THE 
 
 FOSTER-BROTHER 
 
 A TALE 
 
 OF 
 
 THE WAR OF CHIOZZA. 
 
 IN THREE VOLUMES. 
 
 EDITED BY 
 
 LEIGH HUNT. 
 
 VOL. II. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 T. C. NEWBY, 72, MORTIMER STREET, 
 
 CAVENDISH SQUARE.
 
 THIS novel being the production of a writer whose 
 name has hitherto scarcely transpired, Mr. Newby 
 is of opinion, that an introduction of it to the public 
 by one who has been longer before them, may serve 
 to procure it the speedier attention. 
 
 Thinking what I do of its merits, and the writer 
 being one of my sons, the reader will conceive how 
 willingly I have fallen in with a suggestion having 
 such an object ; though at the same time I must 
 own that I felt myself to be in a delicate position, 
 with regard both to the needlessness of my good 
 word in the long run, and the suspicions to which 
 fatherly commendations are liable. In reflecting, 
 however, that my introduction ia of necessity ad- 
 dressed chiefly to critical readers, I concluded 
 
 08917
 
 11 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 tliat they would give me their best construction. 
 Assuredly the new writer neither expected any such 
 recommendation, nor intended, in the first instance, 
 to have his name disclosed. He is not, indeed, a 
 new writer at all, except as far as regards this class 
 of composition, and the involuntary appearance of 
 the name. He has written anonymously for several 
 years, with the approbation of the best judges in 
 the metropolis ; and (to make use, in all modesty, 
 of a saying of Johnson's respecting Goldsmith) has 
 no more necessity, with those that know him, of 
 coming to me for help, in any one respect, than 
 he has to be " fed with a spoon." Still he does not 
 hold himself superior to the pleasure or the advan- 
 tage of having his father's good opinion. 
 
 I confess I think so well of the " Foster Brother," 
 that I do not hesitate to mention a circumstance 
 which might otherwise have told against it ; at least 
 with such as are accustomed to confound rapidity of 
 execution with badness of it ; and this is, that it 
 was composed at hasty, though earnest intervals, 
 during a pressure of work already too much for
 
 INTRODUCTION. Ill 
 
 the writer's health, and only carried to that extreme 
 from a sense of duty. 
 
 I am much mistaken, if the habit of a principle 
 of this kind will not be recognised by the reader 
 as originating some of the best things in the book ; 
 which, to sum up my general idea of them (for I am 
 sensible that it does not become me to enter much 
 into particulars) appears to me to consist of the 
 heartiest male characters, such as Zeno, Luigi II 
 Grasso, and the Englishman ; of the highly graphic 
 nature of the descriptions, whether of scenes or 
 persons, executed with all the breadth as well as 
 minuteness of a painter ; and above all, of the deve- 
 lopment of the graver elements of the passion of 
 love, truly so called ; that is to say, love founded on 
 real or supposed goodness in the object, felt in pro- 
 portion to the existence of the like worthiness in 
 the person loving, and superior to all the chances, 
 whether conventional or otherwise, of being con- 
 founded with what it is not. 
 
 I cannot conceive anything finer or more com- 
 plete in this way, than the characters of Arduino's
 
 17 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 daughter and Morosini's son, of the younger Carrara, 
 and the noble peasant girl Rosa Bardossi, my (I beg 
 leave to say) favourite. All the scenes in which 
 the affections of these individuals are concerned, I 
 hold to be masterpieces ; and no less such, of 
 another kind, is the conveyance of the Venetian 
 ship to the Greek island, by the undaunted Eng- 
 lishman. 
 
 The lesser " Queen of the Sea," and the imagina- 
 tive, and therefore comparatively fluctuating nature 
 of Italian courage, are there made to give way, 
 though in the handsomest and most honourable 
 manner, to that inflexible Saxon perseverance, the 
 very pastimes of which, to this day, are partaken 
 by a young English Queen, in the excursions 
 which she makes out to sea, at the head of her 
 mariners. 
 
 I hold also that nothing can be truer to nature, 
 or better executed, than the closing selfishness of 
 Morosini's career, his sacrifice of his daughter's hap- 
 piness, and the unexpected catastrophe it brings on 
 our disgusted countryman. Truthfulness, indeed,
 
 INTBODTCTIOX. T 
 
 and passion, appear to me to characterise the 
 whole work. 
 
 To prove, however, to the reader (till he looks 
 into the work for himself) that it is no mere fatherly 
 partiality which makes me thus speak of it, I shall 
 add, that the antique colouring occasionally given 
 to its phraseology seems too little of a piece with 
 the rest of it ; that the introduction in English 
 words, of Italian idioms, however confined to collo- 
 quial occasions, and true to the fact in one respect, 
 defeats its own purpose in another, hehiir not the 
 simple presentation of one language, but the con- 
 fusion of two ; and that I would rather have had 
 less of the history and politics of Venice, and more 
 of its private life. But the author tells me, that 
 should his first novel he indulgently received, he 
 hopes to follow it with another, entirely of a do- 
 mestic nature, and upon English life. 
 
 Pleased to have had this opportunity of intro- 
 ducing to the -reader, in THORNTON HUNT, another 
 of that family-name who has the welfare of his 
 species at heart, and trusting at all events that no
 
 n INTRODUCTION. 
 
 defect in the manner of the introduction will be 
 allowed to operate to its disadvantage, I have 
 the honour to be the Public's old and faithful 
 servant, 
 
 LEIGH HUNT. 
 
 Kensington, July 24.
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 IT was a cloudless morning, and the sun was 
 yet low, as a party of Venetians assembled on 
 the shore of Tenedos. The greater number 
 were soldiers in arms; with here and there a 
 follower of Zeno's forces, more mariners, and 
 some few islanders whose eastern dresses varied 
 the group. The road that swept near the sea 
 was crowded with other groups, who seemed 
 as if watching for the approach of something 
 by the land. The attention of the first group, 
 however, was directed so intently to the sea, 
 that even the shouts which arose behind them, 
 and the sound of trumpets that blew nearer 
 
 VOL. n. B
 
 * THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 and nearer, scarcely made them turn their 
 heads. That which they saw was a vessel in 
 the extreme distance, making for the island ; 
 its white sails glaring in the sun, and the water 
 sparkling like jewels as it was thrown up by 
 the oars. Meanwhile, a new spectacle ap- 
 peared on the road behind bands of soldiers 
 came first, with all the marks of fierce battle 
 upon them. These looked heated those others 
 were pale with blood lost and others again 
 were more hacked in their surcoats, their mail, 
 and steel caps, than hurt in their flesh. It 
 was Carlo Zeno and his little army returning 
 from their last victory over Andronicus, who 
 had attempted to revoke the gift of Calojohan- 
 nes ; but he found the Venetians more power- 
 ful than his imperial enemy. The Greeks had 
 been utterly discomfited after two days' 
 fighting, which had not left the Venetians 
 altogether scathless. As the men marched 
 by, their looks were turned to the sea, for they 
 knew that the galley, which was now more
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 3 
 
 distinctly seen, came from their own fair city. 
 After them moved another band bearing their 
 wounded ; the eyes of the sick men were 
 turned to the open sea and solitary sail upon 
 it. They passed on, obedient to discipline and 
 fatigue ; but on reaching the spot where the 
 road ran near the water's edge, a number of 
 cavaliers left the body of the army and joined 
 the group by the shore. A few were mounted, 
 and one among them was greeted by the 
 loudest shouts, so that you might know where 
 he was by the sound of the voices. As he 
 dismounted from his horse, his hands were 
 seized by many of the Venetians, who for a 
 moment forgot the sea ; and many of the 
 islanders came around to make their obeisance. 
 He was of an aspect to command and to be 
 loved ; so manly and agreeable his counte- 
 nance, so strong and graceful his frame. He 
 was of moderate height, but his just propor- 
 tions made him seem taller than he was. His 
 shoulders were broad and square ; his chest
 
 4 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 was large; his limbs were muscular and 
 powerful, but the extreme compactness of his 
 well-knit joints gave an appearance of singular 
 lightness and activity to his figure. Albeit, 
 suffering from a wound in his leg, while one 
 hand was tied to his chest, that another wound 
 across the back might the sooner heal, the 
 lameness did not quite hide the dignity of his 
 carriage. His face was somewhat large and 
 broad ; his forehead for his head was covered 
 only with a light cap was compact and 
 straight; his eyes were large, dark, and 
 brilliant, their steady gaze taking now a look of 
 sternness, now of benignity; the nose was 
 neither straight nor acquiline, but something 
 between the two ; the thick black beard on his 
 upper lip parted to either side as it flowed 
 into the manly crop that clothed his chin, dis- 
 playing a full and genial month, that seemed 
 ever ready to smile. His cheeks burned to 
 the deepest brown by the sun, and slightly 
 paled by the weakness and pain of his wounds,
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 5 
 
 yet shewed the quick glow of health. Having 
 looked around him, and pleasantly answered 
 the salutations that reached him from all sides, 
 Carlo Zeno fixed his eyes upon the sea. The 
 Venetian galley still drew nearer. Suddenly 
 two other vessels appeared, coming along the 
 shore. They were Greek galleys that had been 
 left rather behind their fellows; and they 
 steered so as to cross the course of the Vene- 
 tian. Zeno was the first to see them, and 
 bidding one nearhim to hasten to his own galleys 
 at the port, and send two out to support their 
 countryman, he watched with anxiety the 
 motions of those upon the sea. The Venetian 
 kept its course as though it had been drawn by 
 rule, the wind favouring the skill of its 
 mariners. It now became evident that the 
 Greeks, one of which shot ahead of the other, 
 meant to hazard a parting blow against their 
 solitary foe, by 'way of scoff' to their victors on 
 shore. The Venetians still made on. 
 
 u Our countryman," cried Antonio Veniero,
 
 O THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 " is not easily daunted : his message would be 
 more surely and safely delivered, if he avoided 
 the Greeks." 
 
 " Be not so sure of it,** answered the full, 
 clear voice of Zeno. " He that begins a flight, 
 may never say whither it shall go, where end, 
 or how. And it is no countryman of ours, 
 except in love." 
 
 Veniero looked surprised. " Whom do you 
 think it, then, Messer Zeno ?" 
 
 " It is the Englishman." 
 
 "Why should it be no other? Surely our 
 sailors are as skilled as any, and as bold." 
 
 " A Venetian would have done as you 
 counselled, Veniero, and would have thought 
 rather of state reasons than a short blow. 
 None but the Englishman would have kept so 
 straight a path to his purpose." 
 
 " Nay, I know one Venetian that would not 
 have taken my counsel." 
 
 "Who is he?" 
 
 " Carlo Zeno ; for he said so but now."
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 7 
 
 *' You have trapped me there," said Zen'o, 
 laughing. 
 
 " And I know another, too : Vittor Pisani 
 never takes any but the straightest road." 
 
 " True, but Venice can hardly spare Pisani 
 just now to be sailing about in a single galley. 
 No, it is the Englishman but see !" 
 
 As he spoke, the foremost of the Greek 
 galleys was about to close with its enemy, 
 which had not turned a hair's breadth from 
 the straight line to the port. Suddenly the 
 Venetian stopped, the oars arresting it in the 
 water: the Greek, taken by surprise, still 
 floated swiftly along on the smooth water : 
 the Venetian again shot forward ; a few strokes 
 sent it right on the galley as that crossed it 
 it touched it smartly in the stern, breaking a 
 few oars as it passed over them, and making 
 the stricken vessel lurch so that it well nigh 
 filled with water ; and then, floating clear, it 
 resumed its rapid course towards the land,
 
 8 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 passing in front of the other galley, whose 
 people had stopped in surprise. Before the 
 Greeks had recovered from their dismay, the 
 Venetian was far off; and as they turned to 
 pursue, the two other galleys ordered out by 
 Zeno began to move from the shore. So 
 abandoning fnrther contest, the Greeks turned 
 their prows, and put quickly out to see after their 
 comrades. A loud shout arose from the land. 
 
 Zeno and his party went leisurely along the 
 shore, and came to the landing place as soon 
 as the galley. Presently descended from it 
 the two strangely-matched companions, il 
 Grasso and his friend Edward. Having em- 
 braced them, Zeno conveyed them to the 
 palace in which he lodged, eager to learn the 
 tidings which they had for his private ear. 
 As soon as they were alone, Edward told him 
 all that had happened in Venice, and the 
 desire which the Doge and Senate had for his 
 return.
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 ' But where," said Zeno, " is Vittor Pisani ? 
 Is he still in prison doing penance for the 
 wind's fault ?" 
 
 '* No," answered Edward, * the people 
 would not be of good heart without their 
 leader indeed they would not go forth." 
 
 '* Good ! the populace know too little to bfe 
 led into mistakes by state reasoning." 
 
 " But the Senate are not content without 
 your counsel and aid, both in the chamber and 
 in the field." 
 
 " And they shall have it, for we should all 
 give it. Your mariners will be fatigued, and 
 we will have a fresh set; but methought your 
 galley came in at a flying pace." 
 
 " Why Edward," exclaimed il Grasso, "would 
 drive a galley to the world's end faster than 
 any other could come here. Storms hinder 
 other men, him they serve." 
 
 " If we would conquer in this world, Messer 
 Luigi," replied Zeno, "we must learn to turn 
 B 2
 
 IV THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 our mishaps to good use, as well as our good 
 luck, or we lose half our power : the invader 
 drove our forefathers into the Lagune, where 
 they have built our fair city and all its power." 
 " Well, Edward is good for using mishaps; 
 in sooth, I think he prefers ill luck; just as 
 your patriotism, Messer Zeno, grows all the 
 more for being ill used." 
 
 " A country, Messer Luigi, cannot be said to 
 ill-treat its children, for all that they enjoy 
 beyond savages is the gift of country ; all that 
 they can do, they owe to it; and all that they 
 throw into the common treasury is repaid to 
 them with interest. We must not gauge that 
 free gift by our desires, and say that it falls 
 short, when naked man, by himself, would be 
 but a brute to whose life we should prefer 
 death. All of wealth, and power, and fame 
 that a Venetian has he> owes to Venice." 
 " And Venice again to Venetians." 
 " The more reason why they should bestow- 
 on it all they can. But I will not contest with
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 11 
 
 so skilled a casuist as Messer Luigi. Let us 
 rather talk of our departure. Are you sick of 
 the sea, my friends, and shall I leave you ; or 
 will you convey me back in that same fleet 
 galley of yours?" 
 
 " But," said Edward, " you will not depart 
 before your wounds are healed ?" 
 
 11 Why, they will heal best at sea. But in 
 truth they are nought; and as neither of you 
 are new to the sea, we will go forthwith. But 
 first I must take order for the proper care of 
 this our new possession. It is fortunate that 
 we have chased away the Greeks before you 
 came." 
 
 Causing food to be placed before his friends, 
 he was closeted for a time with Antonio 
 Veniero, whom he left Governor of the island. 
 Then making his servants carry a few clothes 
 on board the galley, and pick out fresh mari- 
 ners and rowers', he summoned his visitors; 
 and in a little time the galley was again 
 ploughing the waters*
 
 12 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 " The wind is against us," said Zeno. 
 
 " The more praise to our rowers for sending 
 us forward so fast, maugre the wind,' 1 said 
 Edward : "if they are as willing and as tough 
 as those that brought us out, we need think 
 little about the weather. 1 ' 
 
 " Aye, willing as they were," cried Luigi, 
 " now you have parted with them, my friend, 
 I may tell you that they were near rebelling, 
 because you thought them too willing." 
 
 How so ?" 
 
 " Why, scarce had we issued from the 
 Lagune ere some dozen of them would have 
 forced you to return." 
 
 "But they did not," said Edward. 
 
 " No, they were ashamed, and I made them 
 more so ; and after they seemed as if you 
 could scarcely go fast enough for them ." 
 
 " It is ever so," said Zeno ; " those men who 
 have never made trial of their own mind, are 
 ever bolder than they think themselves, and 
 grateful to whomsoever will discover it for
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 13 
 
 them. A leader is seldom abandoned by his 
 men for being too bold ; but often for not 
 being bold enough. Those who are to follow 
 must ever be sure that those who are to 
 lead will keep in front, go those behind as fast 
 as they may." 
 
 Edward started: "The wind has come 
 round on our side," cried he, <( a sail will 
 help us now." And presently a fresh spur was 
 given to the straining galley.
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 HARD was the fate of Venice after Edward 
 had left it in quest of Carlo Zeno. So envi- 
 roned was it by enemies, that provision could 
 scarce be brought to it, and while the grain 
 ran low in the stores, food carried in with 
 peril and difficulty became costly. Though 
 Pisani kept the Genoese employed, the citizens 
 of the Lagune grew accustomed to hear that 
 the foe had made slow advance : with bastion 
 and manganel they encroached upon the 
 Littorale. As the days passed, many an eye 
 was turned to the coast, in hopes of hearing 
 that Zeno had come to breathe new life into 
 the dispirited soldiers. While the great
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 15 
 
 trembled for their wealth and high estate, the 
 poor were scanted in their food. Men collected 
 in the streets and in the great square, gloomy 
 and angered ; and women staid at home, to 
 soothe hungry babes and weep away the day. 
 Turnbull had been well provided by Sebastian' 
 and he often jested to Teresa on the princely 
 prices that he paid for his bread and wine. 
 Little did he think that he alone in that house 
 fed well. Jacopo's long absence had left 
 Teresa's purse quite exhausted. The gold 
 which Sebastian had forced upon her, to fur- 
 nish better food for her sick mother, had been 
 husbanded, until only a little remained, not 
 for better food, but for as much as Bianea 
 would eat, while Teresa fat with her almost 
 fasting. Jacopo came not ; there were no 
 tidings of Ranieri; Sebastian, whom they had 
 hoped to behold a few dajs after his departure, 
 was not suffered to leave the front of the ad- 
 vancing foe. Bianea had again grown sick 
 and weak, and kept mostly to her bed ; and
 
 16 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 Teresa began to think of teaching herself to 
 ask charity of their guard, for her mother's 
 sake ; when one day as she sat beside her 
 sleeping mother, she heard footsteps in the 
 next room ; not the heavy tread of the English 
 soldier, but lighter, and the steps of more than 
 one. At first the blood rushed to her heart, 
 as she thought that it was Sebastian ; but the 
 steps were not so marked and steady as his. 
 There were voices. She rose to prevent her 
 mother's being disturbed, and as she did so, 
 the door of the chamber opened, and Ranieri 
 entered, followed by her father! Starting at 
 the unexpected sight, she rushed into his 
 arms ; but the next moment she motioned for 
 him to be silent, lest her mother should be sur- 
 prised. It was too late: Bianca was awake, 
 and she had turned round. Nor was she sur- 
 prised ; for every day and every hour had she 
 looked at the door, expecting to see the 
 wanderer. She was not surprised that he came 
 not, neither that he came. Jacopo ap-
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 17 
 
 preached, and taking his wife in his arms, he 
 wept to see her weak condition. When 
 Ranieri had embraced his sister and mother, 
 Jacopo sat down by the bed ; and the long 
 separated husband and wife, father and daugh- 
 ter, looked upon each other. 
 
