“It is a very high honour, doubtless,” Polani said, “but no whit higher than you deserve.  Besides, after all, it costs Venice nothing, and money is scarce at present.  At any rate, I can congratulate myself as well as you, for I foresaw many difficulties in our way.  Although the ships carrying the Venetian flag could enter the ports of all countries trading with us, you would personally be liable to arrest, at any time, on being denounced as not being a native of Venice, which you assuredly would be by my rivals in trade.”

The next day a bulletin was published, giving the substance of Pisani’s despatch, and announcing that, in token of the gratitude of the republic for the great service he had rendered, Messer Hammond would be at once granted the freedom of Venice, and his name inserted on the list of her citizens.

During these two days the delight of Venice at the news of the victory had been extreme.  The houses had been decorated with flags, and the bells of all the churches had peeled out joyously.  Crowds assembled round the Polani Palace, and insisted upon Francis making his appearance, when they greeted him with tremendous shouts of applause.  Upon the evening of the second day he said to Polani: 

“Have you any ship fit for sea, signor, because if so, I pray you to send me away, no matter where.  I cannot stand this.  Since the decree was published, this morning, I have not had a moment’s peace, and it is too absurd, when I did no more than any sailor on board the ship.  If it went on, I should very soon be heartily sorry I ever interfered on behalf of the admiral.”

The merchant smiled.

“I have half promised to take you with me to the reception at the Persanis’ this evening, and have had a dozen requests of a similar nature for every night this week and next.”

“Then, if you have no ship ready, signor, I will charter a fishing boat, engage a couple of men, and go off for a fortnight.  By the end of that time something fresh will have happened.”

“I can send you off, if you really wish it, Francisco, the first thing tomorrow morning.  I am despatching a small craft with a message to my agent in Corfu, and with letters for my daughters.  They will be delighted to see you, and indeed, I shall be glad to know that you are with them, until I can wind up several affairs which I have in hand, and join them myself.  She is fast, and you should be at Corfu in eight-and-forty hours after sailing.”

Francis gladly embraced the offer, and started the next morning.  The vessel was a small one, designed either to sail or row.  Her crew consisted of twenty men, who rowed sixteen sweeps when the wind was light or unfavourable.  She was an open boat, except that she was decked at each end, a small cabin being formed aft for the captain, and any passengers there might be on board, while the crew stowed themselves in the little forecastle.

When the boat was halfway across, a sail was seen approaching, and the captain recognized her as one of Polani’s vessels.