the hand of Elena in marriage from her father.  But when the day arrived, he sought the nurse, and she took him to a chamber in the palace, where there stood an image of the Blessed Virgin.  Elena was there, pale and timid; and when the lovers clasped hands, neither found many words to say.  But the nurse bade them take heart, and leading them before Our Lady, joined their hands, and made Gerardo place his ring on his bride’s finger.  After this fashion were Gerardo and Elena wedded.  And for some while, by the assistance of the nurse, they dwelt together in much love and solace, meeting often as occasion offered.

Messer Paolo, who knew nothing of these things, took thought meanwhile for his son’s career.  It was the season when the Signiory of Venice sends a fleet of galleys to Beirut with merchandise; and the noblemen may bid for the hiring of a ship, and charge it with wares, and send whomsoever they list as factor in their interest.  One of these galleys, then, Messer Paolo engaged, and told his son that he had appointed him to journey with it and increase their wealth.  ’On thy return, my son,’ he said, ‘we will bethink us of a wife for thee.’  Gerardo, when he heard these words, was sore troubled, and first he told his father roundly that he would not go, and flew off in the twilight to pour out his perplexities to Elena.  But she, who was prudent and of gentle soul, besought him to obey his father in this thing, to the end, moreover, that, having done his will and increased his wealth, he might afterwards unfold the story of their secret marriage.  To these good counsels, though loth, Gerardo consented.  His father was overjoyed at his son’s repentance.  The galley was straightway laden with merchandise, and Gerardo set forth on his voyage.

The trip to Beirut and back lasted usually six months or at the most seven.  Now when Gerardo had been some six months away, Messer Pietro, noticing how fair his daughter was, and how she had grown into womanhood, looked about him for a husband for her.  When he had found a youth suitable in birth and wealth and years, he called for Elena, and told her that the day had been appointed for her marriage.  She, alas! knew not what to answer.  She feared to tell her father that she was already married, for she knew not whether this would please Gerardo.  For the same reason she dreaded to throw herself upon the kindness of Messer Paolo.  Nor was her nurse of any help in counsel; for the old woman repented her of what she had done, and had good cause to believe that, even if the marriage with Gerardo were accepted by the two fathers, they would punish her for her own part in the affair.  Therefore she bade Elena wait on fortune, and hinted to her that, if the worst came to the worst, no one need know she had been wedded with the ring to Gerardo.  Such weddings, you must know, were binding; but till they had been blessed by the Church, they had not taken the force of a religious sacrament.  And this is still the case in Italy among the common folk, who will say of a man, ’Si, e ammogliato; ma il matrimonio non e stato benedetto.’  ’Yes, he has taken a wife, but the marriage has not yet been blessed.’