their men knew every hiding-place in Venice.  Zorzi, said the Governor, would certainly be taken into custody unless he had escaped to the mainland.  Beroviero could have wrung his hands for sheer despair, and when he told Marietta the result of his second visit to the Governor, her heart sank, for Zorzi’s danger was greater than ever before, and it was not likely that a man who had been so mysteriously rescued, to the manifest injury and disgrace of those who were taking him to prison, could escape torture.  He would certainly be suspected of connivance with secret enemies of the Republic.

Beroviero bethought him of the friends he had in Venice, to whom he might apply for help in his difficulty.  In the first place there was Messer Luigi Foscarini, a Procurator of Saint Mark; but he had not been long in office, and he would probably not wish to be concerned in any matter which tended to oppose authority.  And there was old Contarini, who was himself one of the Ten; Beroviero knew his character well and judged that he would not be lenient towards any one who had been forcibly rescued, no matter how innocent he might be.  Moreover the law against foreigners who attempted to work in glass was in force, and very stringent.  Contarini, like many over-wise men who have no control whatever over their own children, was always for excessive severity in all processes of the law.  Beroviero thought of some others, but against each one he found some real objection.

Sitting in his chair after supper, he talked earnestly of the matter with Marietta, who sat opposite him with her work, by the large brass lamp.  For the present he had almost forgotten the question of her marriage, for all his former affection for Zorzi had returned, with the conviction of his innocence, and the case was very urgent.  That very night Zorzi might be found, and on the next morning he might be brought before the Ten to be examined.  Marietta thought with terror of the awful tales Nella had told her about the little torture chamber behind the hall of the Council.

“Who is that Messer Zuan Venier, who came to see Zorzi?” asked Marietta suddenly.

“A young man who fought very bravely in the East, I believe,” answered Beroviero.  “His father was the Admiral of the Republic for some time.”

“He has talked with Zorzi,” said Marietta.  “Pasquale said so.  He must have liked him, of course; and none of the other patricians you have mentioned have ever seen him.  Messer Zuan is not in office, and has nothing to lose.  Perhaps he will be willing to use his influence with his father.  If only the Ten could know the whole truth before Zorzi is brought before them, it would be very different.”

Beroviero saw that there was some wisdom in applying to a younger man, like Zuan Venier, who had nothing at stake, and since Venier had come to visit him, there could be nothing strange in his returning the courtesy as soon as he conveniently could.