 " Bianca mine," said Jacopo quickly, but 
 sadly, " disease has hastened the work of 
 time with you, as travel has with me. You 
 look as kind as ever, sposa mia, but your 
 cheeks are pale, and your brow is wrinkled. 
 And, though I have not been absent many 
 months, you never saw these locks so grey be- 
 fore." And he stooped down as he shook them 
 half playfully into his wife's face. She smiled ; 
 but no one told Jacopo how much he was 
 altered. His face was pale and thin, and had 
 the dry skin of a much older man. His grey 
 eyes were lighter, more glassy, and more rest- 
 less than ever. Yet there was still about his 
 slender frame the air of activity and liveliness. 
 His dress was much worn. The black was
 
 18 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 now, like his head, turned grey. He had no 
 cloak ; and one of his outer sleeves was torn off 
 at the elbow, the other hung ragged and 
 soiled ; and the point of his sword peeped 
 through a scabbard that had knocked against 
 many a floor. " And Teresa \ 3 ' he continued : 
 "she is altered. She, too, looks older; but 
 she is too young yet, sposa mia, to be the 
 worse for that. I do not think that she is 
 taller, and yet she looks so. Per Dio e Bacco, 
 I think that she is a more stately damsel than 
 you were, Bianca, before you spoiled a princess 
 of the vineyard by marrying an unlucky 
 gentleman. Ranieri is more grown, and is 
 more manly; and yet there is a change in 
 Teresina that more surprises me. 3 ' 
 
 The others, saying little, looked on while 
 he talked, surveying their lost one. Without 
 much bidding he told them all, enjoining 
 secresy, how he had a message of importance 
 to carry from a great Prince to Carlo Zeno ; 
 how he had taken ship and voyaged to Con-
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 19 
 
 stantinople ; how there he fought to restore 
 the Emperor, not heing able to get a ship 
 back ; how, at length, the Zeno had found a 
 ship in which he might return with an answer 
 to the Prince ; how he did so ; and at length 
 he had met Ranieri, who was seeking him even 
 in the lion's den in Padua. " The boy got in 
 and out with one of the country women going 
 into the market, who passed him as her son; 
 and he paid her in kisses, the wicked rogue/' 
 Ranieri had laughed when he told his father; 
 but he did not mean to have it told to his 
 sister. " The noble Prince," said Jacopo, 
 " gave me money for my wants. I thought 
 to have brought the most of it back to you, 
 Bianca; but in so long a time it is all gone; 
 and he was so much in haste when I last saw 
 him, that he did not think of it again. So I 
 have returned, as I went a beggar." 
 
 " You are returned, and that is all we want- 
 Teresa, my child, give your father to eat." 
 
 Teresa moved a step as if to obey, stopped,
 
 20 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 and hesitated. She staggered. She was 
 dizzy, and would have fallen, had not Ranieri 
 caught her in his arms. He set her on the 
 bed, and supported her head on his shoulder. 
 
 " She is faint, too, for want of food," cried 
 Bianca. " She eats nothing. Daily she 
 schools me to eat, and yet I cannot force her. 
 Or is it," she added to Teresa, in a lower 
 voice, passing her arm round the girl's waist, 
 " that when your father returned, 3^011 thought 
 that another " 
 
 Teresa pressed her mother's hand, to make 
 her silent. 
 
 " She lacks food," said Jacopo; "go you, 
 Ranieri, you know where it is kept, and 
 fetch her some." 
 
 Teresa held her brother. " There is none," 
 she murmured. 
 
 " None ! Go, then, my son, and buy some. 
 Give him the money, Teresa." 
 
 " There is no money." 
 
 " No money ! Alas ! and have I left you
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 21 
 
 thus helpless while I have been wandering on 
 others' business ? Fool that I am." And for 
 the twentieth time in his life Jacopo was lost 
 in anger at his own folly, in destroying those 
 he most loved while he did the behest of 
 strangers. 
 
 Her father's grief aroused Teresa, and she 
 did her best to console him. Again she]thought 
 of craving help from Turnbull ; but she could 
 neither bear to let him see Sebastian's mistress 
 in such need, lest Sebastian should dislike it, 
 nor to take the bread of the simple soldier, 
 uncertain whether she could restore it. She 
 persuaded her father, that fortune would soon 
 be better with them; and he was willingly 
 consoled. When he was calmer, Bianca made 
 their children retire, and her husband sit once 
 more by her side, while she recounted what 
 had befallen them in his absence. She told 
 him how she had sent for him, because their 
 daughter was not safe ; relating her message
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER, 
 
 to Marco Morosini craving aid ; and Moro- 
 sini's pursuit of Teresa. She told him nothing 
 of Sebastian, Teresa did not wish to conceal 
 aught from her father ; but when she motioned 
 her mother to be silent, she did it because she 
 liked not to hear her tale told in her presence, 
 and because, in sooth, she was not sorry to 
 delay her father's knowing. Perhaps Bianca 
 misunderstood Teresa's sign for one of secresy, 
 though Teresa was not wont to keep secrets 
 from her father; perhaps the mother too had 
 little wish to make a disclosure to Jacopo for 
 which Sebastian had not yet signified his con- 
 sent; perhaps she even shared Teresa's dislike 
 to tell the strange story to the uncertain and 
 hasty Jacopo. "But,'' she said, " we must leave 
 Venice, my dear husband. This house, if sold, 
 will give us money : it is our last, but it will 
 carry us to a place of safety; and- it is less 
 hurt for your pride to sell the house of your 
 fathers, than it was to marry a poor peasant
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 23 
 
 girl, my Jacopo. We must not part again, 
 for Teresa's sake ; but you are not safe in 
 Venice." 
 
 < How so ?" 
 
 " I know not ; but since Ranieri left us to 
 seek jou, you have been accused as a traitor to 
 Venice." Ancf she told him of the conspiracy 
 of la Gobba, and the hunt for him in his own 
 house ; and of Sebastian's coming to their 
 rescue. 
 
 " And who is this man that I see below ?" 
 
 " It is a guard who was left with us by 
 Messer Sebastiano Morosini." 
 
 " And could not this same Sebastian aid us ? 
 Why have you not asked him?" 
 
 " Nay, Jacopo, he is no longer in Venice, but 
 is away to Chiozza, and we cannot seek him. 
 Nor could he give us much aid ; for his father 
 is our enen^y, and would prevent him. But 
 we must leave Venice." 
 
 
 
 " But why, dear Bianca ? Let me lie 
 concealed here, and I can still protect you."
 
 24 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 "No, no, Jacopo; you are not safe in 
 Venice: they have offered a reward for you." 
 
 " A reward !'' 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " And for what ?" 
 
 " I believe for joining in the conspiracy of 
 which I told you. They say that you are a 
 traitor in league with that worse than traitor, 
 Carrara." 
 
 "That is a mistake; nor is Carrara traitor. 
 Bui truly, something must be done, and that 
 speedily. I will not leave you more ; and we 
 will eat or starve together, Bianca mia ; or 
 rather we will eat, for food you shall have be- 
 fore night, though the house go for it." 
 
 For some time Jacopo was lost in thought, 
 his restless eye often wandering to Bianca's 
 faded form. When Teresa returned, he again 
 asked who was the strange man in the house. 
 She looked to her mother, and was about to 
 explain, but Bianca again told her husband as 
 before, that Sebastian had left the man to
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 25 
 
 guard them in his absence. Then, Jacopo said, 
 there was no reason why he should remain 
 longer, as he himself should not be absent 
 any more. Teresa hesitated ; but she left the 
 chamber to obey. Making the most of her 
 English;, she told Turnbull that his protection 
 was no longer wanted ; arid much thanking 
 him, dismissed him, with the injunction to 
 seek out Messer Sebastiano Morosini, and to 
 tell him secretly, that the protector whose 
 return she expected had come. Tunjbull 
 left his quiet and easy duty with regret; and 
 kissing her hand in more courtier-like ten- 
 derness than she could have expected, he de- 
 parted. She too had her regret; for his 
 presence was endeared to her by Sebastian's 
 care, and moreover she had little confidence 
 in her father's protection. Formerly she had 
 less fear of encountering the dangers of her 
 defenceless state ; but now she regarded her- 
 self as something which she held in charge for 
 her future husband. 
 
 VOL. II C
 
 26 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 Having returned with Ranieri to her mo- 
 
 O 
 
 ther's room, the next hour passed drearily. 
 Suddenly Jacopo rose, and led his son into 
 the hall, that they might confer alone. After 
 a few hasty turns, Jacopo stopped, and ex- 
 claimed, " Your mother, Ranieri, is sorely 
 home down by sickness !" 
 
 " I fear so !" cried Ranieri, alarmed at the 
 reecho of his own dread. 
 
 " My son," began Jacopo, and paused, 
 looking earnestly at the youth, who still waited 
 for his father to proceed. " My son, could 
 you make some great trial to save her ?" 
 
 "Ah! If you could tell me how! I can 
 devise nothing, though none were too great. 
 If I could serve her by dying, I would. And 
 Teresa I marvel how she can bear herself up 
 as she does. I have watched her, and she 
 seems at times to be more afflicted even than 
 the mother.'' 
 
 " You need not die, Ranieri ; but I can shew 
 you how you can achieve something which
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 27 
 
 shall bring home plenty of gold, so that your 
 mother may live, arid all of you have abund- 
 ance." 
 
 " Tell it me, then, and it shall be done at 
 once." 
 
 " Hear me. You should know that the 
 Ten have declared me traitor, and have offered 
 a reward to whomsoever shall bring me cap- 
 tive. I am not traitor, as I can one day shew. 
 It is not because I have served Carrara, as I 
 have done, that I should be traitor to Venice. 
 I will discharge myself of this reproach one 
 day. But now it shall serve us, boy. I 
 would have this reward for your mother's 
 use." 
 
 " But how, father mine? Rather let it be 
 had by no one." 
 
 " Nay, nay, Ranieri, Venice shall pay to 
 your mother and sister for having called me 
 traitor ; and -that is the revenge that I will 
 have of it." 
 
 " What is it you mean ?"
 
 28 THE FOSTER-BROTHER, 
 
 " You shall have it, Ranieri." 
 
 ' How, ray father ?" 
 
 " You shall claim it you shall give me up." 
 
 " Never." 
 
 " Ranieri mine, you said that you could do 
 any service for your mother, yet you start 
 back at the first you hear." 
 
 *' It would not be serving her to betray my 
 father and disgrace her son. No, my father ; 
 let us bear the misfortunes of our house ; but 
 I am sure that if crimes disgrace it, my 
 mother would die." 
 
 " Ranieri, it must be done, and without hurt 
 to your mother. Fear not for me : the worst 
 for me would be a few days, or a few months 
 
 / * 
 
 in prison ; for as soon as I choose to speak, I 
 can prove that I am no traitor, and shall be 
 free. But I cannot bear this misfortune, of 
 seeing your mother perishing for the want of 
 that money of which my ill-fortunes or my 
 follies have deprived her. If you have so 
 much fortitude, I have not ; and rather would
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 29 
 
 I perish in a prison, and be happier so, than 
 stay here to see her die in helplessness." 
 
 " No, father, never could I do it. I am 
 certain that Teresa would cast me off if I did ; 
 and the bread thus bought would be poison to 
 us all." 
 
 " But it should not be known, my son. You 
 must do it, and you alone must know it. You 
 shall say that I have gone again to the main 
 land, and that I have sent the money which I 
 have got for them." 
 
 " Never. I will not stay to hear you, I 
 will tell Teresa, and ask her if I should do it." 
 And he was about to walk away. 
 
 His father held him. " Stay, Ranieri, 
 Teresa has not taught you to despise and dis- 
 obey your father?" 
 
 The youth stopped. His sister had been 
 careful in her lessons to counteract what she 
 silently felt to be the effect of her unstable 
 father's conduct, and to teach her brother ever 
 to respect him. Jacopo, therefore, was armed
 
 30 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 with the influence of Teresa in urging what the 
 hoy felt Teresa would have forbidden. He 
 hoped that his sister would interrupt them ; 
 but, unconscious of her father's sudden project, 
 she came not. Ranieri looked, now to this, 
 now to that open door, and listened for his 
 sister's firm and light footstep ; but all he 
 heard was the low murmur which the desert 
 rooms echoed to his father's half-whispered 
 persuasion. Wanting counsel, he stood still 
 and silent, almost hoping that it was a bad 
 dream; and slowly he yielded the father had 
 bentthe boy to his will. 
 
 " And now, Ranieri," cried Jacopo, " dry your 
 tears, and summon the courage your sister has 
 taught you. It must be done at once." 
 
 " No, not to-day ; T cannot have courage 
 yet." 
 
 ' Yes, at once; for your mother needs food 
 each moment ; and as time goes on, they may 
 discover that I am innocent, and so the re- 
 ward may be withdrawn. Let us come at
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 31 
 
 once, while we are alone, and before those we 
 would serve have seen your pale face." Jacopo 
 went on to instruct his son how to contrive his 
 surrender. 
 
 Ranieri stared at his father, half stunned 
 with fear and horror. He pressed his hand 
 on his eyes ; then, saying, " I am ready," h6 
 stood to follow. Jacopo moved towards the 
 house door ; but before he opened it, Ranieri 
 stopped him by crying " Father, embrace 
 me." Jacopo took his son in his arms, and 
 pressed him to his bosom, with a muttered 
 blessing; but he did it hastily, eager to be 
 gone ; and they issued into the street.
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 YIELDING to the fate which over-mastered 
 him, Ranieri now thought only of the task 
 imposed upon him; and he made the best 
 speed he could to the house of the Governor 
 of the city. He had entered the hall, and 
 was looking about to see whom he might 
 best address, when a serving man, dressed 
 in half soldier fashion, as many then were in 
 the city, came forward with a swaggering 
 carriage, and cried, "Ola, youngster; what do 
 you here ? There are too many guards here 
 
 for thieves, and Venice wants all the money 
 
 that beggars crave. Run, run P 
 
 " I wish," answered the youth, nothing 
 
 scared by the big lackey, nor his big beard and 
 
 big words, " I wish to see my lord, the 
 
 Governor."
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 3tf 
 
 " You see my lord, in sooth ! My lord is 
 never at leisure to see idle boys. Run, I tell 
 you. Go to his office if you want him, at the 
 Palace, in the morning." 
 
 Nay, Messer Soldato, my affair is pressing, 
 and I must, not be refused. If you turn me 
 back, it may be worst for you." 
 
 "What, do you threaten, puppet? then I 
 must whip you." And he drew his sword to 
 strike the intruder. Ranieri's face flushed ; he 
 drew the small poniard that hung on his left 
 side, and with flashing eye stood his ground. 
 But another attendant interposed, and saying 
 that even so young a boy might have real 
 business for the Governor, moderated his fel- 
 low's wrath. The big man sheathed his long 
 sword, nothing loth to avoid cutting his fingers 
 with Ranieri's sharply-drawn little weapon; 
 and he retreated with dignity, saying to his 
 companion, "Do as you will ; be the damage 
 yours." 
 
 The other man went at Ranieri's bidding, 
 c 2
 
 34 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 to crave admission to the high functionary, 
 and presently returned. The boy stopped, 
 and asked the man his name. " Cecco," re- 
 plied he. " Await my coining out, then, for 
 I may need you ; and you shall not lose by 
 being civil." 
 
 Ranieri found the Governor in a large 
 room, at a large table : with some people 
 sitting at it, and others walking about : 
 all the officers of Venice were engaged at 
 that hard time. Some were busily talking : 
 others looked at him carelessly as he came 
 in, but looked away directly. The man 
 led him by the Governor's chair. Messer 
 Orso Quirino continued reading a paper that 
 lay before him; and then turned round sud- 
 denly, and said in the abrupt severe manner of 
 one whose time is too scanty to be wasted, 
 " Now, boy, what is it ?" 
 
 " My Lord, I came to ask for aid in 
 seizing a man who has been proclaimed a 
 traitor."
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 35 
 
 " Ha ! who is he ?" 
 
 " Jacopo Arduino." 
 
 The Governor leaned towards a gentleman 
 
 that sat near him, and said, " Has any Ar- 
 duino been proclaimed traitor?" 
 
 " Yes," replied the person who was spoken 
 to: "Jacopo Arduino. He is accused with 
 others in the conspiracy of la Gobba. There 
 is a reward offered for him." 
 
 The Governor turned to Ranieri. " Is he 
 in Venice ?" 
 
 " Hard by, my lord : if I have aid now, I 
 can bring him to you forthwith. Give me this 
 man that is here, and another, and we could 
 master him." 
 
