Year: 1865

prescribed quarter. A double danger,
however, awaited him. The old and con-
stant Jealousy Of France, which appeared
In all Che VenmG4n COU'Cnr, "A~ e-o"es<
new force, and intercourse with her an:
bassador was narrowly watched.


Enrico. moreover, distracted by the
failure Of forged accusation which had
reacted to his own disadvantage, had
found means to communicate with the
Scheming Fra Paolo. The suspicious Of
the Contarini family were secretly direct
ed against the neglected Antonio. His
steps were dogged by the spies Of pow
eriul and revengeful house. Accusations
again found their way into the Lions
Mouth. Proofs were too plain to be re-
jccted. The son of Pesaro had offended
by disregarding engagements authorized
and advised by the State He had Of
Tended projecting alliance with an alien;
i'..S had 'of2eSsGtL. NG1vs,t4n ySoufbtiHfCa
tion with the household Of foreign am
basSador.


The ofensc was great and the danger
imminent An Inquisitor who alleged
excuses for the crime Of relative, was
exposed to the charge Of completely. lie
who wore the crimson robe in the Coun-
Gil Of the lnqusition was therefore silent.
The mask, no less than the severe con-
troll which every member Of the secret
| council cxerted over his midcr nature.
concealed the struggle going on in the
bosom Of the old Count Pcsaro. The fcl
low councillors had already seen the sac.
rifice Of one son-they could not doubt
his consent to the second. But the Of
fense was now greater and the punish.
mcnt would be weightier.
Antonio was the last scion Of the no.
bic house of which the Inquisitor was
chief, and the father triumphed at length
over the Minister Of State; yet none in the
secret Council could perceive that tri-
umph. None knew better than partici-
pant in that dreadful power which ruled
Venice by terror, how difficult would be
any escape from its condemnation.


1t was two hours past midnight, and
the lights had gone out along the palace
windows of Venice.


The Count Pesaro had come beck from
the chamber of the council; but there
were ears that caught the fall of his steps
as he landed OF his palace door and passed
/ to his apartment. Fra Paolo had spread
! the accusations which endangered the life
of Antonio, and still an inmate Of the
palace, he brooded over his schemes.


lie knew the step Of the Count his
qnick ears traced it to the accustomed
door Again the step seemed to him to
retracc the corridor stealthiy. and to turn
toward the apartment of Antonio. The
corridor was dark, but glimmer Of the
moon, reflected from the canal, showed
him the tall figure Of the Count entering
the chamber of his son.


Parental kindness had not been char.
acteri>tic Of the father, and the unusual
visit excited the pric>tly curiosity. Gid
ing after, he placed himself by the cham
Der and overheard what few ever heard
in those days in Venice-the great In.
qui>itor sink to the level of q man and q
father.


MY son, said the Count, after the first
surprise Of the sleeper was over, you
have offended against the State and he
enumerated the charges which had come
before the lnquisition.


1t is true, said Antonio.


The State never forgets or forgivcs,
said the Count


Never. when they have been detected,
said Antonio.


They know all. said the father.
! who know all! ? asked Antonio earn.
estly.


The Council Of Three


You know it?'


The Count stopped to whisper in his
ear.


antonio started with terror; he knew
Of the popular rumor which attributed to
his father great influence in the State, but
never until then did the truth come home
to him, that he was living under the very
eye of one Of that mysterious Council,
whose orders made even the Doge tremblc.


Already pursued the Count, they
determine your punishment; il will be
severe; how severe cannot tell; per
haps-'


BaniShment!'


1t may be worse, my son ! and the
Count was again the father of his child,
folding to his heart, perhaps for the last
time, what was dearer to him than the
honor or safety of the State.
But it was not for fearful sympathy
only that the Count had made this mid
night visit. There remained last hope
of escape. The arrest of Antonio might
follow in day or two. Meantime the
barges of the State were subject to orders
penned by either member of the Council.


1t was arranged that State barge
should be sent to receive Antonio upon
the following night to convey him a cap.
tive to the Ducal Palace. As if to avoid
obstruction the barge should be ordered
to pass by an unfrequented part of the
city. The spirri Of the quarter should
receive counter orders to permit no boat
to pass the canals. In the delay and al.
tercation Antonio should make his way
to a given place Of refuge, where swift
gondola Che should know it by crimson
pennant al the bow should await him to
transport the fugitive beyond the Lagoon


His own prudence would command
horses on the Padua shore, and escape
might be secured. Further intercourse
with the Count would be dangerous and
open to suspicion and father and son
badc adieu-it might be forever.


A day more only in Venice, for young
patrician whose gay life had made thirty
years glide fast, was very short. There
were many he feared to leave; and there
was one be dared not leave. The pas
sion, that grew with its pains, for the fair
Blanche, had ripened into a tempest Of
love. The young stranger had yielded to
its sway; and there lay already that bond
between them that even Venetian honor
scorned to undo.


In hurried words, but with the fever of
his feeling spent on the letter, he wrote
to Blanche. lie told her Of his danger,
of the hopeleSsnesS Of his stay, of the pun,