"I marvel that thou didst not put the question sooner. Gino, the gondolier of Don Camillo, has long been an unfavored suitor of mine, and when this Florinda complained of my having, what every honest girl in Venice should do, exposed her fraud to the authorities, she advised his master to seize me, partly in revenge, and partly with the vain hope of making me retract the complaint I have made. Thou hast heard of the bold violence of these cavaliers when thwarted in their wills."
Annina then related the manner of her seizure, with sufficient exactitude, merely concealing those facts that it was not her interest to reveal.
"But there is a lady of the Tiepolo, Annina!"
"As sure as there are cousins like ourselves. Santa Madre di Dio! that woman so treacherous and so bold should have met one of thy innocence! It would have been better had they fallen in with me, who am too ignorant for their cunning, blessed St. Anna knows!—but who have not to learn their true characters."
"They did speak of thee, Annina!"
The glance which the wine-seller's daughter threw at her cousin, was such as the treacherous serpent casts at the bird; but preserving her self-possession she added—
"Not to my favor; it would sicken me to hear words of favor from such as they!"
"They are not thy friends, Annina."
"Perhaps they told thee, child, that I was in the employment of the council?"
"Indeed they did."