 " Go with him, Cecco," said the Governor, 
 " and take another with you. Bring this boy 
 and the other person into my private room/' 
 
 Ranieri saluted the head of the Police, 
 who had already turned his back upon him, 
 and left the saloon. As they went, he desired 
 Cecco to take any one with him but the
 
 36 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 bully whom he had met in the hall ; for they 
 might need one who could fight. Presently 
 he was again in the streets, with two stout 
 fighting men at his back. The encounter 
 with his opponent had stirred his blood, and 
 in checking his progress had spurred his in- 
 tent; so that in place of grieving, he now 
 almost desired to accomplish his enter- 
 prise. He walked briskly along until he 
 entered a small wine-shop, where he knew 
 that he should meet his father. Jacopo was 
 sitting on a low stool, with a flask near him ; 
 the wine-seller, an old acquaintance, having 
 forced a cheering, draught on the unfortunate 
 gentleman, whose kind and easy manner made 
 him liked by all. At a table near were the 
 master of the shop and another ; who, with 
 arms folded on the table, were trying to draw 
 from the talkative Arduino where he had been 
 and all that he had encountered. As Ranieri 
 entered, the wine-seller rose, and came to- 
 wards him. Without heeding him, Ranieri
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 37 
 
 turned to Cecco, and pointing to his father, 
 said, " That is the man seize him !" The 
 Governor's men advanced as they were bid. 
 Jacopo drew back, as if he mistrusted them ; 
 but Cecco, crying, " Now, master traitor, it 
 were useless to try escape ; let us go quietly,'' 
 took him by the arm. 
 
 " Stop, stop !" exclaimed the wine-dealer; 
 " What is this ? What rude fellows are ye, 
 that think to brawl in my house. This is an 
 honest gentleman, and my good friend, and 
 he shall get no hurt here." 
 
 " Meddle in what concerns you, Signer 
 Vinajo," said Cecco, carelessly; "the less you 
 call Messer traditore here your friend the 
 better for you. I reckon you do not wish to 
 take up your lodging with la Gobba under the 
 Leads ?" 
 
 " What ribaldry is this? Have we la Gobba 
 here, rascal ? , Get out of my house, or I may 
 chance to chase you."
 
 38 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 " Now stand aside, honest man, and do not 
 bring yourself into trouble. Well, if you re- 
 sist Stefano, come forward ; here is a fool 
 wants to keep company with our prisoner to 
 the Governor's custody, as proclaimed traitor 
 by the Ten." 
 
 At the title, the wine-dealer let fall the hand 
 which he had placed upon the knife in his 
 belt, and looked at Jacopo ; who now, anxious 
 to close the quarrel which might interfere with 
 his project, came forward, and asked Cecco 
 by what right he seized him. " By the 
 Governor's order, to seize you for a traitor," 
 answered the man. 
 
 " Messer Jacopo is no traitor," cried the 
 sturdy wine-dealer, whose terror of the Ten 
 again died away at witnessing the injury to his 
 unfortunate friend: "Who accuses him?" 
 
 " Oh, there are many that accuse him," 
 replied Cecco; " and one is this young gentle- 
 man."
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 39 
 
 "That!" cried the wine-dealer, his voice 
 harsh with surprise and disgust. " Why that 
 is his son !" 
 
 " May be so. Son or no son, he has done 
 a service to Venice in giving up a traitor. 
 Come, Messer Jacopo, if that is your name, 
 you know you had better not resist." 
 
 " Well," said the wine-dealer, grinding his 
 teeth, " if you will go, Messer Jacopo, you 
 must ; but we will keep you, if it so please 
 you. And at least we will keep this good son 
 here ; a little washing in the Lagune may get 
 out some of his starch virtue. So virtuous a 
 boy, that he must think his own father a 
 traitor, is too good to live. Help me to hold 
 him, Nadale," he added, to the man who had 
 sat with him. 
 
 Ranieri looked towards his father; but 
 Jacopo, uncertain what to do, turned away 
 his head. Seeing the angry wine-dealer ad- 
 vance, Ranieri, half sorrowing to be re- 
 proached by one that shewed so staunch a
 
 40 THE FOOTER-BROTHER* 
 
 friend, half fearing for himself, drew back, 
 and put his hand to his poniard. The other 
 man, who had hitherto remained silent, had 
 hefore risen from his seat to look at the son 
 that betrayed his father; and he now came 
 behind the youth and suddenly seized him by 
 the arms, which he drew tightly together, so 
 that the elbows met. Ranieri struggled to free 
 himself; but the hands were too tough for his 
 more youthful limbs. He had almost felt in- 
 clined to declare his father no traitor, by dis- 
 closing his scheme; but now the sense of 
 danger to himself was uppermost, and pro- 
 voked him to resistance. His cheek glowed, 
 and his eye gleamed steadily as the sturdy 
 fellow grasped him roughly by the clothes at 
 his breast; but just at that moment Cecco 
 again interfered ; striking down the other's 
 hand, and saying " Nor that neither, galant' 
 uomo. If we must take the traitor, we must 
 also take the witness. Besides, this young 
 man is our captain for the nonce, and we
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 41 
 
 must not let him come to harm. Loose your 
 hold, man, loose your hold, I say." The man 
 laughed, seeming to be cowed by Cecco's 
 loud tone of authority, and Ranieri's arms 
 were again free. He stopped for an instant, 
 reluctantly yielding the desire to resent the 
 violence; but more discreetly followed the 
 men as they led his father from the house, 
 returning with cool defiance the scowl of those 
 he left behind. 
 
 " What a pity," cried the host, " that such 
 a smart lad should be so base a son!" The 
 silent man laughed again, and reseated him- 
 self to listen to his friend's copious commentary 
 on Jacopo's adventures, and this last the most 
 perilous of them. 
 
 By good fortune, Ranieri and his strange 
 train encountered none of the few people 
 whom he knew, before they were once more 
 in the presence of the Governor. Two other 
 gentlemen sat by that high officer, and near
 
 42 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 him was a younger man writing. Messer 
 Orso Quirino looked to Ranieri in the same 
 impatient and peremptory manner ; and the 
 stillness of the room, the strangeness of his 
 enterprise, again oppressed his heart with 
 dismay. Cecco placed Jacopo before the 
 Governor, who exclaimed, " Well, is this the 
 prisoner?" 
 
 " Ay, my lord, this is the man." 
 
 " What is his name ?" 
 
 " Why, Messer Jacopo ; but more I know 
 not. This young gentleman can tell you." 
 
 Quirino looked to Ranieri ; but his tongue 
 cleaved to his mouth. His father, who kept 
 his eye averted from him, but guessed from 
 his silence that he could not answer, said in a 
 firm and cheerful voice, " My name is Jacopo 
 Arduino. Of what am I accused ?" 
 
 The Governor leaned over to the man who 
 was writing, and after a brief whispering, said, 
 " Jacopo Arduino, you are accused of treason
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 43 
 
 to the State, being one of those who engaged 
 in a conspiracy at the house of la Gobba to 
 poison the waters of Venice." 
 
 " It is a false accusation," answered Jacopo. 
 
 *' Will you prove it false ?" 
 
 " Not yet. But time will help me to the 
 witnesses I want." 
 
 " It has been proved that you were in con- 
 ference with the principal enemy of Venice 
 just before the conspiracy with Messer Fran- 
 cesco Carrara of Padua ; but enough I fear 
 the only doubt is whether this is the real traitor. 
 How do you know, Cecco, that this is Messer 
 Jacopo Arduino ?" 
 
 " Nay, my lord, I know not ; but this young 
 gentleman ought to know, for he is his son." 
 
 " His son !" cried Quirino; and he looked 
 in astonishment at the two who sat by him. 
 Then turning to Ranieri, he said sternly *' Is 
 this gentleman, -your father, the person whom 
 you accuse as the traitor Jacopo Arduino?" 
 
 Ranieri was silent. His knees shook, and
 
 44 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 again he thought that to confess the whole 
 scheme would be the best. Now for the first 
 time, his father looked at him gravely and 
 steadily, and with a peculiar expression that 
 made him understand that he was to persevere 
 in his task. To gather courage, he thought of 
 his mother and sister, and their need. 
 
 The voice of the Governor again struck on 
 his ear. " Answer, boy ; is this the man you 
 accuse as a traitor ?" 
 
 Ranieri recovered his voice : " It is Jacopo 
 Arduino." 
 
 " The reason," said Jacopo, " that Messer 
 Orso Quirino does not remember the host 
 that had the honour to entertain him soon 
 after he was married, is, not only that the 
 entertainment was so humble, but that time 
 and misfortune have altered this face so 
 
 that even those of my own blood have forgot- 
 ten it." 
 
 The Governor looked at the prisoner with 
 compassion; and in a milder voice he said,
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 45 
 
 " Let him be removed. He shall be examined 
 hereafter." 
 
 Jacopo turned once more to his son : he had 
 not yet had the reward. Ranieri would not 
 suffer his father to be sent to his prison without 
 knowing that his purpose had been answered ; 
 and he said hastily " My Lord, there was a 
 reward promised when the prisoner should be 
 secured." 
 
 The Governor stared at the youth, and was 
 about to speak ; but checking himself, he 
 turned to the Secretary, and asked in a low 
 voice what the reward was. 
 
 " A hundred ducats of gold for Jacopo 
 Arduino, my Lord." 
 
 " Let the boy be paid, then, for giving up 
 his father as a traitor against the State. Let 
 him be paid at once, that he may go." 
 
 The Secretary went into another room ; 
 and presently he returned with a small bag, 
 which he gave to Cecco, and he gave it to 
 ilanieri.
 
 46 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 The Governor cried to Ranieri " Count 
 the money, boy." 
 
 " My lord, I make no doubt that it is 
 right" 
 
 " Count your wages, young man ; see that 
 you have your due." 
 
 Ranieri emptied the hag on the table. All 
 kept deep silence as he counted the gold ; and 
 he so longed to hear some sound to break 
 that odious quiet, that his thought wandered, 
 and he could not count. 
 
 -" Count it before him, Cecco," said the 
 Magistrate. 
 
 Taking pleasure in the youth's shame and 
 confusion, the serving man stepped to the 
 table and did as he was bid, saying to Ranieri, 
 in an undertone, as he swept the coin into 
 the bag " If giving up a father is worth a 
 hundred ducats, doth not he that helps deserve 
 interest?" 
 
 " Keep what you please," said Ranieri
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 47 
 
 " What is it you say, Cecco ?" asked the 
 Governor. 
 
 " Nothing, my lord," said the attepdant, 
 alarmed at the angry voice provoked by his 
 idle joke. 
 
 " Nay, I almost heard. Take not one 
 coin of his money-^-give it him all, and let 
 none of it stay here, nor among my people. 
 Now, remove the prisoner, and send away the 
 informer." 
 
 One took charge of Jacopo, while Cecco 
 led forth Ranieri. When they were in the 
 hall, the youth again took some gold from 
 his bag, and said, " You should not lose your 
 fair fee : take this." 
 
 " No, Messer spy, yours is forbidden 
 money ; our master wishes you to keep it 
 to fatten yourself withal ; so, a good appetite 
 to you." 
 
 Ranieri returned the ducats into the bag ; 
 and with a flushed face and knitted brow, he 
 took his way home.
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 ROSA had just finished her net. A large part 
 of it lay in a heap, while a portion was spread 
 out upon the floor, and raised by two chairs, 
 so as as to shew the girl the work of her hands. 
 She had spread out all that she had done 
 since Alessandro had visited her after his so 
 long absence. For some hours she had 
 worked hard, that she might complete her 
 task before dark ; and as the last gleam of 
 daylight shone upon the fruit of her industry, 
 her grave face was not devoid of satisfaction . 
 The symmetry of the lines as they crossed in 
 forming the meshes, the newness and stoutness 
 of the cord, the pleasure that it would give to 
 old Pierotto, the use that he would make of it,
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 49 
 
 were thoughts that pleased her. How the green 
 and blue waters would dance and play in and 
 out of the supple trellis ! How the silvery 
 scales of the fish would glisten ! Poor things ! 
 their captivity would be fatal; yet are there 
 worse sorrows than fatal thraldom. Thus 
 much work, she bethought her, had been done 
 in her solitude : the time might have been 
 worse employed. Even life that is not as we 
 wish it, need not be fruitless of good ; and if 
 not fruitless of good, it is not without a hap- 
 piness. Rosa was not learned in books: 
 Alessan Iro had never thought of teaching her; 
 and if he had, he would not ; because not only 
 he took a pride in possessing that which was the 
 more valuable to himself, the fewer about hirn 
 that shared it, but he took a delight in her 
 ignorance, he admired her unaltered nature, 
 so strong a contrast to the vain knowledge 
 which multiplied his desires faster than his 
 powers. He would have kept her for ever a 
 spot of wild luxuriant nature to retreat to ; but 
 
 VOL. II. D
 
 50 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 the fool forgot that he could not weed his own 
 speech, least guarded when with her, of the 
 thoughts that he learned in books ; and more- 
 over he taught her grief. He shewed her 
 how to think ; but as her thoughts were not 
 tinged by worldly ambition, as they arose 
 from nature, his from art, theirs was the more 
 vigorous growth. And Teresa had given a 
 new turn to thema new dominion of thought. 
 Strange, that as she mused over her netting, 
 her feelings towards him had grown less 
 tender, and at the same less bitter. She felt 
 less dependent on his love. She judged him. 
 As she stood gazing on her work, her thought 
 wandering from it to other things, a knock at 
 the door startled her: it was Alessandro's. 
 Unlike her poor neighbours, Rosa kept her 
 door fastened. She opened it, and the foster- 
 brother entered. As before, he would have 
 embraced her; but drawing back, she held 
 out her hand to him. Without seeming to 
 notice her humour, he obeyed, and kissed her
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 51 
 
 hand with more than his wonted devotion. In 
 truth, though she meant it not, her new 
 distance gave to her a new interest in his eyes ; 
 and as she stood, drawn up to her full height, 
 her chest expanded, her arm held out majesti- 
 cally, and a slight sternness mingling with 
 the pensive sweetness of her face, he thought 
 that in all Venice there was not, nor in all 
 Italy, so noble a woman to look upon. 
 
 " Rosa mia," he said, " I have hastened 
 here before some others my companions, to 
 crave your pardon for a licence which I have 
 taken with what is yours." 
 
 " My pardon, Alessandro ! Have I any- 
 thing that is not rather yours than mine ?" 
 
 "Yes, sweet; all is yours more than mine, 
 rf you will believe it, especially this house. 
 But it will not lose you aught. This it is I 
 have occasion to meet some gentlemen, and 
 one of them must not be seen to-night by any 
 that know him in Venice ; therefore have I
 
 52 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 appointed that we shall meet him in this re- 
 mote part of the city." 
 " Here in this house ?" 
 " In this house. You are not offended, 
 Rosa?" 
 
 " The house is yours, Alessandro ; but it 
 was not well done to bring any where I am, 
 
 who am not yet . Can you not meet in 
 
 this part, yet in another house?" 
 
 " They will be here anon. Moreover my 
 life is periled. But they know not of this 
 house, and you shall not be seen, Rosa. For- 
 give me, and I will not offend again." 
 
 " You are too courteous. But, be it as you 
 will." 
 
 " You are angered that I have not sooner 
 again paid iny homage to you; but I have 
 been away, lady mine, and in the midst of war 
 and turmoil ; and that is another part of my 
 
 errand to crave your forgiveness also " 
 
 Another knock at the door was the welcome
 
 THE POSTER-BROTHER. 53 
 
 announcement that his friends had arrived. 
 Rosq, hesitated, and looked at her companion. 
 He pointed for her to leave the room. She 
 obeyed. 
 
 As he opened the door, four men passed 
 into the room, wrapped in large cloaks, with 
 their caps drawn much over their eyes, as 
 though they felt the chill of evening. They 
 had little chance of being known in that 
 quarter by any who would question them : 
 even the gondolier who had taken them up, 
 after they had dismissed a boat of their own, 
 neither knew them, nor cared to wonder what 
 brought nobles so far among the poorer people, 
 or else he settled it in his mind that some 
 bright eyes and youthful charms, disguised in 
 coarse attire, had attracted them. As they 
 entered from the darkening night, into the 
 still darker room, they looked around in vain 
 to see who was there. 
 
 " You are dark here, Messer Alessandro," said 
 the strong voice of Ser Luigi da Molino, the
 
 54 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 Avvogadore del Commune, a man large of 
 body and limb, with an insolent and over- 
 bearing manner. " Darkness is convenient 
 sometimes ; but sometimes it is too convenient, 
 in concealing more than one knows. 1 never 
 talk in the dark, except in mine own house/' 
 
 " You shall have a light, Messer Avvoga- 
 dore, since you are afraid of the dark ; but in 
 truth, the night has come somewhat suddenly 
 while I awaited you alone." 
 
 " Nay, Alessandro," cried Ser Pietro di 
 Bernardo, whose bright gay eyes almost shone 
 in the feeble shade of light from the windows, 
 " there are more who dislike dark than those 
 who fear it. If now, we had our fair friends 
 here, it might be pleasant ; but it will be dull 
 work not to see Messer Luigi's portentous 
 countenance while he is plotting away our 
 republic " 
 
 " Hush," interrupted Marino Barbarigo, a 
 chief of the Forty; "did you learn that
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 55 
 
 careless speech in the Grand Council, amico 
 mio r 
 
 '* Why, the Grand Council has its varieties 
 of eloquence, and mine is of the playful kind, 
 you know, Barbarigo ; as when I asked what 
 the Ten had done with la Gobha, and recom- 
 mended, for our credit, that you and Molino 
 should be appointed to see her quartered. I 
 thought it would shield you from suspicion of 
 being a conspirator to poison the wells. You 
 quite overreached me there ; for I never heard 
 of the plot till I saw that heroic Englishman, 
 whom we all love so well, defending the lady 
 like a true knight ; only knights do not usually 
 straddle over their ladies while they defend 
 them. I suppose I was too heedless to be 
 admitted to that project ?'* 
 
 " Silence, Messer Pietro," said Molino, 
 angrily; "here are we in the dark, and know 
 not who may hear you ; yet you talk of these 
 wickednesses and plots almost in a manner to
 
 56 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 plant horrible suspicions of the illustrious 
 gentlemen with us in the breasts of any that 
 may overhear your idle speech.'' 
 
 Pietro di Bernardo laughed aloud, and 
 said " Hasten, good Alessandro, for a light, 
 or Messer Luigi will die with fear of eaves-drop- 
 pers or ghosts." 
 
 " You are too incautious, Messer Pietro," 
 said Barbarigo. "Why can you not imitate 
 the silence of your excellent brother here, 
 Messer Niccolo ? He has not spoken a word 
 since we left my house. But I think I heard 
 Messer Alessandro go for a light when the 
 Avvogadore first spoke." 
 
