Mocenigo sprang to his feet at the cry.
"To your sweeps, knaves," he shouted. "Be swift, and you would escape."
His gondoliers already were thrusting out their oars, and their craft gained headway rapidly. Mocenigo waved his sword to Hugh as the shadows closed round it.
"May the Panagia guard you against the hour I give you the end I have in mind," he called.
Hugh turned in baffled rage to Matteo.
"What fools are these who aid the foes of Venice?" he exclaimed. "Bid them pursue before it is too late."
"They are the police," said Matteo. "The Lords of the Night, who have jurisdiction over Venice from sunset to dawn. I know not what it means, Hugh, but be calm. Here comes one who will answer us."
An officer, handsomely garbed in black velvet slashed with vermeil samite, climbed from the stern of the galley to the deck of the gondola beside them.
"Your names, Messers?" he demanded sternly.
"This is Messer Hugh de Chesby, an English lord, and I am Matteo of Antioch, a jongleur," answered Matteo. "We are in Venice seeking shipping for Outremer. But your business is not with us, noble sir. In that gondola which flees toward La Giudecca is one Messer Mocenigo, who is outlawed from Venice and a spy of the Saracens."