“I am alone,” she said.  “You see how I trust you.  Only Pasquale knows that I am here.  You must sit down, and I will sit beside you, for I have much to say.”

He looked at her in silent wonder for a moment, happy beyond words to be with her, but very anxious as to the reasons which could have brought her to him at such an hour and quite alone.  Her manner was so quiet and decided that it did not even occur to him to protest against her coming, and he sat down as she bade him, but on the bench, and she seated herself in the chair, turning in it so that she could see his face.  They were near enough to speak in low tones.

“My brother Giovanni hates you,” she began.  “He means to ruin you, if he can, before my father comes home.”

“I am not afraid of him,” said Zorzi, speaking for the first time since she had entered.  “Let him do his worst.”

“You do not know what his worst is,” answered Marietta, “and he has got Messer Jacopo Contarini to help him.  You are surprised?  Yes.  My betrothed husband has promised to speak with his father against you, at once.  You know that he is of the Council.”

Zorzi’s face expressed the utmost astonishment.

“Are you quite sure that it is Jacopo Contarini?” he asked, as if unable to believe what she said.

“Is it likely that I should be mistaken?  My brother was with him this afternoon at the palace, our gondolier heard them talking on the stairs as they came down.  He told Nella, and she has just told me.  Giovanni heaped all sorts of abuse on you, and Messer Jacopo agreed with all he said.  Then they spoke of arresting you and bringing you to justice, and they talked of the Council.  After that Giovanni met the Governor of Murano and got into his gondola, and they talked in a low tone.  My brother gave him a sealed document, and the Governor said that it should not be to-night, but to-morrow.  That is all I know, but it is enough.”

Zorzi half closed his eyes for a moment, in deep thought; and in a flash he understood that Contarini wished him out of the way, and was taking the first means that offered to get rid of him.  To keep faith with such a man would be as foolish as to expect any faithfulness from him.  Zorzi opened his eyes again, and looked at the face of the woman he loved.  His oath to the society had stood between him and her, and he knew that it was no longer binding on him, since Jacopo Contarini was helping to send him to destruction.  Yet now that it was gone, he saw also that it had been the least of the obstacles that made up the barrier.

“Of what do they accuse me?” he asked, after a moment’s silence.  “What can they prove against me?”

“I cannot tell.  It matters very little.  Do you understand?  To-morrow, if not to-night, the Governor’s men will come here to arrest you, and if you have not escaped, you will be imprisoned and taken before the Council.  They may accuse you of being involved in a conspiracy—­they may torture you.”