Giovanni was too full of his plan for Zorzi’s destruction to resist the temptation of laying the whole case before Contarini, who was so soon to be a member of the family, and as Jacopo, who was himself going out, accompanied his guest downstairs, Giovanni continued to talk of the matter earnestly, and Contarini answered him by occasional monosyllables and short sentences, much interested by the whole affair, but wishing that Giovanni would go away, now that he had told all.  He was in constant fear lest Zorzi should say something which might betray the meetings at the house of the Agnus Dei, and had often regretted that he had not been put quietly out of the way, instead of being admitted to the society.  Now after hearing what Giovanni had to say, he had not the slightest doubt but that Zorzi had really broken the laws, and it seemed an admirable solution of the whole affair that the Dalmatian should be exiled from the Republic for life.  That being settled, he wished to get rid of his visitor, as Arisa was waiting for him.

“I assure you,” Giovanni said, “that this miserable Zorzi is a liar, a thief and an assassin.”

“Yes,” assented Contarini carelessly, “I have no doubt of it.”

“The best thing is to arrest him at once, this very night, if possible, and have him brought before the Council.”

“Yes.”

Contarini had agreed with Giovanni on this point already, and made a movement to descend, but Giovanni loved to stand still in order to talk, and he would not move.  Contarini waited for him.

“It is important that some member of the Council should be informed of the truth beforehand,” he continued.  “Will you speak to your father about it, Messer Jacopo?”

“Yes,” answered Contarini, and he spoke the word intentionally with great emphasis, in the hope that Giovanni would be finally satisfied and go away.

“You will be conferring a benefit on the city of Murano,” said Giovanni in a tone of gratitude, and this time he began to come down the steps.

The gondolier had heard every word that had been said, as well as the servants in the lower hall; but to them the conversation had no especial meaning, as they knew nothing of Zorzi.  To the gondolier, on the other hand, who was devoted to his master and detested his master’s son, it meant much, though his stolid, face did not betray the slightest intelligence.

Giovanni took leave of Contarini with much ceremony, a little too much, Jacopo thought.

“To the Grand Canal,” said Giovanni as the gondolier helped him to get in, and he backed under the ‘felse.’  “Try and find the Governor of Murano, and if you see him, take me alongside his gondola.”