 " Niccolo is silent," said the incorrigible 
 Pietro, *' because you know he is in love 
 with your daughter; and as she is very im- 
 perious and very young, it is most difficult for 
 him to contrive what to say that shall bs 
 magnificent enough to satisfy her, and yet 
 that her years may understand. I can vouch 
 or it that he studies night and day. I know
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 57 
 
 he will be glad when his courtship comes to 
 the fondling stage, because then there will not 
 be so much fine speaking to do." 
 
 " Silence your idle tongue," rn ittered his 
 brother, " or we will thrust you out." 
 
 '* Aye, to alarm the neighbourhood !: But 
 your fears may be calmed, Messer Avvogadore, 
 for here comes Alessandro with the light. 
 How it shows out his mighty countenance in 
 the dark. One of us was born to hold Venice 
 in his grasp ; and if Messer Avvogadote drops 
 it, in bis fear of goblins, I say that yon Ales- 
 sandro is the man. Does he not shew the 
 very model of a conspirator?" 
 
 " Cease your idle talk of conspiracies/' said 
 Molino, " or I will take my leave." 
 
 "Aye, cease," subjoined Barbarigo. " How- 
 ever," he added, turning to Molino, " all 
 Pietro's indiscretions are committed very sagely 
 in secret; for^none is more discreet abroad.'' 
 
 "Thanks, good friend. My imprudence 
 
 is not so dangerous as Messer Luigi's tremeri- 
 D 2
 
 58 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 dous silence and suspicious frown. If there 
 is a man in Venice that would be picked out 
 by guess as a conspirator, it is Luigi da 
 Molino." 
 
 " Cease this, Bernardo," cried Molino, feel- 
 ing for his sword, " or I will silence you per- 
 force." 
 
 " O Messer Alessandro, defend me !'' ex- 
 claimed the threatened man; " here is Messer 
 Luigi da Molino, Avvogadore del Commune, 
 going to kill me outright for talking faster 
 than he thinks suitable to this your hall, with 
 one small lamp in it, and some doubt of 
 listeners or devils in the corners !'' 
 
 " Peace, my noble friends, 5 ' said the foster- 
 brother, gravely ; " there is none in this house 
 to interrupt us, and as for danger, you may 
 talk as you list ; but our time is precious. Sit 
 you here, Messer Barbarigo, President of this 
 Council for the welfare of our beloved Venice ; 
 your authority will moderate our gay friend." 
 
 " Aye will it. Now does that light disap-
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 59 
 
 point me of one amusement that we might 
 have had, to hear each other break his shins 
 over the furniture in the dark. But let us 
 leave play, now that our master Alessandro 
 bids." And the careless councillor took his 
 seat at the table with the rest. 
 
 When they were seated, Barbarigo turned to 
 Molino, and said, " You already know that 
 we have met to receive some advice from our 
 friend Messer Alessandro da Padova. The 
 ambitious dotard who now unhappily rules in 
 our Councils, with a power never meant to be 
 entrusted to the chief servant of the Grand 
 Council, persists, in spite of the ruin that he 
 has actually brought upon Venice, in waging a 
 cruel and profitless war on its best ally, the 
 Lord of Padua. But he and his faction will 
 be defeated. Messer Alessandro has just re- 
 turned from Chiozza " 
 
 "From Chiozza!" exclaimed Pietro di 
 Bernardo.
 
 60 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 " From Malamocco," said Alessandro, 
 *' which is almost the same thing." 
 
 " True," continued Barbarigo, " from Mala- 
 mocco; and he has learned how this unjust 
 and injurious war may be ended." He turned 
 to Alessandro, who took up the discourse. 
 
 " I need not say, that were Andrea Conta- 
 
 rini defeated, it would be a triumph for Venice. 
 
 The way now seems clear. In ten days from 
 
 this time the allies of Carrara will make a 
 
 combined attack on the port of Venice. When 
 
 that is once, in their possession, nothing can 
 
 hinder their entrance into the city, to surrender 
 
 its possession to those who will govern it for 
 
 its own sake. There is but one difficulty in 
 
 the way the inner barricade. I know that 
 
 the captain of one cocca is of our party ; but 
 
 the other is Galuzzi: to attempt his faith 
 
 would be madness ; and he will fight to the 
 
 last. One of us must contrive to get some 
 
 other man appointed, within the ten days.
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 61 
 
 Has not Ser Pietro di Bernardo claim to it, 
 if he choose to solicit so poor a post?" 
 
 " Surely," said Barbarigo. 
 
 " And all the more willing to have it," cried 
 Pietro, " in that no fighting is likely. Messer 
 Alessandro forgets the outer barricade at the 
 entrance of the port." 
 
 " Alessandro seldom forgets," said the foster- 
 brother, with a grave smile ; " and this council 
 should know, that when Messer Marco Moro- 
 sini was appointed to superintend the works, 
 he was convinced that the best economy of his 
 resources would be to make those posts which 
 forbad assault by the least shew of strength, in 
 reality stronger than those which were made 
 to look impregnable." A low laugh ran round 
 the table ; and the four nobles looked a demand 
 for clearer explanation. " In fact, though 
 timbers and chains were piled up most at the 
 entrance of this port, every other barricade is 
 stronger; because Messer Marco knew that 
 the Genoese would believe it to be as strong
 
 62 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 as it looked. And so of course they did, until 
 they learned otherwise. But that is not all. 
 One part of the barricade is really strong: it 
 is the three chains which fasten the outward 
 beams to each side. That part is guarded 
 carefully; but on the tenth day, the guard 
 will " 
 
 A low knock at the door interrupted him. 
 He rose from his seat, and admitted a stout, 
 square-built man, wrapped in a cloak. His 
 heavy tread caused a slight jingle, which 
 shewed that he was clothed in mail ; though 
 the small steel cap on his head was disguised 
 with a velvet hood. The door having been 
 carefully closed, he approached the table. 
 
 " Lionardo Morosini!" exclaimed the four. 
 
 " The same, sirs," answered the man him- 
 self, as he disengaged himself from his cloak, 
 and took a chair set for him by Alessandro. 
 " Your poor servant, and none other ; though 
 he must not be seen in Venice till the morrow." 
 
 *' But," said Pietro di Bernardo, " we
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 63 
 
 thought that you were wourided and taken 
 prisoner at Chiozza." 
 
 " Wounded, no ; taken prisoner, yes ; and 
 a prisoner I have been ever since. At first I 
 was in prison with the rest; but they put me 
 into a separate cell ; I suppose that it might 
 be more severe," he added with a smile. 
 
 " Aye," said Pietro, " that was because you 
 killed Carrara's man Marco the Florentine : 
 that was a great mistake." 
 
 "Hush: who says that I killed Marco? 
 Had he not chanced to be mortally wounded 
 by some one, indeed, he would have been 
 brought back, and perhaps put to the question 
 by Emo ; and it was very fortunate for all of 
 us that he died for Carrara himself. But not 
 a word did any one say to Carrara that I had 
 killed him." 
 
 " Truly no," observed Alessandro ; " the 
 less said of such things the better. We are not 
 judges, and all may make mistakes in the 
 moment of difficulty."
 
 64 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 " Messer Alessandro is ever the discreetest," 
 said Pietro. " But how, Messer Lionardi, 
 -if you were kept so close, are you here ? 
 
 " Aye, close indeed ; for I was not allowed 
 to stir out of the lodging that was provided for 
 me, lest I should be seen in the town. How- 
 ever, I thought it most advisable for me to 
 escape ; and so I just came away, travelling 
 by land, lest I should be seen crossing the 
 lagune." 
 
 " Let us not," interposed Alessandro, " in- 
 quire how Messer Lionardo came, but only 
 rejoice that he is here, and remember that 
 none of us must have seen him in Venice till 
 to-morrow morning." 
 
 " Good," cried Molino, solemnly. " But of 
 course Messer Lionardo Morosini came to tell 
 us something." 
 
 "I came to tell you, with what speed I may, 
 that Roberto da Recanati has arrived at Lido, 
 having joined the Venetian forces. 
 
 We knew as much before," answered Molino ;
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 65 
 
 " we in Venice hear things as soon as prisoners 
 in Chiozza." 
 
 " Nay, Messer Avvogadore, you ever hear 
 things at the properest time : you heard that 
 the Recanati had arrived, and now you should 
 hear how he arrived. He was engaged by 
 the Lord of Padua, who offered him higher 
 pay than the Senate; but somehow he sud- 
 denly altered his mind. He has joined 
 Venice, and I suppose will not lose by the 
 bargain. But further some of his men are 
 appointed to guard the outer barricades of the 
 port of Venice on the tenth day from this, and 
 for six days longer. Do you understand now 
 for I suppose that Messer Alessandro has 
 explained to you the plan 1" 
 
 " Tis well," cried Barbarigo. " Truly are 
 there but two Carraras one now in Chiozza, 
 and the other here at this table s our good 
 Alessandro. ,A11 this then understood, nothing 
 remains but to determine how our forces shall 
 be disposed for ths enterprise. '*
 
 66 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 Into the details of their counsel it were 
 needless to enter. The dawn disturbed them 
 in their discourse, and they hastily dispersed, 
 again carefully muffling themselves as they 
 went forth in the still gloomy streets. 
 
 Left alone, Alessandro again sat down at 
 the table, and leaning his head against his 
 clenched hand, assumed the posture of one 
 who busies himself with thinking of future 
 action while he waits. He had not long re- 
 mained so, ere he heard the cautious step of 
 Rosa, who peeped into the room, and seeing 
 him alone, entered. He did not stir till she 
 spoke. 
 
 " I thought that you had gone with the 
 others." 
 
 " No, Rosa, I am here still ; but I will not 
 trouble you long. Some few things however 
 I had to say before I go; for when I leave 
 this house I cannot tell when I may return, if 
 ever." There was a pause. Had he looked,
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 67 
 
 he would have seen that Rosa turned pale. 
 
 He expected her to answer, but she remained 
 \ 
 
 silent. " Much is to be done in these few 
 days, Rosa mia ; a great turn in my fate, and 
 yours, may be at hand ; and you will forgive 
 ine if absent, when you think that dangers 
 and troubles alone keep me so." 
 
 " Pardon is easy, Alessandro. I will promise 
 it you beforehand." 
 
 " I am assured that you will," he answered, 
 with something of a sneer, " since you speak 
 of my offence so calmly beforehand. Have 
 you seen Teresa Arduino the girl that has 
 enamoured Sebastian ?" 
 
 " I have." 
 
 " Well ! Did you explain to her how 
 Sebastian might join our league to his own 
 great glory and honour ?" 
 
 I did." 
 
 " And she-r " 
 
 " What if she consented ?'' 
 
 "Consented! Rosa mia,' } cried Alessandro,
 
 68 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 starting from his seat, " say that she con- 
 sented, and ask me what you will I can refuse 
 nothing. Rosa,'' he continued, his eyes 
 glistening under his tightly contracted brow, 
 while his lips smiled with pleasure, " that boy 
 could command all I want. He has powers 
 such as few men have in Venice. He may 
 command his father's high station; and in 
 him I seem to see myself born to the honours 
 of the blood that is called debased in me. 
 Yes, let me possess Sebastian Morosini, and I 
 can draw on Carrara with another ally I can 
 even, if it so please me, laugh heedless and 
 independent of Carrara. Marco Morosini, 
 from his own weakness, continually fails in 
 mind : Sebastian were another kind of tool. 
 Yet is he young, and this girPs manner has so 
 subdued him, that her will is law to him. Of 
 all that have ever served me, Rosa, you have 
 done best/' 
 
 " How will this so serve you, Alessandro ? 
 I am dull; tell me how. 5 '
 
 THE POSTER-BROTHER. 69 
 
 *' Why this way, sweetest. Sebastian is 
 rising to be" accounted one of the discreetest of 
 the young nobles in Venice far beyond his 
 years. He enjoys the full confidence, already, 
 of the Doge ; nay, his counsel has been echoed 
 by the Doge in the Senate, and acted upon 
 by the Senate. He is above suspicion his 
 fame is made his intellect masters those that 
 encounter it and this while yet he is young 
 and passionate. Could I but have such an 
 instrument to my will, bastard as I am, I 
 
 | 
 
 should not need to be servant to Carrara, but 
 rather ally/' 
 
 ** But you would use this Sebastian in your 
 enterprise with Carrara?" 
 
 " Surely, Rosa ; you know, carina, that I 
 conceal nought from you. You have my life 
 in your hands ; and if you will go now to the 
 Palace at St Mark's and tell what you know, 
 you can command my death ere that rising 
 sun sinks in the sea." 
 
 " You are safe for me, Alessandro. But
 
 70 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 tell me if Sebastian did your behests, he 
 would use the good fame he hath to do the 
 very opposite of those deeds by which he 
 earned it?" 
 
 " Truly ; or rather not the opposite, for it 
 would still be for the good of Venice; but 
 in some sort it would be the opposite." 
 
 " And it is to force him into that, that you 
 would use his love for Teresa Arduino ?" 
 
 "It is so. What is in your head now, 
 foolish girl? His love would not alter: his 
 love would remain as it is, just the same no 
 less. You look as if you had more to tell. 
 Did she say when or how she would signify 
 her will to the gallant? What ails you, Rosa, 
 that you keep dumb, and look so strange ?" 
 
 " What if she did not consent ?" 
 
 Alessandro, unused to alter in colour, 
 turned deadly pale. He looked at Rosa as if 
 he understood her not. " Not consent ! but 
 wherefore ask ' What if she did not consent,' 
 when you say she did ?"
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 71 
 
 " I ask you, what if she did not consent ? 
 It is my humour to know." 
 
 " It is a foolish and a dangerous humour, 
 Rosa. By so much as I rejoice to hear that 
 she did consent, so much should I I will not 
 for your idle humour unveil anything so horrid 
 as what I would do if she did not." 
 
 " You threaten yourself, Alessaudro, with 
 what I could do if I were to proclaim you, 
 and I regard it not : you threaten me now, 
 and I regard it as little. See here." She 
 drew from her bosom a knife, which she un- 
 sheathed. ' This I keep that no rival of 
 Alessandro may be too bold : take it we are 
 alone, you can use it as you will." 
 
 He took it, his troubled eye darkening as he 
 grasped it, his thumb firmly resting on the tip 
 end of the handle. " Rosa, you are safe for 
 me. I do not put my life in your hands to 
 play at morra with you for death. We are 
 away from the world I a bastard, with no 
 rights ; you mine, body and heart ; but not
 
 72 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 more mine than I am yours. When I say 
 that I love you, I say what is ; and let my 
 great love suffice you, without wishing to have 
 in me what I am not : I am of no worth to 
 you as a wedded husband I am no lord : all 
 that we have must be in spite of the world. 
 I do suspect that you have some scheme to 
 tame me. Better kill me outright, than take 
 to your arms a mere worthless lackey, without 
 power or name. You are safe. But I say," 
 he cried, with a louder voice, his pale cheek 
 trembling with rage, " that if my will be 
 thwarted, those who withstand it shall as little 
 resist destruction as this wood can resist my 
 arm." And as he spoke he raised his hand, 
 dashing the knife into the table. It broke not 
 nor bent against the massive and tough-grained 
 slab; but such was the strength and just aim 
 of the blow, that the blade passed clean through, 
 the point shewing on the other side, and 
 the handle trembling as the echo of the crash 
 vibrated in the roof.
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 73 
 
 Rosa's voice was calm and deep " There are 
 things which strength cannot destroy. Alessan- 
 dro, Teresa did not consent." 
 
 "Let them perish then !" 
 
 " No, nor let them perish ; rather will you 
 perish. You have said, Alessandro mio, that 
 we are away from the world ; but it is not so. 
 Would I could talk as you do, and I would 
 show you how it is that you are a beggar to the 
 world, while you might retire to another and 
 a better with none to reign but you. You 
 say you love me. I am baffled, Alessandro; 
 for I believe you, and I do not. Yet if you 
 love, why does that not suffice you ? And why 
 will you force love, that lives only on truth, 
 serve to make traitors for your use ? Alessan- 
 dro, this Teresa is too strong for you." 
 
 " We shall see." 
 
 " Aye, we shall see. I know you may kill 
 her, as easily -as me. Do so, and I follow 
 her." 
 
 What folly is this, Rosa ?" 
 
 VOL. II. E
 
 74 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 " Stay. I have not told you all. I did help to 
 strengthen her resolve." 
 
 " You ? Fool, fool that I was, to send one 
 love-sick girl to another, when I was thinking 
 only of a country and its gain and loss." 
 
 " Therefore, revenge yourself on rne. You it 
 was that made me do it. You had taught me 
 to doubt all life, love, everything. You made 
 me an instrument to undo love with falsehood. 
 I made good what you would have destroyed ; 
 and in Teresa, in myself, truth lives on though 
 you abandon it." 
 
 " Rosa, you have half-learned these things of 
 me, and talk like one who has gone mad with 
 the smell of fantastic books that you cannot 
 read. Be content; you have done your worst 
 to defeat me, and I shall suffer. Farewell." 
 
 " Nay, I am not content. I cannot say fare- 
 well when you depart with revenge upon your 
 lips of my causing. Believe me, I speak truly 
 when I say that my life shall hang on your re- 
 venge. By that faith will I cling. 1 '
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 75 
 
 " I spoke wildly. You know not how you 
 have troubled me.'^ 
 
 " Would it were not so, Alessandro. But 
 in this I have more than common care, since it 
 is I who have moved you. You must forbear 
 your revenge, Alessandro, for my sake." 
 
 " Be it as you will, lady mine. You shall 
 rue no revenge of your making. Will that con- 
 tent you ? and what shall be my guerdon for 
 casting my fortunes at your feet to trample on 
 at your humour ?" 
 
 Rosa gave him her hand to kiss ; but ere he 
 relinquished it, it returned his pressure. He 
 looked at her for an instant as he held the open 
 door in his hand. Never had her face seemed 
 nobler ; yet never had he so little understood 
 it. He could see men's characters at a glance ; 
 yet the young peasant-girl whom he had shut 
 out from the world, the creature of his will, 
 was a riddle that he could not solve! Rosa 
 closed the door upon the audacious man who 
 had joined their fate before she knew him.
 
