"But you will give that paper to me, here and now. Think, Excellency, if she is your enemy, she is the enemy also of Venice. What forbids that we arrest her at once? You may not be alive at dawn!"
"In which case," exclaimed the priest, satirically, "the Signori of the Night would be well able to answer for the safety of the city. Is it not so, Captain?"
Falier stammered an excuse.
"We have not your eyes, Excellency; we cannot work miracles—but at least we can try to protect you from the hand of the assassin. Name this woman to me, and she shall not live when midnight strikes."
Frà Giovanni rose from his chair and put his hand gently upon the other's shoulder.
"Signer Falier," said he, "if I told you this woman's name here and now as you ask, the feast of Corpus Christi might find a new Doge in Venice."
"You say, Excellency—?"
"That the city is in danger as never she was before in her history."
"And your own life?"
"Shall be given for Venice if necessary. Listen to this: you seek to be of service to me. Have you any plan?"