“My errand is not particular.  The first that may be found, provided he be a Franciscan, and a priest likely to have bowels for lovers in haste.”

“Don Camillo Monforte, the heir of an ancient and great line, does not wive with so little caution.  Thy false tongue has been trying to deceive me, Gino; but long use should have taught thee the folly of the effort.  Unless thou sayest truth, not only shalt thou not go to thy errand, but here art thou prisoner at my pleasure.”

“I may have told thee what I expect will shortly happen, rather than what has happened.  But Don Camillo keeps me so much upon the water of late, that I do little besides dream, when not at the oar.”

“It is vain to attempt deceiving me, Gino, for thine eye speaketh truth, let thy tongue and brains wander where they will.  Drink of this cup, and disburden thy conscience, like a man.”

“I would that thy father would make the acquaintance of Stefano Milano,” resumed the gondolier, taking a long breath, after a still longer draught. “’Tis a padrone of Calabria, who oftentimes brings into the port excellent liquors of his country, and who would pass a cask of the red lachryma christi through the Broglio itself, and not a noble of them all should see it.  The man is here at present, and, if thou wilt, he shall not be long without coming into terms with thee for a few skins.”

“I doubt if he have better liquors than this which hath ripened upon the sands of the Lido.  Take another draught, for the second taste is thought to be better than the first.”

“If the wine improve in this manner, thy father should be heavy-hearted at the sight of the lees.  ’Twould be no more than charity to bring him and Stefano acquainted.”

“Why not do it immediately?  His felucca is in the port, thou sayest, and thou canst lead him hither by the secret door and the lanes.”

“Thou forgettest my errand.  Don Camillo is not used to be served the second.  Cospetto!  ’T were a pity that any other got the liquor which I am certain the Calabrian has in secret.”

“This errand can be no matter of a moment, like that of being sure of wine of the quality thou namest; or, if it be, thou canst first dispatch thy master’s business, and then to the port, in quest of Stefano.  That the purchase may not fail, I will take a mask and be thy companion, to see the Calabrian.  Thou knowest my father hath much confidence in my judgment in matters like this.”

While Gino stood half stupified and half delighted at this proposition, the ready and wily Annina made some slight change in her outer garments, placed a silken mask before her face, applied a key to the door, and beckoned to the gondolier to follow.

The canal with which the dwelling of the wine-dealer communicated, was narrow, gloomy, and little frequented.  A gondola of the plainest description was fastened near, and the girl entered it, without appearing to think any further arrangement necessary.  The servant of Don Camillo hesitated a single instant, but having seen that his half-meditated project of escaping by the use of another boat could not be accomplished for want of means, he took his worried place in the stern, and began to ply the oar with mechanical readiness.