"Attacked?" Signor Polani repeated. "Who has dared to venture on such
an outrage?"

"We don't know, father," Maria said. "It was a four-oared gondola that
ran suddenly into us. We thought it was an accident till a number of
men, with their swords drawn, leaped on board. Then Nicolini and
Francia drew their swords and tried to defend us, and Beppo and Jacopo
both fought bravely too with their oars; but Beppo was knocked
overboard, and I am afraid Nicolini and Francia are killed, and in
another moment they would have got at us, when this young gentleman
came alongside in his gondola, and dragged us on board, for we were too
bewildered and frightened to do anything. One of them--he seemed the
leader of the party--tried to jump on board, but our protector struck
him a terrible blow with his oar, and he fell into the water, and then
the gondola made off, and, so far as we could see, they did not chase
us."

"It is a scandalous outrage, and I will demand justice at the hands of
the council.

"Young sir, you have laid me under an obligation I shall never forget.
You have saved my daughter from the worst calamity that could befall
her. Who is it to whom I am thus indebted?"

"My name is Francis Hammond. My father is an English merchant who has,
for the last four years, established himself here."

"I know him well by repute," Polani said. "I trust I shall know more of
him in the future.