"Why art thou masked? Thou canst not be Luigi!"
"It is little matter whether I am called Luigi, or Enrico, or Giorgio; I am thy customer, and honor the shortest hair of thy eyebrows. Thou knowest, Annina, that the young patricians have their frolics, and they swear us gondoliers to keep secret till all danger of detection is over; were any impertinent eyes following me, I might be questioned as to the manner of having passed the earlier hours."
"Methinks it would be better to have given thee gold, and to have sent thee at once to thy home."
"To be followed like a denounced Hebrew to my door. When I have confounded my boat with a thousand others it will be time to uncover. Wilt thou to the Bella Sorrentina?"
"Nay, 'tis not necessary to ask, since thou takest the direction of thine own will?"
The gondolier laughed and nodded his head, as if he would give his companion to understand that he was master of her secret wishes. Annina was hesitating in what manner she should make him change his purpose, when the gondola touched the felucca's side.
"We will go up and speak to the padrone," whispered Jacopo.
"It is of no avail; he is without liquors."
"Trust him not; I know the man and his pretences,"
"Thou forgettest my cousin."