But, fast as they went, the galley travelled somewhat faster, the rowers doing their utmost in obedience to the angry orders of their officer; and had the race been continued on a broad stretch of water, it would sooner or later have overhauled the gondola.  But Francis was perfectly aware of this, and edged the boat away towards the end of the Piazzetta, and then, shooting her head round, dashed at full speed along the canal by the side of the ducal palace, the galley being at the time some forty yards behind.

“The first to the right,” Francis said, and with scarce a pause in their speed, they turned off at right angles up the first canal they came to.  Again and again they turned and twisted, regardless of the direction in which the canals took them, their only object being to gain on their pursuers, who lost considerably at each turn, being obliged always to check their speed, before arriving at each angle, to allow the boat to go round.

In ten minutes she was far behind, and they then abated their speed, and turned the boat’s head in the direction in which they wished to go.

“By San Paolo,” the stranger said, “that was well done!  You are masters of your craft, and sent your boat along at a pace which must have astonished those fellows in that lumbering galley.  I had no reason to fear them, but I do not care to be interfered with and questioned by these jacks-in-office of the republic.”

A few minutes later they reached the place where he embarked, and as he got out he handed the money he had promised to Giuseppi.

“Next Thursday night,” he said, “at half past ten.”

“It seems a dangerous sort of service, signor,” Giuseppi said hesitatingly.  “It is no joke to disobey the officers of the republic, and next time we may not be so fortunate.”

“It’s worth taking a little risk when you are well paid,” the other said, turning away, “and it is not likely we shall run against one of the state galleys another night.”

“Home, now, Giuseppi,” Francis said, “we can talk about it tomorrow.  It’s the best night’s work you ever did in your life, and as I have had a grand excitement we are both contented.”

During the next few days Francis debated seriously with himself whether to follow up the adventure; but he finally decided on doing so, feeling convinced that there could be no real danger, even were the boat seized by one of the state galleys; as his story, that he had gone into the matter simply to discover whether any plot was intended against the republic, would finally be believed, as it would be beyond the bounds of probability that a lad of his age could himself have been concerned in such a conspiracy.  As to Giuseppi, he offered no remonstrance when Francis told him that he intended to go out to San Nicolo on the following Thursday, for the ten ducats he had received were a sum larger than he could have saved in a couple of years’ steady work, and were indeed quite a fortune in his eyes.  Another such a sum, and he would be able, when the time came, to buy a gondola of his own, to marry, and set up housekeeping in grand style.  As for the danger, if Francis was willing to run it he could do the same; for after all, a few months’ imprisonment was the worst that could befall him for his share in the business.