“It shall be altogether safe,” said Zorzi.  “No one shall guess that I have it.”

“No one must know.  I would take you with me on this journey, but I wish you to go on with the experiments I have been making.  We shall save time, if you try some of the mixtures while I am away.  When it is too hot, let the furnace go out.”

“But who will take charge of your daughter, sir?” asked Zorzi.  “You cannot leave her alone in the house.”

“My son Giovanni and his wife will live in my house while I am away.  I have thought of everything.  If you choose, you may bring your belongings here, and sleep and eat in the glass-house.”

“I should prefer it.”

“So should I. I do not want my sons to pry into what we are doing.  You can hide the packet here, where they will not think of looking for it.  When you go out, lock the door.  When you are in, Giovanni will not come.  You will have the place to yourself, and the boys who feed the fire at night will not disturb you.  Of course my daughter will never come here while I am away.  You will be quite alone.”

“When do you go?” asked Zorzi.

“On Monday morning.  On Sunday I shall take Marietta to Saint Mark’s.  When she has seen her husband the betrothal can take place at once.”

Zorzi was silent, for the future looked black enough.  He already saw himself shut up in the glass-house for two long months, or not much less, as effectually separated from Marietta by the narrow canal as if an ocean were between them.  She would never cross over and spend an hour in the little garden then, and she would be under the care of Giovanni Beroviero, who hated him, as he well knew.

CHAPTER VI

Aristarchi rose early, though it had been broad dawn when he had entered his home.  He lived not far from the house of the Agnus Dei, on the opposite side of the same canal but beyond the Baker’s Bridge.  His house was small and unpretentious, a little wooden building in two stories, with a small door opening to the water and another at the back, giving access to a patch of dilapidated and overgrown garden, whence a second door opened upon a dismal and unsavoury alley.  One faithful man, who had followed him through many adventures, rendered him such services as he needed, prepared the food he liked and guarded the house in his absence.  The fellow was far too much in awe of his terrible master to play the spy or to ask inopportune questions.

The Greek put on the rich dress of a merchant captain of his own people, the black coat, thickly embroidered with gold, the breeches of dark blue cloth, the almost transparent linen shirt, open at the throat.  A large blue cap of silk and cloth was set far back on his head, showing all the bony forehead, and his coal-black beard and shaggy hair had been combed as smooth as their shaggy nature would allow.  He wore a magnificent belt fully two hands wide, in which