“You do not know, girls, what a stir has been caused in the city on your account.  If it had not been for the citizen guard, I believe the Mocenigo Palace would have been burned down; and Ruggiero’s connections have scarcely dared to show their faces in the streets, since you have been missing.  You see, every father of a family felt personally grieved, for if the nobles were permitted, with impunity, to carry off the daughters of citizens, who could feel safe?

“When this is all over I shall take you, for a time, back to our home in Corfu.  It is not good for girls to be the subject of public talk and attention.”

“I shall be very glad, father,” Giulia said.  “I love our home at Corfu, with its gardens and flowers, far better than the palazzo here.  The air is always soft and balmy, while here it is so hot sometimes by day, and so damp and foggy in the evening.  I shall be glad to go back again.”

“And you, Maria?”

“I shall be very happy there, father, but I like Venice best.”

“You are getting to an age to enjoy gaiety, Maria; and it is natural you should do so.  However, it will not be necessary for you to be long absent.  In a city like Venice there are always fresh subjects for talk, and the most exciting piece of scandal is but a three days’ wonder.  A few weeks at Corfu will restore your nerves, which cannot but have been shaken by what you have gone through, and you will come back here more disposed than ever to appreciate the gaieties of Venice.”

“As long as it is for only a few weeks, father, I shall not care; for you know I am very fond, too, of our beautiful home there.  Still, I do like Venice.”

They had now reached the steps of the Palazzo Polani.  They had not proceeded by way of the Grand Canal, as the merchant was anxious that his daughters should reach their home unrecognized, as, had they been noticed, it would have given rise to no little excitement, and they had had more than enough of this, and needed quiet and repose.  Besides, until the prisoners were in the safe custody of the officials of the state, it was in every way desirable that the events of the morning should remain unknown.

Their return home created quite a tumult of joy in the house.  The preparations that had been made had been kept a profound secret, as the merchant could not be sure but that some other member of his household was in the pay of Mocenigo.  Thus, until the girls alighted at the steps, none in the house were aware that any clue had been obtained as to their hiding place.  The women ran down with cries of joy.  The men would have shouted and cheered, had not Polani held up his hand.

“The signoras have had more than enough excitement,” he said.  “They are grateful to you for your goodwill and affection, but for the present they need quiet.  They may have more to go through today.  I pray you that no word, as to their return, be said outside the house.  I would not that the news were whispered in the city, till the seignory decide what is to be done in the matter.”