"Thanks, thanks," he continued; "thanks! Some day or other, you will all
perhaps return with me to the beloved land!"

The Austrian prince bowed his head, as if in assent to the prayer.

"Giulio Franzini," said the Duke of Serrano,--for so we may now call the
threadbare recluse of the Casino,--"had this last villanous design of
yours been allowed by Providence, think you that there is one spot on
earth on which the ravisher could have been saved from a father's arm?
But now, Heaven has been more kind. In this hour let me imitate its
mercy;" and with relaxing brow the duke mildly drew near to his guilty
kinsman.

From the moment the Austrian prince had addressed him, the count had
preserved a profound silence, showing neither repentance nor shame.
Gathering himself up, he had stood firm, glaring round him like one at
bay. But as the duke now approached, he waved his hand, and exclaimed,
"Back, pedant; back; you have not triumphed yet. And you, prating
German, tell your tales to our emperor. I shall be by his throne to
answer,--if, indeed, you escape from the meeting to which I will force
you by the way." He spoke, and made a rush towards the side of the
vessel. But Harley's quick wit had foreseen the count's intention, and
Harley's quick eye had given the signal by which it was frustrated.
Seized in the gripe of his own watchful and indignant countrymen, just as
he was about to plunge into the stream, Peschiera was dragged back,
pinioned clown. Then the expression of his whole countenance changed;
the desperate violence of the inborn gladiator broke forth. His great
strength enabled him to break loose more than once, to dash more than one
man to the floor of the deck; but at length, overpowered by numbers,
though still struggling, all dignity, all attempt at presence of mind