"Holy Maria hear my prayers!" he said feebly. "God hath sent thee, son, to close my eyes!"
"Doth thy strength fail thee, father?"
"Greatly—my time is come—I had hoped to see the light of the day again to bless thy dear mother and sister—God's will be done!"
"They pray for us both, father. They are beyond the power of the Senate."
"Jacopo, I do not understand thee!"
"My mother and sister are dead; they are saints in Heaven, father."
The old man groaned, for the tie of earth had not yet been entirely severed. Jacopo heard him murmuring a prayer, and he knelt by the side of his pallet.
"This is a sudden blow!" whispered the old man. "We depart together."
"They are long dead, father."
"Why hast thou not told me this before, Jacopo?"