“Capital, capital!” Maria said, clapping her hands.  “Your Pisani is a grand man, Francisco.  And if he can do this for us, there is nothing which we would not do to show our gratitude.  But you won’t find it easy; besides, in the game of starving out, are we likely to win?  The contest will not be even, for they start on it full men and strong, while our people are half starved already.”

“I do not regard success as certain,” Francis replied; “and Pisani himself acknowledges the chances are very great against us.  Still, it is possible; and as nothing else seems possible, we are going to attempt it.”

Polani looked grave, when he heard of the mission which Francis was going to undertake.  Giulia’s bright colour fled at once, and Maria said angrily: 

“You have no right to be always running into danger, Francisco.  You are not a Venetian, and there is no reason why you should be always running risks greater than those which most Venetians are likely to encounter.  You ought to think of us who care for you, if you don’t choose to think of yourself.”

“I did not volunteer for the service,” Francis said.  “I was asked by the admiral to undertake it, and even had I wished it, I could hardly have refused.  The admiral selected me, not from any merit on my part, but because he knows that my boat is one of the fastest on the lagoons, and that I can easily run away from any of the Genoese rowboats.  He particularly ordered me to run no unnecessary risks.”

“That is all very well,” Maria said; “but you know very well that you will run risks, and put yourself in the way of danger, if there is a chance of doing so.

“You should tell him not to go, father!”

“I cannot do that, Maria; for the service he has undertaken is a very important one to Venice.  Everything depends upon the success of Pisani’s attempt, and undertaken, as it is, against great odds, it is of the utmost importance that there should be no mistake as to the position of the enemy.  Whether Francis was wise or not, in accepting Pisani’s offer that he should act as his aide-de-camp, may be doubted; but now that he has undertaken it, he must carry out his orders, especially as it is now too late to make other arrangements, did he draw back.

“If you will come into my room, Francisco, I will give you a chart of the passages around Chioggia.  You can study that, and you will then the better understand the information you may receive, from the men you are expecting.”

Half an hour later Giuseppi arrived with the gondolier he had spoken of, and two old fishermen, and from their explanations, and a study of the map, Francis gained an exact idea of the localities.  From his previous expeditions he had learned where the Genoese were generally posted, and something of the strength of the forces at the various points.