None heard the words of the officer with more feeling than Gelsomina.  She bent her body far from the window, in order that not a syllable should escape her.

“Did’st thou hear, Carlo?” demanded the eager girl, as she drew back her head; “they proclaim, at last, money for the monster who has committed so many murders!”

Jacopo laughed; but to the ears of his startled companion the sounds were unnatural.

“The patricians are just, and what they do is right,” he said.  “They are of illustrious birth, and cannot err!  They will do their duty.”

“But here is no other duty than that they owe to God, and to the people.”

“I have heard of the duty of the people, but little is said of the Senate’s.”

“Nay, Carlo, we will not refuse them credit when in truth they seek to keep the citizens from harm.  This Jacopo is a monster, detested by all, and his bloody deeds have too long been a reproach to Venice.  Thou hearest that the patricians are not niggard of their gold, when there is hope of his being taken.  Listen! they proclaim again!”

The trumpet sounded, and the proclamation was repeated between the granite columns of the Piazzetta, and quite near to the window occupied by Gelsomina and her unmoved companion.

“Why dost thou mask, Carlo?” she asked, when the officer had done; “it is not usual to be disguised in the palace at this hour.”

“They will believe it the Doge, blushing to be an auditor of his own liberal justice, or they may mistake me for one of the Three itself.”

“They go by the quay to the arsenal; thence they will take boat, as is customary, for the Rialto.”

“Thereby giving this redoubtable Jacopo timely notice to secrete himself!  Your judges up above are mysterious when they should be open; and open when they should be secret.  I must quit thee, Gelsomina; go, then, back to the room of thy father, and leave me to pass out by the court of the palace.”

“It may not be, Carlo—­thou knowest the permission of the authorities—­I have exceeded—­why should I wish to conceal it from thee—­but it was not permitted to thee to enter at this hour.”

“And thou hast had the courage to transgress the leave for my sake, Gelsomina?”

The abashed girl hung her head, and the color which glowed about her temples was like the rosy light of her own Italy.

“Thou would’st have it so,” she said.

“A thousand thanks, dearest, kindest, truest Gelsomina; but doubt not my being able to leave the palace unseen.  The danger was in entering.  They who go forth do it with the air of having authority.”

“None pass the halberdiers masked by day, Carlo, but they who have the secret word.”