 76 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 She went to the table in which htr knii'e was 
 sticking, and grasped the hilt. Her powerful 
 arm failed to stir it. She took a piece of wood 
 that lay upon the hearth, and struck the knife 
 a few blows on the back and front of the handle, 
 so that the sharp steel, swaying backwards and 
 forwards cut for itself a wider and looser open- 
 ing in the wood, and then she drew it out easily. 
 She looked at it : so true had been the blow, 
 that the blade was as straight as ever. But the 
 mark on the table was passed all mending. 
 That which is firm, she thought, being wounded, 
 can never close and be whole again. She 
 sheathed the knife, and returned it to her 
 bosom ; and then she replaced the chairs as 
 they had been before they were disturbed by 
 the intruders of the night; again disposing the 
 net so that her old friend might best see its 
 make when he should pay her his early visit.
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 TERESA'S fear that her unsteady father would 
 not stay long to protect his family was realized 
 when Ranleri returned alone, and, with troubled 
 eye, avoided her questioning. The better to 
 conceal the truth from her, he told her that her 
 father had undertaken an enterprise which was 
 secret, but would bring him profit ; that he had 
 already gained some money ; and that Ranieri 
 would know how to get more. And he gave 
 her ten pieces of gold : concealing the rest 
 on a broad cornice over the door in his own 
 sleeping room. Teresa too well knew her 
 father's wont, to be surprised either at the sud- 
 denness or secresy of his new enterprise ; and 
 she would not make her brother disclose what
 
 78 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 their father had told him to keep secret. Though 
 she mistrusted, therefore, she sought to know no 
 more ; and Bianca was now ever content to 
 do as Teresa thought fit. Yet as time passed 
 on, the anxious girl watched her brother's 
 altered demeanour with uneasiness. Though 
 their actual want was far less than it had been, 
 his youthful gaiety, which had never failed 
 before, was quite gone. He would scarcely eat 
 a mouthful of food, saying that in the dearth he 
 wished to save all that he could for their mother; 
 so that he began to waste away. And when she 
 urged him to share their bread, he turned from 
 it with such loathing, eating a morsel just to 
 satisfy her, that she suspected verily that there 
 was more in his dislike than mere love of saving 
 it for his mother. So that ever and ever she 
 was pressihg him to say what it was that occa- 
 sioned his trouble and dislike of the food. 
 
 One day, when he had laid down, scarcely 
 tasted, some wine that she had forced him to 
 take, she said, " How is it, Ranieri, that you
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 79 
 
 not only leave this food, but look at it with such 
 hate ? If it is not fit for you to take, neither can 
 it be for me, if I knew the reason." And she 
 fixed her eyes upon him. 
 
 He started up from his chair, crying, " Teresa, 
 I can bear this no longer. You mistake it is 
 right for you to eat what I cannot. Now, 
 listen to me, sister mine. I have never but 
 once done what I knew you would dislike, and 
 once more I must do so. Therefore, tell me 
 now that you will pardon me that I may at least 
 carry that with me." 
 
 " What mean you, Ranieri ?" exclaimed his 
 sister, astonished at his passionate answer. 
 
 " Never mind my meaning say that you 
 pardon me, Say it, Teresa, if you would have 
 me less miserable." 
 
 " I do, Ranieri ; but what strange intent 
 possesses you ?" 
 
 Ranieri embraced her : and then still holding 
 her in his arms, he went on "Now, hear what 
 I say to you. The money which I told you I
 
 80 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 should fetch, I have already all of it except 
 two pieces, that I have taken. Your use will bless 
 it. It is on the cornice over my door. It will 
 last some time ; and then I will be with you 
 again. Farewell." And suddenly releasing her 
 from his arms, he rushed from the room. 
 
 " Ranieri Ranieri !" cried Teresa; but he 
 was gone. She followed him to the ante-room, 
 but he had already left it ; and as she rushed 
 to the stairs, she heard the door of the house 
 close, and knew that he had quite departed. 
 Her sense was bewildered with this new aban- 
 ment. As if fancying that it would tell her 
 something, she repaired to his chamber to find 
 the money. She counted eighty-eight pieces ; 
 which, with the two that Ranieri had and the 
 ten that he had given to her, made a hundred; 
 A terrible suspicion cast a shadow on her soul ! 
 but she chased it away. Nothing but that gold 
 remained for her mother's sustenance, and 
 should she avow to herself before she knew it 
 that the gold could not be used? Again, on
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 81 
 
 the thought of her mother, she trembled at the 
 fear lest she should not be able to conceal 
 Ranieri's absence till his return, for which she 
 still hoped. And now she blamed herself for 
 having scared away their only guard. 
 
 Bianca's very helplessness made it easier 
 for Teresa to turn aside her questions until night 
 approached. But when it became dark, and 
 the sick woman saw not her husband, she looked 
 still closer in Teresa's face. She asked where 
 he was ? Teresa saw that she suspected, and 
 told her that he had gone upon some secret 
 enterprise, and that he had already sent them 
 some money. Bianca sank back upon her 
 pillow in silence. She thought no further 
 but that Jacopo had gone; and she asked no 
 more. So passed that night ; and next day 
 when she saw not her son, she asked, " And has 
 Ranieri gone too?" Teresa rejoiced that she 
 had put no, closer question, and answered 
 " Yes." Bianca's face turned still paler, and 
 she pressed Teresa's hand, as if to thank her 
 E 2
 
 82 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 for that she did not abandon her mother. Now 
 that Teresa suspected the source from whence 
 the money had come to them, she too loathed 
 her food as Ranieri had done; but she took 
 almost the greater pleasure in buying for her 
 mother those dainties which would provoke her 
 appetite and restore her strength. Bianca 
 attributed the girl's melancholy to their forlorn 
 condition, and did the best to console her with 
 hopes of Sebastian's return. Alas, the bed- 
 ridden woman scarcely knew the extremity of 
 Venice, or how Sebastian .was bound to his 
 post. Teresa's worst fears, however, arose when 
 she was obliged to leave her mother alone in 
 the house, while she went to buy the necessary 
 things. She dreaded to hire an attendant, lest 
 the money should not last out their time of need; 
 and because of her suspicions, not liking to 
 spend it in anything but her mother's sustenance ; 
 besides that she mistrusted strangers. For those 
 reasons she would delay to buy what they wanted 
 till the last moment, and it so happened that
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 83 
 
 on the third night after Ranieri had left them, 
 her mother asked for bread when there was none, 
 Bianca would not let it be fetched ; but fearing 
 that her hunger should come again in the night, 
 after she was asleep, Teresa went forth. Not 
 long after, Bianca awoke, and called her daugh- 
 ter. The house was still as death ; and the 
 sick woman waited, thinking that Teresa would 
 return. At length there were sounds as of tu 
 mult in the streets ; but still within the house 
 all was silent. Bianca called again and again. 
 Fearing some mischance, she rose up in the bed 
 and at last put forth her trembling limbs, and 
 went forth into the next room. A light was 
 burning, and a book was open where Teresa 
 had sat ; but all was solitary and still. Bianca 
 tottered over to the other door, and listened : 
 nothing struck her ear but the increasing tumult 
 without.
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 FOR some days before he did so, Ranieri had 
 thought of escaping from his sister's questions. 
 He distrusted his own power to keep his secret, 
 and he dreaded lest some suspicion of the 
 truth should defeat the very purpose of his 
 father's sacrifice. For that it was that he had 
 taken the two ducats, which he kept to enable 
 him to get away from Venice ; for he thought 
 that if he could reach the littorale, great part of 
 his trouble would be over. He had heard of 
 Sebastian from his mother, too fond to deny 
 him that secret: and him he would seek and 
 serve. He repaired to Canaregio, near which 
 lived a fisherman whom he had known, and 
 whom he had accompanied in his boat, both for 
 pleasure and for help. The man was away from 
 home, his boat having been taken from him
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 85 
 
 to use for carrying some provision, with others, 
 to Lido; but his wife let Ran ieri stay till he 
 should return, thinking that some fault of the 
 youth had sent him away from his family for a 
 while. In their poor house Ranieri remained 
 three days ; and still the man did not return ; 
 and the youth did not like to take from the 
 poor woman's scanty store. For the ways to 
 the lagune were so blocked up by Carrara's 
 people, that there had been a long and grievous 
 dearth in the place. The fisher's wife, whom 
 even Ranieri remembered a girl, had suddenly 
 looked older, from hunger and fear. He already 
 began to feel the gnawing at his own young 
 breast. As the third day closed in, he stole 
 out, and wandered towards St. Mark's. Many 
 of the streets through which he passed were 
 more silent than even Venice should be, for they 
 were quite deserted : and no gondolas were 
 skimming the Canaregio. As he approached 
 the square, there were more boats and people 
 astir. Groups were collected in the streets, of
 
 86 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 grave and careworn rnen, from whose talk as 
 he passed, he gathered that Pisani made no 
 head against the Genoese; but that more 
 danger pressed upon the city than it had yet 
 known. As he drew near a group, one spoke 
 sullenly and fiercely as if he scarcely cared 
 how it should end, and almost hoped that the 
 Genoese would soon triumph, so that the ways foe- 
 food to enter the city might again be open. The 
 other men seemed to agree. Ranieri listened, 
 but he said nothing ; and he longed to be at Lido, 
 with Sebastian, fighting his first battles against 
 the strong foe that had so struck his native city. 
 
 While he stood, one man touched him who 
 had so spoken, and pointed to the youth, say- 
 ing " Take heed what thou sayest, Nadale: 
 it is not always safe to tell one's judgment 
 aloud. The Ten have ears to hear all that is 
 said in that fashion. Who knows ?" 
 
 The sullen fellow turned round on his heel, 
 and stared at Ranieri as though he would learn 
 by examining him what he was. Ranieri knew
 
 THE FOSTEK-BROTHER. 87 
 
 the man at once he it was who had sat in the 
 wine-shop when Jacopo was seized. The youth 
 moved on. 
 
 " Aye !" cried Nadale, " thou sayest true : 
 here is one of the self-same people thou spakest 
 of. Ola, master spy ! if you can sell your 
 father, you are not to sell honest men, who 
 speak wider than they mean, thinking no harm. 
 Stop, I say." 
 
 Ranieri, instead of obeying, would have 
 hastened his step; but the man, who had 
 already followed him, seized him by the arm. 
 The youth snatched himself from the grasp, and 
 drawing his poniard, stood ready to defend him- 
 self. But the spirit of the chase had already 
 animated the other men, and he was now sur- 
 rounded too effectually to escape. " Stand 
 back," he cried, " or I shall hurt some of you 
 before you take me." 
 
 " Oh ho !" laughed Nadale ; " this is a gen- 
 tle spy, perhaps a noble gentleman that follows 
 the craft for pleasure."
 
 88 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 " What wouklst thou do with him, Nadale ?" 
 
 " Do ! why silence his vile tongue. It is a 
 spy, friends; a fellow that uill sell his father. 
 1 saw him with my own eyes, and I would have 
 helped old Boccolone the wine man, to pay 
 him his wages ; but some officers of the Council 
 were with him then. Where are they now, 
 master spy ?" 
 
 How knowest thou that he is a spy ? Who 
 is he ?" cried another. 
 
 ' Who is he? why perhaps he might not 
 have been so wicked, if he were not the son of 
 a traitor." 
 
 " Thou liest, ribald !" cried Ranieri. 
 
 " Oh yes ! I lie of course. Yes, signori 
 miei, I am a liar: you that know me know that. 
 And this gentleman tells no lies ! Oh no ! he 
 tells only truth, because he is paid for it by the 
 Ten ; blessed be they. This gentleman is very 
 noble in blood -oh ! very noble indeed. He is 
 related to Messer Marco Morosini, as I believe ; 
 also to the noble and puissant Messer Lionardo
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 89 
 
 Morosini ; also to Messer Michele Morosini ; 
 also to Messer Georgio Arduino, that died at 
 Candia ; yet is his father traitor. His father is 
 the excellent Messer Jacopo Arduino ; once a 
 most powerful merchant, now a prisoner of state 
 for conspiring with the Gobba to poison the 
 waters of this poor city. I believe," said Nadale 
 to Ranieri, gravely doffing his hat with mock 
 reverence, " I believe Messer Jacopo is not of 
 the Grand Council? Perhaps he is? Pardon 
 me if I did not mention it, but I believe the 
 excellent gentleman is not in the Grand Coun- 
 cil, but only in prison." 
 
 Stung by the fellow's insolence, Ranieri struck 
 at him a straight, sharp blow. Nadale started 
 back, and caught the blow on his arm ; and 
 when the knife returned, its blade was red and 
 wet. The other men had instantly seized the 
 youth, while his arm was still stretched forth, 
 and in a second he was disarmed, and held fast 
 in the grasp of four or five, his arms held out 
 on either side ; while his detainers looked at
 
 90 THE FOSTER-RROTHER. 
 
 Nadale as if for orders what to do. Ranieri 
 also looked at him. The man's face blackened 
 with rage ; his heavy features contracting in a 
 scowl of hate, as he felt in his bosom for a dag- 
 ger, which he slowly drew forth. As Ranieri 
 stood in bondage, his breast was exposed to the 
 blow which the ruffian meditated; but he 
 shrunk not, nor did his eye quail. As Nadale 
 stepped closer, his foot struck against the poni- 
 ard which had been dashed from the youth's 
 hand. He picked it up, and looked at it. He 
 held it against his arm, where the blood had 
 soaked through the sleeve. " Aye," he cried, 
 " it is the same. Pity that gentle steel should 
 be soiled with such vile stuff! Nor must one 
 mix it." He wiped it carefully on the dry part 
 of the sleeve, and then drew back his hand to 
 strike. 
 
 " Hold !" cried one of Ranieri's detainers, 
 " What art doing ? Do you want to get us all 
 in prison ?" 
 
 " No, no ; when I have washed this same
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 91 
 
 knife in the stripling's own rosy blood, we'll let 
 him fall, by chance, into the canal." 
 
 " A fine scheme, truly ! No, no, Nadale ; 
 no more blood: let us give him up to the 
 Ten ourselves, and bring your blood against 
 him." 
 
 " Give him to the Ten ! Why, he is their 
 own servant. Has he not heard what I said ? 
 Have I not seen him give his own father up ? 
 Aye ! while they drive us to war with the 
 Genoese, they worry us out in Venice itself 
 with their spies. Tell that, signore mio, to the 
 Ten, and give me up. Has he not the gold in 
 his pocket that he sold his father for ? Seek 
 see if he has not." 
 
 " Look you yourself," said one, " while we 
 hold him." 
 
 Ranieri knew that resistance would be hope- 
 less, and he chose rather to maintain a proud 
 stillness. He , therefore stirred not, while Na- 
 dale thrust a hand into the bosom of his vest, 
 and soon found in his pocket the two pieces of
 
 92 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 gold. " What !" cried the ruffian, " only two! 
 didst sell thy father for two ducats ?" 
 
 " He has given the rest to his mistress," ex- 
 claimed another. 
 
 " Like enough ; though gifts generally pass 
 the other way with pretty boys like this. 'Twere 
 a pity to have lost this gold though in the 
 canal/' 
 
 " Aye," said the man that had staid him when 
 he was about to strike ; " and now that you 
 have the gold, do not let us save him from 
 drowning any longer. No blood ; blood tells 
 tales." 
 
 " Be it as you will. But how, think you, is 
 he likely to fall in, so that none shall see V 
 
 " We will give him a turn in my boat, and 
 perchance he may slip over; and we may be so 
 anxious to save him," added the man, laughing 
 with his comrades, " that we may only hinder 
 each other. Hark what is that?" 
 
 It was the bell of St. Mark's. 
 
 Nadale answered " It is. the old bell that
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 93 
 
 they ring almost every day now. Something 
 has happened. Let us hasten, or they will pre- 
 vent us. Where is thy boat ?" 
 " Close at hand, bear him along.' 5 
 Ranieri derived some comfort from finding 
 that he had respite ; and already he watched 
 for a favourable moment to call out for aid. As 
 they came to a bridge, a number of men who 
 were hastening to the great square crossed 
 their path. With a sudden effort, Ranieri 
 shook offthe grasp of the men, whose thumbs 
 began to ache with holding his arms. He ran 
 forward, crying, " Help, friends, help! Here 
 are traitors that would slay me. For the blessed 
 Virgin help me." In an instant, however, the 
 grasp was again on his arms, tighter than ever. 
 The new comers stopped, and pressed forward ; 
 they were friends of his captors ; who, pointing 
 to the blood on Nadale's arm, loudly told Ra- 
 nieri's crimes, . and laughingly whispered the 
 punishment that they meant for the spy. Again 

 
 94 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 they led him forward, across the bridge, towards 
 the place where lay the boat that was to be the 
 instrument of execution. The youth's heart 
 sank within him as he looked at the darkening 
 night, and imperfectly saw the rough and un- 
 impressible faces that surrounded him. Already 
 he felt cut off from the world. But he strung 
 his trembling limbs with all his fortitude, deter- 
 mined to give no triumph to his murderers in 
 any show of weakness. He thought of the 
 fatten fortunes of his house, of his mother's 
 dying state, his father's imprisonment ; and in 
 bending to the common fate that crushed them 
 despair steeled his heart against regret. Yet 
 again he thought of his dear and loving sister, 
 and a tearful passion seemed to swell up from 
 his heart when he thought that he never, never 
 more should see her. But she would be pro- 
 tected by Sebastian ; and his loss would still 
 leave happiness on earth for her. As he walked 
 along, Nadale came close and whispered in his
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 95 
 
 ear " How sad, that Messer Sebastiano Moro- 
 sini cannot protect the brother as he has the 
 sister, so grateful for the care ! Ha, ha, ha !" 
 
 Ranieri turned to the speaker in angry amaze- 
 ment ; but he had moved further off, and the 
 youth could hardly discern the twinkle of his 
 eye, as the man looked at him with brutal cun- 
 ning. 
 
