Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1904-09-10
CHAPTER Y.
Continued.


sr OF only half the vast business he
conducted. his equal partner being one
Mario Battista. Venetian merchant
who had been for many years located
nj COnstantinOple. where he was busi
fed with affairs such as he was him
self engaged with at Venice. II was
the wish OF SignOr Simona TO transmit
a great treasure OF money to his part
ner. and he was in doubt how TO do so
with assurance OF its safety. On two
previous occasions when he had es-
saved to send much smaller sums 10
his partner his captains and sailors /
had treacherOusly betrayed their trust. /
and gone OF with the money 70 some /
small island In the Mediterranean, or I.
TO the northwest coast or Africa. and /
there become pirates. but goods. how |
ever valuable. he had never lost in this !
way. The occasion. l though, afford
ed an excellent opportunity for me to
serve the interests of my host. and in
so doing 10 reach COnstantinople with
out expense TO myself and 1 was be
sides anxious 10 be gone from Venice
that I might be rid OF the amorCus at
tentions Of Anita. which I found much
difficulty in resisting. Nevertheless.
for her fathers sake. and for no other
reason. l spared her. II was in these
circumstances that I acquainted Sig
nor Simona with my intention 20 visit
Constantinople. al the same time show
ing him my passports and my letter
Of Introduction TO Sir Thomas Roe
English Ambassador TO the Porte.
signed by King James's own hand. II
Ac would tit out and man 2 frigatOon
for Constantinople I would. 1 said.
gladly make the voyage therein the
money being packed and treated as
my baggage. but none the less faith
fully delivered by me TO SignOr Mario
Battista immediately on my arrival IN
that city. My host was delighted with
my offer. and that same day gave or
ders for n frigatoon 10 be made ready
for sea. as had suggested. He ais,
caused ten chests 10 De made OF stou
ebony. lined with sheet lead an'
bound on the outside with bands O
copper Each chest was OF about on
cubic foot content. and into each Sig
nor Simona packed with his own hand
25.O0O gold scquins. When all IN
chests were filled they were fastene
fast with metal studs. and the who'll
coated with a resinous black paint,
which later was added my name.
white characters. upon each.
When the design of my journey
Constaulnople became known 10 IN
IA. She opposed st with all her VI
and exhibited great wealth OF ar
ifce in her efforts 20 prevent IT, 81
represented 10 her father how esse
tial was a change OK scene 10 one VIII
like himself. had lived long m
worked hard in one place and WI
was besides suffering from recent q
reavement. from which she argu
that he would do well i'm going TO CO
stautinople. more especially rs she "
capable. with my protection, OF taxi
charge OF his house and affairs Il
finding that the old man could not
persuaded TO undertake 50 perilous
voyage she changed her tactics. n
after some honcyed compliments c,
corning my honor and prObity ende.
ored TO show that it was unfair 10 ;
nor Battista TO entrust a great treas'
in which he had a half interest TO
custody of one who was entirely
known TO him, and whom ne (Simo
himself had known but little N
than hundred days. and that
merchant wisdom would be more
parent in devising some other
more regular means of getting
money to ConstantinOple. This al
being also rejected. she feigned illn
kept to her bed and inflicted upon
aged father such fears for her life
he dispatched a special courier 10
dua TO fetch a learned leech or
city. Several days passed before
leech reached Venice. and when
came he made but hasty and sup
cial examination OF the patient y
daughter" said the leech TO Signo
mona, lis suffering from an indete
nate languishment and may die at
time; the best thing for her il
longed cruise in the Mediterran
by such means her life may be SIP
for many years" When Signol
mona acquainted me with what
leech had prescribed for his daui
perceived at once what had
pened Clearly Signor Anita's co
had sped faster than her fathers
this was n prescription which
been first dictated by the patiel
the prescriber. Matters fell out
expected they would. A week b
the frigatoon was ready to put I
sirnor ~snnona-t5CE me aside. an
ter profuse expressions OF MS an'
for me, said he had resolved TO el
me not only with his money b'
daughter also. and straigntwa!