And in truth it was beautiful. The sun had set, but his beams yet lingered on the towers and cupolas of the palaces of Venice, and on the light clouds that overhung them like a canopy of gold. They had passed from the canal, where light boats were shooting to and fro in every direction, and the sound of footsteps and lively voices filled the air, into one of the lagunes, where a complete stillness prevailed, broken only by the plash of the water as the oars dipped, and the gentle ripple as the boat swept on, and the softened, distant murmur of human life and motion in a great city. The moon rose large, and round, and bright, in the east. There was a delicious mistiness in the atmosphere that mellowed every object; a dreamy and luxurious softening, like the languor that enhances the charms of an oriental beauty. At no great distance lay the vessel that was to convey the passengers to Trieste, waiting for them and the hour appointed to set sail.
“See that large gondola yonder!” said the lady, laying her hand suddenly on her husband’s arm. “How gracefully it glides over the waters; and it seems to follow straight on our course.”
It came onward, indeed, with almost incredible velocity; and was now near enough for them to observe that it was painted black, and moreover of a somewhat peculiar construction.
“It is a government boat,” said the man.
“She has armed men on board,” remarked their attendant. “She bears directly upon us.”
“Antonio!” exclaimed the lady, pressing close to her husband with an expression of apprehension.
“Be not alarmed, Marietta mia; they mean us no harm—though sooth to say, it is somewhat discourteous to follow us so closely. Hold there,” he cried to the gondolier; “let us rest a moment and see what they want with us.”
The gondolier backed water with his oars so dexterously, that the course of the light vessel was checked in an instant, and she quivered on the water without making a foot’s progress. At the same moment the other boat came along side, and also stopped. An officer wearing the imperial uniform stood up and signed to the gondolier as if forbidding him to proceed.
“May I ask, signore, what this means?” demanded the gentleman passenger. “We are in haste.”
“And we also,” replied the officer. “I am in search of a person called Antonio Tamburini.”