"Ah! my lord--your lordship has come to the right market," said the
old sinner. "I'm used to affairs of this kind. Has your lordship a
priest engaged?"

"I have not."

"Then I can recommend one. Hard by is a chapel dedicated to Our Lady,
where there is a very worthy man, accustomed to affairs of this kind,
who will tie the knot for a moderate fee, without asking any
impertinent questions."

"His name?"

"Father Dominic."

"Good! he is the man for us--and you are the prince of gondoliers.
Get your gondola ready, and I will rejoin you at the foot of the
stairs with the lady in a moment."

Old Beppo hastened to prepare his gondola, and while so doing,
muttered to himself,--

"Well, well--this is a good night's work. I'm getting old, and I must
soon retire from business. Every stroke of luck like this helps on the
day when I shall call Zanetta mine. So, there's another old fool to be
duped to-night! Serve him right! Why don't he keep his treasure under
lock and key, as I do? But men will never learn wisdom. Here they
come."

The young cavalier reappeared upon the marble steps, leading a lady,