There was silence for a quarter of an hour.  Occasionally the members of the council spoke in low tones to each other, but no word was spoken aloud, until the appearance of the first of the young men who had been summoned.  One after another they gave their evidence, and all were unanimous in declaring that they had spent the evening with Ruggiero Mocenigo, and that he did not leave the room, from the moment of his arrival there soon after nine o’clock, until they left him at two in the morning.

“You have heard my witnesses,” Ruggiero said, when the last had given his testimony; “and I now ask your excellencies, whether it is right that a gentleman, of good family, should be exposed to a villainous accusation of this kind, on the barest grounds of suspicion?”

“You have heard the evidence which has been given, Signor Polani,” the doge said.  “Do you withdraw your accusation against Signor Mocenigo?”

“I acknowledge, your excellency,” Signor Polani said, rising, “that Ruggiero Mocenigo has proved that he took no personal part in the affair, but I will submit to you that this in no way proves that he is not the author of the attempt.  He would know that my first suspicion would fall upon him, and would, therefore, naturally leave the matter to be carried out by others, and would take precautions to enable him to prove, as he has done, that he was not present.  I still maintain that the circumstances of the case, his threats to me, and the fact that my daughter will naturally inherit a portion of what wealth I might possess, and that, as I know and can prove, Ruggiero Mocenigo has been lately reduced to borrowing money of the Jews, all point to his being the author of this attempt, which would at once satisfy his anger against me, for having declined the honour of his alliance, and repair his damaged fortunes.”

There were a few words of whispered consultation between the councillors, and the doge then said: 

“All present will now retire while the council deliberates.  Our decision will be made known to the parties concerned, in due time.”

On leaving the palace, Signor Polani and his friends walked together across the Piazza, discussing the turn of events.

“He will escape,” Polani said.  “He has two near relations on the council, and however strong our suspicions may be, there is really no proof against him.  I fear that he will go free.  I feel as certain as ever that he is the contriver of the attempt; but the precautions he has taken seem to render it impossible to bring the crime home to him.  However, it is no use talking about it any more, at present.

“You will, I hope, accompany me home, Signor Francisco, and allow me to present you formally to my daughters.  They were too much agitated, last night, to be able to thank you fully for the service you had rendered them.

“Matteo, do you come with us.”

Three days passed, and no decision of the council had been announced, when, early in the morning, one of the state messengers brought an order that Francis should be in readiness, at nine o’clock, to accompany him.  At that hour a gondola drew up at the steps.  It was a covered gondola, with hangings, which prevented any from seeing who were within.  Francis took his seat by the side of the official, and the gondola started at once.