The girls listened with rapt attention to the story of the capture, the escape, and of his hiding in the hold of the pirate in order to be able to give them a warning in time.

“Your escape was fortunate, indeed,” the merchant said when he had finished.  “Fortunate both for you and for us, for I have no doubt that Mocenigo had intended to put you to a lingering death, on his return.  As for the girls, nothing could have saved them from the fate he designed for them, save the method which you took of arriving here before him.”

“What are we to do for him, father?” Maria exclaimed.  “We are not tired of thanking him, but he hates being thanked.  If he would only get into some terrible scrape, Giulia and I would set out to rescue him at once; but you see he gets out of his scrapes before we hear of them.  It is quite disheartening not to be able to do anything.”

Francis laughed merrily.

“It is terrible, is it not, signora?  But if I manage to get into any scrape, and have time to summon you to my assistance, be sure I will do so.  But, you see, one cannot get into a scrape when one chooses, and I must be content, while I am away, in knowing that I have the good wishes of you and your sister.”

“Do not trouble yourself, Maria,” her father said.  “Some day an opportunity may come for our paying our debts, and in the meantime Francis is content that we should be his debtors.”

“And now, what are you going to do, papa?”

“I shall sail with you for Venice tomorrow.  The governor will be sending one of the galleys with the news of the capture of the pirate, and doubtless he will give us all a passage in her.  I shall order steps to be taken at once for rebuilding the villa, and will get it completed by the spring, before which time you will be off my hands, young lady; and I shall not be altogether sorry, for you have been a very troublesome child lately.”

“It has not been my fault,” Maria pouted.

“Not at all, my dear.  It has been your misfortune, and I am not blaming you at all.”

“But the trouble is now over, father!”

“So much the better for Rufino,” the merchant said.  “It will be good news to him that you are freed from the persecution of Ruggiero.  And now, I must leave you, for I have arranged to ride over with the governor to the other side of the island.  He has to investigate the damage which took place last evening.  I hear that upwards of a score of villas were sacked and destroyed, and that many persons were killed; and while he is doing that I shall see what has to be done at our place.  I don’t know whether the walls are standing, or whether it will have to be entirely rebuilt, and I must arrange with some builder to to go over from here with me, and take my instructions as to what must be done.”

On the following day the party set sail for Venice, where they arrived without adventure.  Preparations were at once begun for the marriage of Maria with Rufino Giustiniani, and six weeks later the wedding ceremony took place.  Francis did not go to sea until this was over, for when he spoke of a fresh voyage, a short time after their return, Maria declared that she would not be married unless he remained to be present.