'Messer Carlo is a man who loves adventures, who has led desperate and forlorn hope to victory, both in Italy and Greece, who has the gift of the leader, if ever a man had it. Surely, you knew all this.'
'I know he has been a soldier,' Zoë answered, for Zeno had told her so.
'He also possesses some fortune, and has great connexions in Venice. Moreover, I can tell you, Kokóna, that this is no small matter. If he succeeds, he will earn gratitude of the Serene Republic and honour everywhere.'
'As much as that?' asked Zoë, looking attentively at the astrologer through her veil. 'How am I to believe you?'
'I thought I had spoken clearly enough,' Gorlias answered, 'but lest you should doubt my word and promise, take these.'
He had furtively slipped his hand into the bosom of his tunic, and when he withdrew it his fingers closed over something he held gathered in his palm. Cleverly turning the sheet of paper on which he had shown his astrological figures, so as to hinder Omobono from seeing, he disclosed to Zoë a short string of very large and beautiful pearls.
'In your nativity,' he rattled on, aloud, 'the beneficent influences altogether outweigh the malefic ones.'
He said much more to the same effect, and while he was speaking he let the pearls slip down upon the skirts of Zoë's over-garment on the side away from the secretary.
'They are yours,' he whispered. 'You shall have a hundred strings like them if you succeed.'
'Give such things to my maids,' Zoë answered, 'not to me! If you are in earnest make a sign, that I may know whence you come.'