“That is what I calculated, Francisco.  His agents had but four hours’ start of me.  They would, no doubt, carry the girls to the place of concealment chosen, and would then bear the news to him; whereas I, going direct in one of the state gondolas, might reach him before they did, and I feel assured that I did so.

“It was nigh midnight when I arrived, but he was still up, and I doubt not awaiting the arrival of the villains he had employed.  My first step was to set a watch round the house, with the order to arrest any who might come and inquire for him.  No one, however, came.

“The news, indeed, of the sudden arrival of a state galley, at that hour, had caused some excitement in the place, and his agents might well have heard of it upon their arrival.  I agree with you in thinking they are not in the town, but this makes the search all the more difficult.  The question is, what ought we to do next?”

“The reward that you have offered will certainly bring you news, signor, if any, save those absolutely concerned, have observed anything suspicious; but I should send to all the fishing villages, on the islets and on the mainland, to publish the news of the reward you have offered.  Beyond that, I do not see that anything can be done; and I, too, have thought of nothing else since Matteo brought me the news of their being carried off.  It will be of no use, that I can see, going among the fishermen and questioning them, because, with such a reward in view, it is certain that anyone who has anything to tell will come, of his own accord, to do so.”

“I know that is the case already, Francisco.  The authorities have been busy all day with the matter, and a score of reports as to closed gondolas being seen have reached them; but so far nothing has come of it.  Many of these gondolas have been traced to their destinations, but in no case was there anything to justify suspicion.  Happily, as long as Mocenigo is in confinement, I feel that no actual harm will happen to the girls; but the villain is as crafty as a fox, and may elude the vigilance of the officer in charge of him.  I am going to the council, presently, to urge that he should be brought here as a prisoner; but from what I hear there is little chance of the request being complied with.  His friends are already declaiming on the injustice of a man being treated as a criminal, when there is no shadow of proof forthcoming against him; and the disturbances last night have angered many who have no great friendship for him, but who are indignant at the attack of the populace upon the house of a noble.  So you see that there is but faint chance that they would bring him hither a prisoner.”

“I think, sir, that were I in your case, I should put some trusty men to watch round the house where he is confined; so that in case he should escape the vigilance of his guards they might seize upon him.  Everything depends, as you say, upon his being kept in durance.”