The monk looked from one to the other, and a more human expression began to appear in his countenance.

“Thou art right,” he said; “such are the men who mean to dispose of the person of our pupil.  Holy St. Mark pardon the prostitution of his revered name, and shield her with the virtue of his prayers!”

“Father, are we worthy to know more of that thou hast witnessed?”

“The secrets of the confessional are sacred, my son; but this hath been a disclosure to cover the living, not the dead, with shame.”

“I see the hand of those up above in this!” for so most spoke of the Council of Three.  “They have tampered with my right for years to suit their selfish purposes, and to my shame must I own it, they have driven me to a submission, in order to obtain justice, that as ill accords with my feelings as with my character.”

“Nay, Camillo, thou art incapable of this injustice to thyself!”

“’Tis a fearful government, dearest, and its fruits are equally pernicious to the ruler and the subject.  It hath, of all other dangers the greatest, the curse of secresy on its intentions, its acts, and its responsibilities!”

“Thou sayest true, my son; there is no security against oppression and wrong in a state but the fear of God or the fear of man.  Of the first, Venice hath none, for too many souls share the odium of her sins; and as for the last, her deeds are hid from their knowledge.”

“We speak boldly, for those who live beneath her laws,” observed Donna Florinda, glancing a look timidly around her.  “As we can neither change nor mend the practices of the state, better that we should be silent.”

“If we cannot alter the power of the council, we may elude it,” hastily answered Don Camillo, though he too dropped his voice, and assured himself of their security by closing the casement, and casting his eyes towards the different doors of the room.  “Are you assured of the fidelity of the menials, Donna Florinda?”

“Far from it, Signore; we have those who are of ancient service and of tried character; but we have those who are named by the Senator Gradenigo, and who are doubtless no other than the agents of the State.”

“In this manner do they pry into the privacy of all!  I am compelled to entertain in my palace varlets that I know to be their hirelings; and yet do I find it better to seem unconscious of their views, lest they environ me in a manner that I cannot even suspect.  Think you, father, that my presence here hath escaped the spies?”

“It would be to hazard much were we to rely on such security.  None saw us enter, as I think, for we used the secret gate and the more private entrance; but who is certain of being unobserved when every fifth eye is that of a mercenary?”

The terrified Violetta laid her hand on the arm of her lover.

“Even now, Camillo,” she said, “thou mayest be observed, and secretly devoted to punishment!”