 They had not gone many yards, ere a woman, 
 who was walking- rapidly towards them, stepped 
 aside to let the band pass. Ranieri started, and 
 felt a moment's joy, as he knew his sister : he 
 was about to call aloud ; but he checked the 
 sound, and turned away his face ; rather suffer- 
 ing alone, than desiring to drag her into his cruel 
 fate and rude persecution. 
 
 But it was too late. Teresa had drawn herself 
 as close as possible to the wall so that they 
 might not push against her, and she looked at 
 them as they drew nigh ; not timid, but watch- 
 ful. Suddenly her eye glanced upon the 
 prisoner. By his youthful tallness, by the
 
 96 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 
 
 slender grace of his form, and the firmness and 
 spirit of his tread, she knew her generous bro- 
 ther. A low cry escaped as she rushed before 
 the inarch of the rude mob : for such the crowd 
 that had now gathered round Nadala's prisoner 
 might be called. Throwing her arms round his 
 neck, she asked why he was thus led along, 
 
 " Oh ho ! this must be his mis-tress," cried 
 Nadale's friend, the gondolier : " this accounts 
 for only finding two ducats." 
 
 More bewildered by the words, though she 
 scarcely heeded them, Teresa turned to the 
 speaker, and again asked why the youth was 
 detained ? 
 
 " Stand back, girl, stand back : cried Nadale, 
 " we want not to harm you, but we may chance 
 to do it if you stop our way." 
 
 " Trample me down then," said Teresa as 
 she drew herself up, still keeping her arms 
 round her brother. " I will not stir till I know 
 wherefore he is your prisoner." 
 
 " Is that all," said the ruffian, whose voice
 
 ' THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 97 
 
 Teresa fancied to have heard before : " then see 
 here why he is prisoner." He seized her hand 
 roughly, and dabbled it on his soaked sleeve. 
 '* Dost feel that ? It is wet ; it is getting wet- 
 ter and wetter. Bring that torch forward , now 
 look at thy hand, girl ; is it not red ? Aye, 'tis 
 an honest man's blood, thou needst not loathe it 
 so: 'tis mine. If thou must shudder, let it be 
 at thy gallant's crime : ask him whose knife 
 cracked my flask here?" 
 
 Teresa sickened as she looked on her hand, 
 and saw that the warm moisture was red ! She 
 turned her eye to the wounded man. Heavens ! 
 it was the same who had intruded into her 
 mother's chamber in search of her father, and 
 whom Sebastian had chased away. She looked 
 at Ranieri : his face was pale and stern, but her 
 questioning eye read no confession of guilt. 
 " There was," she cried, " some cause for the 
 blow. Tell me, Ranieri; for your enemies are 
 silent." 
 
 "Teresa mine," replied the youth, " you have 
 
 VOL. II. F
 
 98 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 given to my danger its only bitterness in being 
 here. This is but an idle brawl, and I being 
 the weaker, cannot resist numbers. But it 
 shall all end well. This is no place for you. 
 Leave me, and I will soon follow you home." 
 
 " Not so soon as you think, young sir," cried 
 Nadale ; " but he says well, my girl, in telling 
 you to leave us. We will not harm him : no, 
 truly we will do him no hurt ; so go home, and 
 wait for him," And the man laughed. 
 
 " He says well," added Ranieri. " This is 
 no place for you, Teresa mine ; and as for me, 
 fear not; justice will be done to me, and that 
 will leave me harmless.' 5 
 
 " Think it not," answered Teresa, turning to 
 Nadale ; " I leave him not, until I see him in 
 the care of the law, if he has offended against 
 the State. Who is it that accuses him ?" And 
 leaving her brother, she drew back and spoke 
 in a louder voice : ' Who is his accuser ? Did 
 you all see it done, that you are here as enemies 
 against him ? Were you all present ? What
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 99 
 
 it is that you would do with him ? If he has 
 done a wrong let him be carried before his 
 judges. Is it in Venice that you will help one of 
 your fellows to revenge on one so young ? Is that 
 your pride ? Or do you forget that the Ten 
 will allow no encroachment on their power, and 
 that those who steal the justice which it is their 
 right to bestow, must suffer for their daring ?" 
 
 " She says true," cried several ; and a man, 
 who pushed his way through the crowd, came 
 forward to represent the number that had newly 
 joined the group round the disputants, stran- 
 gers who had no interest on either side, and 
 began to be entertained by the thickening 
 plot. Nadale frowned with a darker scowl : 
 hoping to remove the obstacle to his wishes 
 by bearing it down, he went towards Teresa, 
 and pushing her rudely, cried, " Stand back, girl, 
 or you will be hurt ; for we will trample you 
 down." 
 
 " Stay, stay, good man," said the new comer
 
 100 THE FOSTEK-BROTHER. 
 
 stoutly. ' Who are these that you handle so 
 roughly ?" 
 
 " Who are they ! why here is a boy that has 
 run his knife into a better man. Who is he ! 
 he is the son of a traitor one Arduino who 
 plotted at la Gobba's wine shop to poison our 
 wells. He is a child you would cherish, friends, 
 is he not?" 
 
 "But this girl?" 
 
 " The girl ! cannot you guess. Ha, ha, ha ! 
 did you not see how she hugged him ?" 
 
 " His sister, his sister I" cried Teresa. 
 " Think you not that a sister can cling to a 
 brother in the face of danger and death ? 
 Will you let this rude man use violence to a 
 woman of Venice, because she claims justice for 
 her brother ?" 
 
 " No, no," cried her new friend, " have no 
 fear, lady." 
 
 " Oh ho !" said Nadale, disappointment 
 making more bitter his malignity, "his sister!
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 101 
 
 Why then we have two traitor's children. What 
 is this ?" he cried, picking up something from 
 the ground. It was a new loaf. " What is 
 this ? what was the traitor's daughter carrying 
 under her veil ?'' He held it up. " Do you 
 know what it is, men ?" 
 
 " It is,'' said Teresa, firmly, " bread which 
 she, who is no traitor's daughter, was carrying 
 to her sick mother. Is that a crime, Venetians ?" 
 
 "No, no, no, 5 ' shouted many voices. 
 
 Nadale cried out fiercely, " She is a traitor's 
 daughter, aye, and a traitor's sister. It is bread, 
 is it ? They feed well then, these traitors ! 
 How many of you, honest men, have bread to 
 throw about the streets at this time ? The 
 Genoese keep the bread from us true Vene- 
 tians. Do you feel hungry, any of you 1 I do. 
 We cannot get bread. But these traitors 
 these half Genoese they have bread to throw 
 about our streets ! Have you gold ? How 
 many of you have gold? Has any single one 
 of you one piece of gold in his pocket ? One
 
 102 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 piece of silver? No, it has all gone to buy 
 bread, long, long ago ; and now there is neither 
 money to buy bread, nor bread to be bought. 
 But these traitors have bread : and they have 
 gold too. See here." He held up the two 
 pieces that he had taken from Banieri. " Two 
 of them. That lad is young, is he not, to have 
 two good golden ducats, all solid and undipped ? 
 But then he is a traitor, and they get gold, these 
 traitors do. And how think you that he got it ?" 
 
 A faint sickness came over Teresa as she 
 glanced fearfully at the gold and heard Nadale's 
 coarse brutal voice. In terror she listened for 
 his next words. 
 
 " He is the son, remember, of the traitor that 
 was paid to poison our wells : good, how should 
 the youngster get some money for himself? 
 How ! Why, he sold his father to the Ten." 
 
 A shudder, sharp and convulsive, rushed 
 through Teresa's frame, at hearing out spoken 
 what she had already learned to thrust a\vay 
 from her thoughts.
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 103 
 
 " Is all this true, my girl ?" asked her 
 stranger friend. , 
 
 Teresa sought an answer in her brother's 
 face. He had remained motionless throughout 
 the scene, mastering his rage, and watching for 
 a moment when he could burst from the grasp 
 of his detainers. But the hard fleshly fetters at 
 his wrists and elbows relaxed not. He answered 
 Teresa with a firm regard, which seemed to say, 
 It is true, and yet I am falsely accused. She 
 knew it all. She turned to the questioner, 
 answering " It is more false than true. There is 
 so much truth in it, that the Devil may use to 
 make us believe his falsehood. But true or 
 false, we ask not favour, but only justice. 
 And while that bell tolls to the danger of 
 Venice" the ringing still sounded solemnly 
 from the tower of St. Mark " shall we tempt 
 Heaven by injustice ?" 
 
 " The girl -says well," said the stranger: "let 
 us bear them to the square, and deliver them 
 up."
 
 104 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 " Aye," said Nadale, furiously, " deliver them 
 up to the Ten that pay them !" 
 
 *' Hush ! hush !" cried the whole crowd, 
 struck with fear at his audacity. 
 
 *' Besides," he added, " who will attend to do 
 justice to a poor wounded silk-weaver like rue, 
 in this hour of alarm ?" 
 
 " All," answered Teresa, eagerly striving to 
 improve the friendly disposition among the mob; 
 " the more the danger, the more need to be 
 just before Heaven. Bear us to the square." 
 
 " Yes, yes," shouted the people; "delay here 
 no longer. Bring them along." 
 
 Nadale yielded perforce ; and the whole mul- 
 titude moved forward. The cunning ruffian, 
 however, did not so easily relinquish his prey. 
 Teresa walked free ; but she observed that as 
 they crossed a bridge and passed along the nar- 
 row streets, Nadale and his friends contrived to 
 draw close round her and her brother. They 
 entered the square, where the thickening night 
 was broken by many a torch flitting hither and
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 105 
 
 thither. There was some commotion near the 
 Palace, and in the piazzetta ; and numbers of 
 the crowd that accompanied them hurried for- 
 ward with the impulse of curiosity. She lis- 
 tened ; but could not gather from the confused 
 sounds which reached her what it was that 
 threatened the city with new calamities. 
 
 They had now come in front of the Palace : 
 the greater part of their escort had gradually 
 mingled with the throng that filled the place ; 
 when Nadale, thinking that his time had come, 
 whispered to his adherents ; and, approaching 
 Teresa, said in a low voice, " If you would be 
 safe now, go : I have no quarrel with you." 
 
 " I leave not my brother," answered Teresa, 
 foreseeing the attempt that was about to be 
 made ; aud she hastily moved back towards 
 Ranieri. 
 
 Nadale seized her roughly. " Stay then, and 
 your blood be upon your own head. Turn 
 back, boys ; they have forgotten us now.'' 
 
 " Friends," shrieked Teresa, " help ! help ! 
 
 F2
 
 106 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 Ranieri, stir yourself; let them not bear us 
 back." 
 
 Strong with new power at her call, Ranieri 
 shook off the hold of the man that held him, 
 and his sister was in his arms ; while he struck 
 madly, right and left, with his clenched hand. 
 
 " Fool !" cried Nadale, " cease this noise. 
 You will not !" With his fist he struck the girl 
 Violently on the head, calling to his compa- 
 nions " Seize the boy ; lift him off his legs. 
 That's it. Tear him off her. Fool ! fool !" 
 And as the youth was dragged from her, Nadale 
 struck her again and again, now on the face, 
 now on the chest. Bravely she strove to ward 
 off his blows and to follow her retreating bro- 
 ther; but her blanched lips quivered; the 
 man's hard blows seemed to batter the breath 
 out of her breast ; her sight began to swim ; and 
 she staggered and reeled as the sobs of agony 
 and despair burst from her compressed lips. 
 Suddenly there was a change in the tumult 
 round her. The blows ceased ; the voices grew
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 107 
 
 louder, the strife fiercer ; and as consciousness 
 left her terrified soul, she was aware that she 
 sank into the arms dearest and safest to her in 
 world. It was Sebastian. 
 
 He it was who had brought tidings how the 
 Genoese had burst through the barriers in the 
 port of Venice ; how nothing remained between 
 the city and its foe but the loose and floating 
 force of Pisani, driven back almost to the house 
 walls; and on his arrival with that terrible 
 report was it that St. Mark's bell had tolled. 
 He had just left the Palace, and was piercing 
 his way through the crowd, when Teresa's shriek 
 struck close at hand on his astounded ear. In 
 an instant he was by her side. Closely hemmed 
 in, and engaged with one arm in clasping his 
 dear love, he could not draw his sword ; but the 
 brutal Nadale scarcely profited by that. Before 
 the ruffian was aware of his new foe, a terrible 
 blow shattered his jaw as he looked round. 
 Turning like a wild beast to attack his more 
 than equal enemy, a second blow came like a
 
 108 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 rock thrown at his forehead, and sent him, 
 blind and stunned, at the feet of her whom 
 he had so cruelly used. Sebastian called for 
 aid : he was well known, and without asking 
 what his quarrel was, many soon joined him, 
 and drove Nadale's band away. 
 
 The multitude was still swaying to and fro 
 around them, some stopping to gaze at the 
 pair so strangely grouped, when Sebastian 
 looked down on the burden in his arms. He 
 was struck with horror at thinking of the cruel- 
 ties from which he had just snatched a thing so 
 precious. Teresa's veil had been thrown back : 
 her hair floated in disorder on her shoulders, 
 and where the gentle fair locks waved from the 
 head, a few stains of blood still oozing forth 
 showed where the coward's blow had struck 
 while her soft lips, slightly parted as she lay 
 in her swoon, were fuller and redder with moist 
 blood. In an agony of tender rage, Sebastian 
 felt a hotgushing glow as though his heart's blood 
 had forced itself to his eyes. As he looked, a
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 109 
 
 hand was laid firmly on his shoulder, and a voice 
 said, t( h this Sebastian Morosini ?" 
 
 " The same ;" and he looked round to see 
 who thus addressed him. 
 
 It was a tall woman, whose face was con- 
 cealed by a veil drawn closely round it. " It is 
 well." she said, " or I should have asked your 
 claim to hold what you have in your arms. 
 But tarry not here. How shall we bear her 
 home ; for she must needs return with all 
 speed ?" 
 
 " We will convey her to the nearest boat." 
 " Have you any servants here ?" 
 " None; and there are none at hand that I 
 would trust." 
 
 " It is all the better. Tell these gazers not 
 to follow us. Lift her gently." 
 
 Leaving Sebastian to bear the fainting woman's 
 head, Rosa, for she it was, gathered Teresa's 
 clothes carefully round her, and raised her legs. 
 Sebastian whispered to one near him to prevent 
 the others from following them; and his courteous
 
 110 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 speech at once made the stranger so trusty a 
 servant, that in a few instants the two were 
 threading the way through a part of the crowd 
 who knew nothing of the disturbance ; which 
 had attracted the less notice, since all were 
 intent on learning the cause of the ominous 
 toll. Rosa led the way with a light but firm 
 step, from the great square, and so to the water- 
 side, higher up the canal at a more private 
 place than at the steps of the piazetta : presently 
 they were seated within the awning of one of 
 the many boats which even in that troublous 
 time plied in the watery streets of Venice. Rosa 
 fastened back the curtain of the boat, so as to 
 admit the night breeze. She had laid Teresa 
 on one of the seats : Sebastian still held her 
 clasped in his arms, her head lying on his 
 breast. The repose of the boat and the fresh 
 air on the water seemed to revive her. 
 
 "Speak to her," said Rosa ; "it will rouse 
 her ; and she should not reach home thus.'' 
 
 Sebastian whispered Teresa's name, and
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. Ill 
 
 pressed her gently in his arms. Her eyes 
 opened for an instant, and then closed again ; 
 but she knew him, for she nestled her bruised 
 head closer to him as an infant presses against its 
 mother to be reassured of safety. Presently 
 she opened her eyes again, and putting her 
 hand to her brow, seemed to collect her 
 memory. Suddenly snatching Sebastian's hand, 
 she pressed it to her lips : " The third time 
 saved!" she whispered. 'I hen looking round 
 she saw in the faint light, that some one was 
 near them. " Ranieri ?" she cried. 
 
 " It is not Ranieri," said the other, drawing 
 nearer to her, " but Rosa." 
 
 Teresa stretched out her hand to take Rosa's, 
 but suddenly starting, she exclaimed, "And 
 Ranieri is he not here ? It is so dark, I cannot 
 see him." 
 
 " Ranieri, dearest," answered Sebastian, 
 "is not with you ; but you are safe." 
 
 " Alas alas ! Sebastian let us go back. That 
 was what I staid for, but that I was so weak.
 
 112 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 Alas! they were bearing him I think to death. 
 Let us go back ; it may not yet be too late." 
 
 Sebastian would have obeyed her ; but Rosa 
 prevented him. " Ranieri is not here," she 
 said, " but you must go homeward, dear lady." 
 
 " Nay, nay, not without my brother." 
 
 " Indeed you must," said Rosa, pressing her 
 arm as if to make her yield" your mother " 
 
 " My mother ! what of her ? Oh ! it is so 
 dark, Rosa, that I cannot see your face to tell 
 what you mean." 
 
 " Your mother is safe, but, sweet lady, in 
 sore fear at your absence. You must go back." 
 Rosa's voice was low and forced, as if she tried 
 to seem calmer than she felt. 
 
 " Rosa, your voice is altered," cried Teresa; 
 " tell me what it is." 
 
 "Why, no more than I have told you. I 
 went to your house, hearing that something was 
 amiss, and as I came to the door I found your 
 mother " 
 
 ' My mother ! in the street ?"
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 113 
 
 " Aye, with some women round her, half 
 terrified at her, and the fools ! half taking 
 pleasure to tell her what they had heard " 
 
 " And that was ?" 
 
 " Of Ranieri, whom they knew." 
 
 " My poor mother ! but you left her not in 
 the streets of Venice, Rosa mine." 
 
 " Indeed I did not. I led her in, and to 
 soothe her, set out to find you ; for you it was 
 she asked for when they told her of Ranieri. 
 But stop the boat, Messer Sebastian ; for it 
 were better to land here. Can you go with his 
 support alone, lady mine ?" 
 
 Sebastian paid the men ; and they were soon 
 on shore. It was dark, but a slight glimmer of 
 moonlight shewed the path . Teresa suffered Se- 
 bastian to pass his arm round her to support her, 
 but she stepped hastily forward ; and a few silent 
 minutes brought them to the door of her house. 
 It was unclosed; but all was silent without. 
 Teresa entered. Sebastian followed her close ; 
 and while they passed on, Rosa staid to fasten
 
 114 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 the door. On the stair, Teresa stopped and 
 listened. She hurried forward. At the top of 
 the stair she listened again. A light in the 
 distant room gleamed faintly through the open 
 doors ; but all was still as death. Teresa turned 
 to Sebastian, and took his hand : she shook so , 
 that he could hear the quaking of her limbs. 
 
