“The danger of Carlo has made me bold.  You are much beloved by the people, and none speak of you, that they do not speak of your goodness, and of your desire to serve the poor.  You are the root of a rich and happy family, and you will not—­nay, you cannot if you would, think it a crime for a son to devote all to a father.  You are our father, and we have a right to come to you, even for mercy—­but, Highness, I ask only for justice.”

“Justice is the motto of Venice.”

“They who live in the high favor of Providence do not always know what the unhappy undergo.  It has pleased God to afflict my own poor mother, who has griefs that, but for her patience and Christian faith, would have been hard to bear.  The little care I had it in my power to show, first caught Jacopo’s eye, for his heart was then full of the duty of the child.  Would your Highness consent to see poor Carlo, or to command him to be brought hither, his simple tale would give the lie to every foul slander they have dared to say against him.”

“It is unnecessary—­it is unnecessary.  Thy faith in his innocence, girl, is more eloquent than any words of his can prove.”

A gleam of joy irradiated the face of Gelsomina, who turned eagerly to the listening monk, as she continued—­

“His Highness listens,” she said, “and we shall prevail!  Father, they menace in Venice, and alarm the timid, but they will never do the deed we feared.  Is not the God of Jacopo my God, and your God?—­the God of the senate and of the Doge?—­of the Council and of the Republic?  I would the secret members of the Three could have seen poor Jacopo, as I have seen him, coming from his toil, weary with labor and heart-broken with delay, enter the winter or the summer cell—­chilling or scorching as the season might be—­struggling to be cheerful, that the falsely accused might not feel a greater weight of misery.  Oh! venerable and kind prince, you little know the burden that the feeble are often made to carry, for to you life has been sunshine; but there are millions who are condemned to do that they loathe, that they may not do that they dread.”

“Child, thou tell’st me nothing new.”

“Except in convincing you, Highness, that Jacopo is not the monster they would have him.  I do not know the secret reasons of the councils for wishing the youth to lend himself to a deception that had nigh proved so fatal; but all is explained, we have naught now to fear.  Come, father; we will leave the good and just Doge to go to rest, as suits his years, and we will return to gladden the heart of Jacopo with our success, and thank the blessed Maria for her favor.”

“Stay!” exclaimed the half-stifled old man.  “Is this true that thou tellest me, girl:—­Father, can it be so!”

“Signore, I have said all that truth and my conscience have prompted.”

The prince seemed bewildered, turning his look from the motionless girl to the equally immovable member of the Three.