“I thank you, sir, with all my heart, for my sister and myself, for the service you have rendered us.  I can hardly understand what has passed, even now it seems like a dream.  We were going quietly along home, when a large dark gondola dashed out from one of the side canals, and nearly ran us down.  Our gondolier shouted to warn them, but they ran alongside, and then some men jumped on board, and there was a terrible fight, and every moment I expected that the gondola would have been upset.  Beppo was knocked overboard, and I saw old Nicolini fall; and then, just as it seemed all over, you appeared suddenly by our side, and dragged us on board this boat before I had time to think.”

“I am afraid I was rather rough, signora, but there was no time to stand on ceremony.  Here is the palazzo.”

The boat was brought up by the side of the steps.  Francis leapt ashore and rang the bell, and then assisted the girls to land.  In a minute the door was thrown open, and two servitors with torches appeared.  There was an exclamation of astonishment as they saw the young ladies alone with a strange attendant.

“I will do myself the honour of calling tomorrow to inquire if you are any the worse for your adventure, signora.”

“No, indeed,” the eldest girl said.  “You must come up with us and see our father.  We must tell him what has happened; and he will be angry indeed, did we suffer our rescuer to depart without his having an opportunity of thanking him.”

Francis bowed and followed the girls upstairs.  They entered a large, very handsomely furnished apartment where a tall man was sitting reading.

“Why, girls,” he exclaimed as he rose, “what has happened? you look strangely excited.  Where is your duenna? and who is this young gentleman who accompanies you?”

“We have been attacked, father, on our way home,” both the girls exclaimed.

“Attacked?” Signor Polani repeated.  “Who has dared to venture on such an outrage?”

“We don’t know, father,” Maria said.  “It was a four-oared gondola that ran suddenly into us.  We thought it was an accident till a number of men, with their swords drawn, leaped on board.  Then Nicolini and Francia drew their swords and tried to defend us, and Beppo and Jacopo both fought bravely too with their oars; but Beppo was knocked overboard, and I am afraid Nicolini and Francia are killed, and in another moment they would have got at us, when this young gentleman came alongside in his gondola, and dragged us on board, for we were too bewildered and frightened to do anything.  One of them—­he seemed the leader of the party—­tried to jump on board, but our protector struck him a terrible blow with his oar, and he fell into the water, and then the gondola made off, and, so far as we could see, they did not chase us.”

“It is a scandalous outrage, and I will demand justice at the hands of the council.

“Young sir, you have laid me under an obligation I shall never forget.  You have saved my daughter from the worst calamity that could befall her.  Who is it to whom I am thus indebted?”