 " Sebastian Sebastian !" she cried, in a 
 choked whisper ; " this silence ! I shall go mad 
 with terror." 
 
 " Dearest love, your mother is worn out 
 and sleeps. Stay you here, and let me go for- 
 ward." 
 
 " No no ; I am stronger now that I have 
 heard your voice." And she went on, but more 
 cautiously, until they reached the saloon now 
 so familiar to Sebastian. Never had sight 
 made Sebastian's stout heart quail like that 
 which then met their eyes. 
 
 At the opposite door stood Bianca, in her 
 white night-dress, holding in her hand above her 
 head the only lamp that lighted the place : her
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 115 
 
 attitude was fixed as stone ; her face was more 
 pale than marble, and strained forward as her 
 glassy eyes pierced the gloom beyond, her thin 
 hair, grey before its time, hanging in lank locks 
 on either side ; and she held her left hand up 
 with the finger extended, as though she had 
 bid her breath be more silent, that she might 
 listen for her children. So she had stood, 
 listening to the distant tumult, ever since Rosa 
 had left her, vainly hoping that she would remain 
 in her bed. As Teresa entered, Bianca's eyes 
 glared for a moment with a wilder stare ; for 
 she doubted her disordered senses, and thought 
 that she saw in her daughter's pale and terrified 
 face and dishevelled hair, a vision wretched as 
 herself; but when she saw that it was really 
 Teresa, her rigid form relaxed; she essayed 
 to step forward. She tottered ; the lamp fell 
 from her hand, leaving them in darkness ; and 
 after the clang of the falling brass, a heavier 
 and deader sound told them that Bianca her- 
 self had fallen. Teresa had already come so
 
 1 16 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 close, that she could take her mother in her 
 arms. She called to her ; but there was no 
 answer. Sebastian had found them, and 
 helped to support the lifeless form. There was 
 a pause; in the darkness and the silence, 
 Sebastian almost fancied that he was alone, 
 dreaming of what he knew was doing near 
 him. 
 
 " I will fetch a light," said Teresa. Her 
 voice was so hoarse, that at first Sebastian 
 knew it not. He heard her go, and Bianca 
 remained alone in his arms. Presently Teresa 
 returned with another lamp. She bent over her 
 mother, and looked earnestly in her face : start- 
 ing back with a shudder, she placed the lamp 
 upon the floor near her, and taking her mother's 
 hand, prostrated herself before her on the 
 ground, and placed that hand on her own head, 
 as though she would make it bless her. Sebastian 
 looked round upon Bianca's face, as the head 
 leaned back in his arm : he closed the upturned 
 eyes. A hand pressed on his shoulder again
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 117 
 
 made him look round. Rosa pointed to Teresa, 
 as she herself kneeled down to take Bianca's 
 body from his support. He lifted Teresa from 
 the ground. She tried, almost roughly, to tear 
 away his grasp ; but at the sound of his voice 
 she suffered him to place her on a chair ; while 
 Rosa, tenderly raising the body in her powerful 
 arms, bore it from the room to the bed where 
 its life had withered away so long.
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 AFTER the first stun of her grief had passed, 
 Teresa again bethought her of her brother, and 
 would once more have set out in quest of him ; 
 but Sebastian appeased her, with a promise to 
 search for him; arid leaving the sufferer in 
 Rosa's charge, he went to the scene of con- 
 flict. Nadale was still lying there : some one 
 had dragged the wounded wretch to the side, 
 among the stones set for building in the 
 yet unfinished part of the Piazza; hut no one 
 had fetched him away. Sebastian called a man 
 to him, and gave him a piece of gold to strive to 
 restore his fallen foe to consciousness and bear 
 him home ; promising him another reward on 
 tidings of the man's recovery, and on learning 
 his name. But Ranieri could nowhere be
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 119 
 
 found. Sebastian returned to Teresa, to con- 
 sole her as he best could, with hopes of Ranieri^s 
 safety, since the neglect of Nadale showed him 
 how completely their enemies had been routed. 
 
 That night, while Rosa remained with Teresa, 
 he watched in one of the lower rooms of the 
 house. Early in the morning he renewed the 
 search for Ranieri, but still without success. 
 Providing himself with money which his good 
 uncle had left at his disposal, he returned to 
 the house of mourning. 
 
 Rosa admitted him, and stopped him, as he 
 would have passed on with a courteous saluta- 
 tation. " This," she said, "is no place for 
 Madonna Teresa." It was the very feeling in 
 his mind ; but he had not yet bethought him 
 of any safe retreat for her. Rosa continued 
 " She must be removed with all speed." 
 
 " Have you then a place where she can be 
 safe?" 
 
 " Alas ! no, I have not not in my house,
 
 120 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 anywhere but there. Still I can find such a 
 place." 
 
 " And how forgive me, dear damsel, how 
 shall I be assured of her safety ?" 
 
 Rosa looked at him proudly, but not angrily. 
 " You do well not to trust one so precious to 
 strange hands. Ask Teresa who 1 am ; she 
 will tell you all; and then trust me, and I will 
 bless you for it. I know not how it is, Messer 
 Sebastian, but on the success of your love, or 
 rather of Teresa's, rests my hope that happi- 
 ness in the world is possible ; not mine own 
 perhaps, but some happiness. But I speak 
 without your understanding. Let Teresa tell 
 you, and then trust her to me ; for in all that I 
 can serve her, henceforth she is my mistress. It 
 is the blessed power of the good, that even when 
 unfortunate themselves, they can give happi- 
 ness and consolation to others." 
 
 She left him, and he repaired to Teresa. He 
 found her more composed, and for the first time
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 121 
 
 he heard the story of what had happened, so far 
 as she knew it, to make the danger from which 
 he had rescued her. " I once told you, Sebas- 
 tian," she said, " to abandon a fate so doomed 
 as that of my house : little did 1 think then that 
 yet worse mischance and degradation would visit 
 it ; and yet, though I have stronger reason, I can- 
 not now bid you abandon me : why did I not 
 use the power while I had it ? But I have it 
 no longer." 
 
 " I will not, sweet life," answered Sebastian, 
 " scold you for such disloyalty as to wish you 
 had done what would have destroyed me though 
 it had not killed me ; but rather let it be the 
 stronger reason why you should suffer me to 
 take you to myself in the face of the world, so 
 that your fate may be made more fortunate by 
 being made mine, and mine more blessed by 
 being made yours." i 
 
 " Not so. - 1 will not rob Venice in the day 
 of danger of the best among its servants I am 
 not so craven as even to desire your safety at 
 
 VOL. II. G
 
 122 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 such a price. I will not risk the trouble to you 
 which so strange a marriage might bring upon 
 you from the displeasure of your father or of 
 the Grand Council. No, Sebastian, before I 
 consent that you wed the daughter of a traitor, 
 and the sister of a traitor, let us try to discover 
 proof of the innocence I believe. Besides, I 
 dare not, yet trembling with the sight we saw 
 last night, and while my unhappy mother still 
 lingers on the earth that was so cruelly matched 
 with her angel nature, I dare not take to 
 myself so much happiness, lest it drive away the 
 sorrow that I ought yet to suffer as a sacrifice to 
 that sainted spirit." 
 
 " Be it as you will," said Sebastian ; and he 
 told her of what Rosa had said. Teresa in 
 turn told him Rosa's history ; saying that in 
 her own life she had run worse risks than she 
 feared from trusting Rosa. Sebastian perforce 
 consented. 
 
 That night the body of Bianca w as silently 
 interred; none but a few holy men, and three
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 123 
 
 mourners, a man and two women, witnessing 
 the dismal ceremony. Teresa returned not 
 home ; but guarded by her two friends, she 
 was placed with all possible privacy in the house 
 of Pierotto, Rosa's ancient friend and neigh- 
 bour. Before he again suddenly took leave of 
 her next day, Sebastian, summoned to the sea- 
 coast, felt more certain of her safety than he 
 had vet done.
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 WHEN Nadale was so suddenly attacked, his 
 friends, remembering his audacious words, to 
 which they almost as audaciously had listened, 
 and fearing that the officers of the Ten were 
 upon them, made such good use of their heels, 
 that in few minutes no two were in sight of 
 each other. Those who had held Ranier^ 
 hastily let him fall. Although slightly stunned 
 by striking against the tiles, with which Venice 
 was then paved, and somewhat bruised by the 
 feet of those hurrying to and fro in the dark, he 
 soon recovered. He had heard from the attack, 
 and the manner of his captors' flight, that there 
 had been a rescue, and he hoped for Teresa's 
 safety. Drawing to the side of the square, he
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 125 
 
 sat down with his back against the wall to rest 
 from the pain he suffered, and to think what he 
 should next do. He more than ever feared to 
 go home, lest the guilt that he could not disavow 
 should be visited on his mother and sister ; and 
 he was more still bent on striving to reach 
 Sebastian, at the sea-coast. But his money was 
 gone. As he sat, he saw a gentleman stumble, 
 and presently stoop down, and drag something 
 towards the place where Ranieri sat; he saw 
 that it was the body of a man, and he 
 guessed that the other had stumbled over it, 
 and now dragged it out of the way for the sake 
 of pity. As the youth sat, he was in the dark, 
 to which his eyes better accustomed could see 
 without being seen ; so that the gentleman 
 dragged the body close to him, and left it there 
 without speaking. Ranieri went towards it 
 It was Nadale : and by the warmth and hard 
 breathing, the youth knew that he still lived. As 
 he looked, he remembered that the ruffian had 
 robbed him of the two ducats which he had
 
 126 THE TOSTER-BROTHEK. 
 
 taken, and he bethought him that he migh! 
 recover them. So opening the man's bosom, 
 he felt for them ; and he found them in a 
 pocket ; and also in the man's girdle was Ra- 
 nieri's poniard, which he took back again. 
 He left the man's vest open, so that he might 
 be the more likely to revive from the air ; for 
 he did not wish to have blood upon his head. 
 Then leaving the square, he returned to Cana- 
 reggio and the house which he had left that 
 evening. At first the woman refused to let 
 him enter ; for she had heard of his misadven- 
 ture, and she feared to bring trouble upon her- 
 self if he were found in the house ; but he 
 besought her so earnestly not to leave him to 
 perish, and promised her so saucily that he 
 would pay her with kisses, if she would not tell 
 her husband, that the good woman, who per- 
 haps liked his gay spirit and young beauty 
 better than it would have pleased her to tell 
 her husband, though she thought that there was 
 no real harm with such a child, opened her
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 127 
 
 door, and let the wanderer in. Be sure he did 
 not forget the promised guerdon ; for the fisher- 
 man was not yet returned. For two days the 
 tender-hearted woman concealed him ; and so 
 well did he tell his tale, and so skilfully put 
 the offer of his two golden ducats, that on the 
 third day the man consented to convey him to 
 Lido. 
 
 They waited till the night was far advanced ; 
 arid then the fisher set out with a helpmate and 
 Ranieri, as if for his daily toil. They cleared 
 the city without hindrance from the guards, who 
 recognized the man's voice ; and using their 
 best speed, though they made a wide bend to 
 avoid the Genoese, they arrived at Lido at 
 early noon, and the boatman offered some fish 
 to the soldiers that gathered round his boat. 
 " Nay, we want to buy no fish," cried one ; " the 
 Republic pays for us." " But it is fine and 
 fresh ; no Republic can have fish so fine and 
 fresh as that ; for it must get bad and stinking 
 before it can possibly pass through the offices."
 
 128 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 " He says true," said another; "but I care not 
 for fish. Come, you must not stay here. And 
 what are you landing for, youngster ?" he said 
 to Ranieri. "Oh!" answered the fisher, "he 
 is going to his master. You do not think that 
 young gallant is a fisherman, do you ?" " His 
 master ! And who is your master, Signer 
 Ragazzetto?'' " Messer Sebastiano Morosini." 
 "Nonsense, what can he want of boy lackeys 
 like you ? Push off again, I tell you ; get into 
 the boat, or I'll throw you in." " Stay/' said 
 Ranieri, subduing his anger, and passively 
 resisting the rough soldier : " See, there is one 
 who knows me ; that English soldier there, with 
 the red sleeves under his mail. Ola, Turnbull !" 
 Most fortunately, Ranieri 's sturdy friend was 
 loitering by; and after one look of astonish- 
 ment, with more ready wit than his broad face 
 gave him credit for, he suddenly understood 
 Ranieri to be a page to Sebastian, and stoutly 
 vouched for the fact ; moreover seizing the youth 
 in his arm, and interposing the weight of his
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 129 
 
 massy form between his friend and the guard. 
 By this time the boat was far on its way back 
 to Venice, and the Venetian soldiers suffered 
 their English comrade to bear off his prize. 
 " And now, Messer Arduino, that I have helped 
 you ashore, what am I to do with you ?" " Lead 
 me to Sebastian." 
 
 As they passed along, Ranieri's inexperienced 
 eyes were astonished at the change which had 
 been made on the island. Besides the fort 
 which guarded the entrance, now beyond his 
 view, the whole place was fortified. Vines and 
 fruits were all gone. Palisades, and walls, and 
 ditches were seen on every side ; and here and 
 there rose towers, strangers to his sight, some of 
 wood, others of solid stone. They seemed to 
 to be within a very extensive palisade which 
 stretched far beyond his power to distinguish 
 it ; and all around were the tents of the soldiers 
 collected by the Republic. "There," cried 
 Turnbull, pointing, and patching up his broken 
 Italian as he best could with scraps of English 
 G 2
 
 1,*30 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 muttered to himself "as far as you can see to 
 the left, those are the men of Robert Recanati ; 
 he came ten days ago. New tents he wants, I 
 think, for I never saw such a ragged fair. Yon- 
 der are our tents. Some have got brown 
 enough, but they are all sound. And I will tell 
 you, Signer, if ever you are a captain, give 
 your men sound tents and sound food, and 
 teach them your sword exercise, and never 
 mind these new artillery things : let your men 
 sleep well, feed well, and fight well, and you 
 will win the battle, though you may make less 
 noise. These tents before us, are yours. Not 
 all your men ; but only some put here, I think, 
 to be guards over the foreign soldiers. There 
 are not many, you see, for Signer Cooke's men 
 will do as well ; but I guess those Recanati 
 want a good guard ; for you will not see a 
 stranger set of 'brigands that is to the look. 
 They fight well enough sometimes, they say. 
 Now, here is Messer Sebastian's lodging. I 
 will wait to see you again before you go." " You
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 131 
 
 will see me again, and often ; for I hope I shall 
 not go." 
 
 The tent was empty, and the youth wasted 
 some time alone. At length a cavalier entered 
 it. He was tall, and stout limbed, and clothed 
 in armour richly dight with gold. No vizor was 
 on his bascinet, which showed a face somewhat 
 flushed with the heat of his arms. On the 
 front of his jupon was blazoned the blue bend 
 dexter on a white field, of the Morosini : and 
 Ranieri knew that it was Sebastian who gazed 
 in surprise upon the unknown tenant of his 
 lodging. 
 
 " Messer Sebastiano," said the youth, who 
 would not mar his enterprise at the last for want 
 of bold speaking ; " here is one who would 
 thrust himself upon you for a servant, if you 
 will have him, who is ready to serve and die for 
 you. I am Ranieri Arduino." 
 
 " Ranieri J Your sister?" 
 
 " She is safe," answered Ranieri, " and hath 
 wherewithal to live. I have come to you, Se-
 
 132 THE COSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 bastian, only for my own sake. Sebastian, Teresa 
 gave you her faith : Teresa herself has reared 
 me : I have come to ask for your faith. I have 
 come to you because I dare not live in Venice. 
 I must be secret so secret that I must not even 
 tell you what you will hear told of me. Yet 
 I ask you for a while to believe me innocent 
 in spite of all, and to let me stay in your ser- 
 vice. I swear to you that I shall bring no dis- 
 grace upon you, and that Teresa shall one day 
 thank you. Do you believe me ?" 
 
 Sebastian surveyed the boy. Although his 
 fair face was naturally ruddier than his sister's, 
 . and now of a manly brown ; although his aqui- 
 line nose, dark brown eyes, and rich curling 
 hair, gave a more commanding beauty to his 
 aspect, the lover saw something of the same 
 earnest simplicity that had mastered him in 
 Teresa; and with a firm and kind voice he 
 answered, " I will." 
 
 Ranieri hastily recounted much of what had 
 befallen him, already known in part to Se-
 
 THE POSTER-BROTHER. 133 
 
 bastian ; and so far its truth confirmed the 
 belief of the boy's honesty. He finished by 
 saying, "And will you take me to be yonr 
 servant ?" 
 
 " For my brother, Ranieri. Say no more : 
 I know more than you think is known, and will 
 await the rest." 
 
 " No, Sebastian, not yet for your brother. 
 When I can make it known that I am undis- 
 graced, even in seeming, you shall call ine so ; 
 till then, if I am your meanest servant, I 
 have more than my right, and more than I 
 myself can thank you for." 
 
 Just so Teresa had spoken. Sebastian 
 answered, " Be it as you will: you shall be to 
 me my brother ; to others my page : and right 
 fortunate am I to gain so trusty a friend."
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 GREAT was the consternation of the Venetians 
 at the defenceless state of their city. Many 
 charged the advance of the Genoese on the 
 ill-used Pisani, and blamed the indulgence of 
 the Senate which had released an unsuccessful 
 commander from the punishment of his fault to 
 resume the lead. Others hinted, cautiously and 
 stealthily, at treachery ; fearing that the very 
 people they spoke to might themselves be the 
 traitors, and revenge the suspicion in some 
 dreadful way. More thought they read in the 
 reverses of their arms the displeasure of heaven 
 and the doom of a sinful people. It was with 
 the gloomiest countenances that the Senators 
 assembled in their spacious council-chamber,
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHFR. 135 
 
 to deliberate on the next step to be taken. Not 
 a few had come from Pisani's fleet or from the 
 scene of war on the sea-shore ; and under their 
 robes might be heard the clank of arms, covered 
 as in the last meeting that we recorded, by the 
 senatorial robes, but not laid aside. Among 
 these was Marco Morosini. Erect he walked, 
 and seldom was his mien so cheerfnl. The 
 large scar on his forehead, still redder than 
 the skin around it, was an honourable ensign of 
 the obstinacy with which he had resisted the 
 foe at Chiozza. His cheeks were slightly 
 tinged with a ruddy flush, so well had the sea 
 air and camp life suited his health. The robe 
 he wore hung open and displayed the mail on 
 his breast, which was cut and bent in every 
 part, but only mended where most he needed it. 
 His grey eyes flashed with more than common 
 fire, so that to look upon him raised the courage 
 of the timid. 
 
