“If thou distrust that any here are the spies of the authorities,” she observed to the padrone, with a manner that readily betrayed her wishes, “it will be in Gino’s power to undeceive thee.  Thou wilt testify, Gino, that I am not to be suspected of treachery in an affair like this.”

“Leave me to put a word into the private ear of the Calabrian,” said the gondolier, significantly.—­“Stefano Milano, if thou love me,” he continued, when they were a little apart, “keep the girl in parley, and treat with her fairly for thy adventure.”

“Shall I sell the vintage of Don Camillo, or that of the Viceroy of Sicily, caro?  There is as much wine of each on board the Bella Sorrentina, as would float the fleet of the Republic.”

“If, in truth, thou art dry, then feign that thou hast it, and differ in thy prices.  Entertain her but a minute with fair words, while I can get unseen into my gondola; and then, for the sake of an old and tried friend, put her tenderly on the quay, in the best manner thou art able.”

“I begin to see into the nature of the trade,” returned the pliant padrone, placing a finger on the side of his nose.  “I will discourse the woman by the hour about the flavor of the liquor, or, if thou wilt, of her own beauty; but to squeeze a drop of anything better than the water of the Lagunes out of the ribs of the felucca, would be a miracle worthy of San Teodoro.”

“There is but little need to touch on aught but the quality of thy wine.  The girl is not like most of her sex, and she takes sudden offence when there is question of her appearance.  Indeed, the mask she wears is as much to hide a face that has little to tempt the eye, as from any wish at concealment.”

“Since Gino has entered frankly into the matter,” resumed the quick-witted Calabrian, cheerfully, and with an air of sudden confidence to the expectant Annina, “I begin to see more probability of our understanding each other’s meaning.  Deign, bella donna, to go into my poor cabin, where we will speak more at our ease, and something more to our mutual profit and mutual security.”

Annina was not without secret doubts, but she suffered the padrone to lead her to the stairs of the cabin, as if she were disposed to descend.  Her back was no sooner turned, than Gino slid into the gondola, which one shove of his vigorous arm sent far beyond the leap of man.  The action was sudden, rapid, and noiseless; but the jealous eye of Annina detected the escape of the gondolier, though not in time to prevent it.  Without betraying uneasiness, she submitted to be led below, as if the whole were done by previous concert.

“Gino has said that you have a boat which will do the friendly office to put me on the quay when our conference is over,” she remarked, with a presence of mind that luckily met the expedient of her late companion.

“The felucca itself should do that much, were there want of other means,” gallantly returned the manner when they disappeared in the cabin.