"But where is your duenna, girls?"

"She remained behind in the gondola, father; she seemed too frightened
to move."

"The lady seemed to have lost her head altogether," Francis said. "As I
was lifting your daughters into my gondola, in a very hasty and
unceremonious way--for the resistance of your servitors was all but
overcome, and there was no time to be lost--she held so tightly to
their robes that they were rent in her hands."

Signor Polani struck a gong.

"Let a gondola be manned instantly," he said, "and let six of you take
arms and go in search of our boat. Let another man at once summon a
leech, for some of those on board are, I fear, grievously wounded, if
not killed."

But there was no occasion to carry out the order concerning the boat,
for before it was ready to start the missing gondola arrived at the
steps, rowed by the remaining gondolier. The duenna was lifted out
sobbing hysterically, and the bodies of the two retainers were then
landed. One was dead; the other expired a few minutes after being
brought ashore.

"You did not observe anything particular about the gondola, Maria, or
you, Giulia?"

"No, father, I saw no mark or escutcheon upon it, though they might