice are slab
paved, without trottoirs; a runner re-
sounds upon them, guiding his pur-
suer They twist and double infinitely,
with tiny bridges everywhere. Brand S
heels went flying down every turning
he met; his rage to be free grew into
a very furor of action. But his pur-
suerS, intimate with the labyrinth, were
quite his equals. One especially gained
surely upon him. AT last, on low
quay, hearing the near foot beats round
a corner, he pitched down three steps,
and, seizing an iron ring in the wall,
let himself into the water to the neck.
Here was a patch of deepest shadow.
One of the sbirri, dashing forth now
n tho of c,Jo
and began to seek him.
Half an hour before. Mauro BeIlini
walked alone in a spacious oval apart
ment of his residential palazzo. The
columned chamber was stately with
classic chiselling. His hands were be-
hind him, the ample sleeves ending
tight at the wrist with the fine lace
called merletu. Outside, at each of
the seven doors, waited a man behind
the hangings. Presently one entered.
The noiseless walk ceased, and the
rheumy, bleared eyes glanced at the
words of a note: "The affair of Brand
is ended. He lies, for the present, where
you know
Where is the Lady Belvidera?" His
voice was deep, contrasting with the
senility of the hollow cheeks.
"She is not in. the palace, Excellenza." +"
II know. But where is she?"
II cannot tell you, Excellenza-'
Send me Dandolo'
He resumed his walk, till Dandolo. a.
big swaggerer with curly hair, one
armed, in a velvet jacket, stood by him.
who knows the whereabouts of the
Signorina Belvidera?'
"Orseolo, Sebastian and Marco sir"
Where is she?"
Il cannot tell you. Sebastian should
be here when there is anything to re-
port"
Send me Antonello''
he resumed his walk, till Antonello.
rat-faced, dimfnutive. timid. of the
lower orders, and a Waterman. stood
by him. He walked to a central table
beneath the dim light, from a. pile OF
ofhcial forms selected a sheet. and held
1t up, reading through a magnifvins
glass.
1T appears, Antonello"-he smoke
with strong distinctness-"that a. pau
per luEatfc at the Asylum of San Gior-
glo is lately dead. You comprehend ~
Antonello ducked, nervously obse-
quious.
L see by this form that a. relative
mas been persuaded to undertake the
burial, the city providing, as usual. a
ieaden she'll No name appears here
or aodress; he is doubtless of the low
est rapble but all that one learns at the
asylum itself. / hope you follow me
Inc number. however, by which the In
matte is known is L, 3S5. Say l. 80
L. 8, 3, o. repeated Antonello.
erV good. & fT1cy-o NOV,
ter gate swift gondola not in useq,,
"One only, ExcelIenza. It is the sie-
norma Belvidera's'
That will do. Take it; and with
you take this signed authority for the
delivery of the body Of No. l.. g. s. <
You viii obtain the address of his rela-
tives. and to that address you will con-
vey the remains
Antonello commenced to retire back
wards.
Stop! Do remember rightly. Anto-
nello. that you have been employed in
the craft of gondola- -building?"
Yes, Excellenza.''
Then, take it, you are quite capable
of driving a neat, straight nail"
"Oh, yes, sir"
Then, as you descend go to Cero-
mimic, who will supply you with some
sharp, long nails and a hammer: also
some masses of lead, and twine. These
take with you. The coffin given to YOU
will, as usual. be closed by a sliding lid.
which, think, you will find only loosely
screwed. When in the middle of the
Giudecca you will draw the lid; you
will securely attach the weighty masses
to the body, and you will consign it to
the waters. l think you comprehend