 When a goodly number had assembled, 
 Andrea Contarini entered the hall, and walked
 
 136 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 to his throne. He also was upright, and his 
 swelling chest seemed thrust out to stem the 
 tide of trouble. His face was grave, but calm 
 and steadfast, as that of one who knew the full 
 danger, but feared not to meet all. The grey 
 hair, that showed the whiter for the red cap 
 which covered it, was thinner : but the 
 snowy beard was thick and deftly-trimmed : 
 age could bleach its colour, but could not in 
 the smallest trifle chill the life and energy of the 
 veteran. He seated himself on the throne, and 
 for few moments surveyed the assembly, while 
 the last stragglers were coming in ; then rising 
 and speaking in a loud firm voice, he said, 
 " Most excellent fathers, few words will tell you 
 the purpose of our meeting. The time has 
 come for Venice to achieve her greatest glory, 
 for now is her danger greater than ever it was. 
 Our foe is in the lagoons ; our advanced posts 
 have been passed ; our means are well nigh run 
 out; and nothing remains to Venice, but the 
 Venetians; nothing but the strength and wis-
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 137 
 
 dom of her sons. It is your part to say 
 how that strength and wisdom shall be used, 
 for all must be used, or all beside be lost. 
 You know that the barrier at the port of 
 Venice has been forced. How, we know 
 not ; but this we know, that at that post there 
 were men more zealous, more faithful than 
 almost any in our whole city. It was the 
 fortune of war.'' 
 
 " Your pardon, excellent Prince," cried 
 Molino, rising with a flushed and angry coun- 
 tenance, his heavy loud voice ringing in the 
 vaulted roof; "your pardon, if I say to you 
 we must not be so easily content to lay the fault 
 to the fortune of war. No, others must answer 
 it to Venice. We must not it is no time for us 
 to dally with compliments, and parade our 
 affection and respect while Venice is threatened 
 with destruction. Be it cowardice, be it ill- 
 fortune, he that fails in her defence merits no 
 pardon. He is not fit to be a citizen of Venice; 
 but he that has been Venetian can be nothing
 
 138 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 else in this world. It were his best fate to die. 
 Yes, I say it, though my friend should be the 
 victim. There is one yet who must answer it to 
 Venice -there he sits : I accuse him to you, 
 most excellent fathers. Let him defend himself 
 if he can. I accuse him, my friend, Pietro di 
 Bernardo, of treachery to Venice, for that he was 
 too weak in her defence." 
 
 A murmur arose as the Avogadore took his 
 seat. The Doge had remained standing ; but he 
 also sat when Pietro di Bernardo stood up. The 
 gay Pietro looked sad and downcast, and he 
 leaned for support on the back of the bench 
 behind him. " I do confess it," he said, " and 
 crave nothing but that the pleasure of the State 
 may be done on this worthless frame. It is 
 true that numbers, who had escaped our guards 
 at the outward barrier, poured upon us suddenly 
 in the darkening day ; it is true, that we fought 
 until the chains themselves gave way. until our 
 own dead lay heavy on many who had fallen
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 139 
 
 and could not rise, and our own arms were 
 faint with the loss of the blood that bathed the 
 waters as they flowed in upon us; but had more 
 valiant men possessed the post that we, in the 
 pride and ardour of love for Venice, had thrust 
 ourselves upon, they might perchance better 
 have resisted ; or if the unstable chains had 
 defeated even them, they might somewhat more 
 have thinned the number of the invaders. Let 
 us, as we could not serve Venice with our arms, 
 serve her in being examples of punishment.'' 
 Ser Pietro covered his face with his hands. 
 
 The Doge lifted up his finger, and stilled the 
 murmur. " Messer Pietro di Bernardo's grief," 
 he said, " is but the testimony to the zeal and 
 devotion with which he resisted the dangers that 
 close on Venice. But it is not our part to help 
 ill fate in destroying the number of our faithful 
 citizens. Rather let us devise the means of 
 escaping or rather of thrusting back this dan- 
 ger upon itself. We must throw the whole 
 strength and wealth of Venice into the struggle ;
 
 140 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 for better were it to spend all that she is worth 
 to spend Venice herself than to let her fall a 
 prize to the Genoese." 
 
 He was silent, and there was a pause, when 
 Malipiero rose, and with a pale face and quiver- 
 ing lips, cried " Long enough have we suffered 
 this oppression; too long have we looked to 
 councils, and to generals, and to common stra- 
 tagems of war, which settle nothing. Let us 
 finish this. Let a sword be put into the hand 
 of every Venetian, and let us rush upon our 
 enemy. If man for man be killed, enough 
 Venetians will remain to people these lagoons, 
 and to make the city more terrible than ever." 
 
 This battle cry took the grave Senate by sur- 
 prise, and great numbers rose, shouting aloud. 
 Contarini again raised his hand, the tumult was 
 hushed. As the Senators again sat down, Bar- 
 barigo remained standing. " I rejoice, most 
 illustrious Prince and most excellent fathers,'' 
 he said, in a calm and pleasant voice, " at this 
 outburst, so unused in our grave halls. I
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 141 
 
 accept it as proof that the love of ^Venice and 
 the courage of her sons are strong as ever. But 
 it is not for us here in this Senate to forget that 
 we are something more than soldiers. It is not 
 for us to scoff at the manifest displeasure of Hea- 
 ven for what but such high displeasure could 
 thus have made the Venetians weak before the 
 Genoese ; whaj could have disarmed our noble 
 and most brave defender, Ser Pietro di 
 Bernardo ; what could have prevented even the 
 powerful Messer Vittor Pisani from conquering 
 with his accustomed skill the mariner's old 
 enemies the winds and waves? What else 
 has removed from us we thought it mischance, 
 but what else than the terrible wrath of God 
 St. Mark and the Holy Virgin intercede for 
 us ! what else could have removed from us at 
 such a time our chief reliance Messer Carlo 
 Zeno ? Heaven has taken from us the means 
 of victory. We have sent for our great captain ; 
 but does not destruction march upon the city, 
 even before he can possibly arrive, though the
 
 142 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 Englishman should have outstripped the winds ? 
 Nay, do we know that our galley is still above 
 the waters ? Did it not leave us in time of 
 storm ? They do say too that there is treachery 
 amongst us the Englishman is a stranger 
 Nay, nay, excellent fathers, think not that I 
 accuse that most noble stranger ; rather let me 
 say that such accusal is base and not to be 
 believed except on proof. But shall we risk the 
 fate of all our doomed race in defying Heaven ? 
 Is Venice all that we possess , or are these small 
 islands in which we are now cooped up really 
 Venice ? We are Venice ; and Venice is where 
 we abide. We have fairer lands even than 
 this. Candia is ours. A new empire might 
 we create, and Candia, held by Venice, would 
 become the centre of a new Christian empire 
 in the East, rising where the ancient one falls. 
 Let us conquer by yielding exchange Venice 
 for Candia and strengthen our sons to avenge 
 the defeat which we avoid." 
 
 The Senators looked at each other in amaze,
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 143 
 
 but not altogether in displeasure ; they talked 
 in knots. Contarini sat silent, as though 
 watching how the project worked. In the 
 general move, Lionardo Morosini might be 
 seen to approach his cousin and speak to him 
 earnestly; while Marco turned angrily from 
 him. 
 
 " I do but say what Messer Alessandro 
 would have counselled/' whispered Lionardo, 
 " had he encountered you on your landing." 
 
 " Alessandro ever counsels k what is most for 
 the honour of Venice ; and he never, Messer 
 Lionardo, fails to be convinced when I have 
 shown him such reasons as now I tell you." 
 He rose hastily, and moving a step or two 
 from his cousin, he spoke aloud. " Let us not 
 be cast down, most excellent Prince, because 
 our perils are great; for many of you, most 
 excellent fathers, who have been as I have in 
 our camp, know full well that our citizens have 
 lost no jot of their prowess or their fidelity. 
 No, the fortune of war is uncertain, most noble
 
 144 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 senators ; but our strength is as great as ever 
 to seize the next turn in our favour. Nor is 
 our wisdom so exhausted that we must say 
 we have neither counsel nor strength left us to 
 stand before our enemy, but must fly for safety 
 like cranes before the hunter. Have we lost 
 our reason in the tumult of arms ? Believe it 
 not. I can say, that even the fatigues of the 
 combat have not been able to make me sleep 
 so hard at nights, but what I could devise 
 plans for Venice and her succour. And this is 
 my plan ; Charing in the impatience and devo- 
 tion of the most illustrious and most noble 
 Messer Jacopo Malipiero, but less in the fiery 
 courage which makes that puissant cavalier so 
 invincible in fight. Let us call upon the Vene- 
 tians for aid; not by decree and the force of 
 law, but by the force of honour and of con- 
 science. Trust me, excellent fathers, this will 
 bring far greater succours than would a forced 
 subsidy. We will not tax them at all, we will 
 not seize upon a single rower ; but we will ask
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 145 
 
 them to give, for the love of St. Mark, of 
 Venice, of their wives and children. We will 
 promise them renown renown for all; profit 
 for those that give freely ; and let us, to save 
 our noble power, dispense some of its honours 
 to those who most do devote their substance to 
 our cause. To save the roll of our nobility, by 
 a trifle extend it. High and wealthy merchants 
 are there in this city, scarcely less noble than 
 ourselves, yet by fortune, not so soon reaching 
 this place as we did through our ancestors, are 
 they shut out. If they do give what^ we do to 
 preserve Venice, they are not less noble ; and 
 lest us call them noble. One word more : if 
 the Senate in its wisdom do judge to accept 
 the counsel of Messer Marin Barbarigo, one 
 at least will never leave these his native islands; 
 but at the foot of the altar of Santo Stefano 
 shall be found the mangled body of him whose 
 forefathers have worshipped there ever since 
 the church was built whose name is as old as 
 
 VOL. II. H
 
 146 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 Venice, and fixed to the rocks on which our 
 mansions stand/' 
 
 Loud was the applause; and senator after 
 senator rose to say that the Morosini's plan 
 was the wisest. Malipiero rushed across the 
 hall, and grasping Morosini's hand, declared 
 that he had saved the city. Yet did not 
 Barbarigo's party, though few in number, so 
 readily give up their counsel ; and the debate 
 was kept up to a late hour at the day. At 
 length, when Andrea Contarini was asked for 
 his judgment, he spoke, and said that as each 
 had by turns told his seeming, he thought each 
 good and worthy to be done ; but that Moro- 
 sini's was the one to do first, and Barbarigo's 
 last of all; therefore, at that present council, 
 the Doge would make choice of Morosini's 
 device. And so it was decreed.
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 THE patriotic Morosini had not misreckoned 
 the effect of his project. Such speed was 
 made, that before night it was proclaimed in 
 the great square, that Venice, in the extremity 
 of her peril, needed the aid of all true citizens 
 to serve her by their persons or substance; and 
 that among those who gave most, either of 
 money or men, or who best served the state by 
 their acts, thirty men of the people should be 
 made nobles of the Grand Council, they and 
 their children for ever; that each year for 
 evermore fifty thousand golden ducats should 
 be dispensed among others ; and that foreigners 
 should have a further guerdon, in being ad- 
 mitted as citizens of Venice with all privileges
 
 148 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 thereunto pertaining. No rest was there in the 
 city that night. While some kept guard, others 
 met in their houses, calculating what they 
 might give ; some using then* best wits to dis- 
 cover how little they could keep for themselves; 
 others to learn what their neighbours would 
 give, and how therefore they themselves might 
 buy the prizes with least cost. Betimes on 
 the morrow Andrea Contarini took his station 
 in the hall of the Grand Council, which was 
 thrown open to all who chose to enter with 
 an offering. A multitude assembled at the 
 entrance and in the great square ; and as they 
 came and went the bearers of aid were loudly 
 greeted. The first to appear before the Doge 
 were two tall and stalwart youths, whose mail 
 and browned faces showed that they had 
 already been in the fight Donate Bartolomeo 
 and Giovannino, the sons of Guido Everardo : 
 they came hand in hand ; and Donate, with a 
 modest mien, declared that he and his brother 
 would give their persons to be disposed of at the
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 149 
 
 pleasure of the Senate, with their servant, at 
 their own cost. Next came two other brothers 
 Marco and Aluise Boni, who promised in 
 like manner to serve themselves, and to provide 
 four bowmen, for two months. Others fol- 
 lowed; one offering himself, another his men, 
 others the usual pay of bowmen and rowers, 
 eight ducats and four ducats a month, for dif- 
 ferent numbers, and different periods. At 
 length came the venerable Bernardino de* Gar- 
 zoni: after making his obeisance, he said, 
 " Old age, and the near approach of death, 
 most illustrious Prince, make me think of 
 others that die and of those they leave behind 
 them ; and, therefore, first, will I offer to the 
 State two hundred ducats of gold to give to 
 the widows and children of the poor soldiers 
 who are slain. That said, I will ask you to 
 take part of what I possess through the 
 strength and protection of this city suffer me 
 to pay for one month all the bowmen in your 
 own galley, and all the bowmen of twenty-five
 
 150 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 galleys for half that time." The Doge smiled, 
 and bowed his head, thinking that the aged 
 citizen had done ; but he continued " Further, 
 I would offer all the profits that come to me 
 for moneys that I have lent. There are not a 
 few small boats that I have, which are not 
 worth mention, but that they may serve some 
 use. Lastly would I were richer I do yield 
 up to the State the two sons already at Lido, 
 and the third, my young Giovannino, who will 
 soon arrive from Bologna." 
 
 " I begin, Messer Bernardino," said the 
 Doge, with a pleasant smile, " to make sure of 
 victory, and to think that both of us may yet 
 live to hear the sounds of triumph once more 
 resounding in Venice." 
 
 More followed, until Donado da Ca, sup- 
 ported by a youth his servant, painfully 
 approached the steps before the throne, and in 
 a feeble voice declared that he would provide 
 ten bowmen for two months ; saying, " More 
 would I give, and these poor arms should still
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 151 
 
 combat for Venice ; but all that my poor means 
 could furnish was spent for my ransom when 
 I was taken prisoner in the last war with the 
 Lord of Padua ; and for myself, the worst was 
 done when these limbs were for ever made 
 unfit to serve my country, for they put me to 
 the torture." 
 
 " I came," said Marco Storlado, "to offer 
 my son and twenty bowmen ; but, in place of 
 this my good friend Donado, I also will go 
 with twenty other bowmen; so that Messer 
 Francesco shall gain little by spoiling one 
 Venetian." 
 
 " Well said, good Storlado," cried Raffain 
 Caresini, the Grand Chancellor, rising from his 
 seat ; " and besides that my brother is going 
 with our bowmen, I will 'give five hundred, and 
 he shall give three hundred ducats of gold, for 
 the sake of Messer Donado." 
 
 " Good sirs," said Donado, " I did never 
 think to find my maiming a source of riches, as 
 now it is ; and I would be tortured often and
 
 152 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 again, could my agony always bear such sweet 
 fruits." 
 
 " Then/' said Matteo Fasuolo, advancing, 
 " do I hope that my poverty may yet serve the 
 State : in ransom and in ventures seized at sea, 
 the Genoese have taken all I had, so that the 
 very house I lived in I sold to pay my poor 
 mariners. Some kind friends have fed me of 
 their good bounty; I am so very poor that 
 nought have I but this body, not yet quite past 
 service ; and I do hope, most illustrious Prince, 
 that Venice will vouchsafe to take it, for it is 
 all I have to give." 
 
 " You have given more than any yet," said 
 Contarini ; " and you shall tell me your name ; 
 for we will set it down as that of the first that 
 gave his all." 
 
 Marco Morosini rose from his seat, and said 
 aloud, " I take shame to myself, Messer lo Doge, 
 for that I, who did recommend that we should 
 give to Venice all we could, have given less
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 153 
 
 than the most generous of us all this worthy 
 citizen, whose name I know not." 
 
 " It is Matteo Fasuolo," shouted many voices; 
 while Morosini approached and took his hand. 
 " I cannot," said the Senator, " offer so much 
 as Messer Matteo Fasuolo ; for my palace, my 
 wealth, my kindred they are not mine, but 
 belong to my house. But in shame at his noble 
 offering will I give all that is mine all my 
 moneys and wealth shall be at the use and ser- 
 vice of the state while the war lasts." 
 
 " Viva Marco Morosini !" shouted those who 
 filled the hall, patrician and plebeian. 
 
 Morosini still stood beside Fasuolo, when a 
 woman, closely veiled, drew near the throne step?. 
 She was tall, and her walk was dignified ; yet a 
 certain timid doubt seemed to arrest her foot- 
 steps. Bowing to the Doge, she held forth a 
 small bag which seemed to be of some weight. 
 The Doge motioned for an attendant to take it, 
 and the woman was about to retire, when the 
 voice of the Prince made her stop. 
 
 H2
 
 154 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 " Is this a gift to the state, lady, or is it by 
 some mistake that you bring it here ?" 
 
 11 It is gold, my lord, I think," said the man 
 who had taken it. 
 
 " But is it your wish that it should be a 
 gift?" said the Doge, still speaking to the 
 woman. 
 
 "It is for the state," she answered. 
 
 That voice ! it thrilled through Morosini 
 with a strange feeling of anger and re-awakened 
 desire ; for, though low and faltering, he knew 
 it to be Teresa's. 
 
 ( ' But as a gift or a loan ?" asked the Doge. 
 
 " Neither. It is the state's already ; and yet 
 it was hardly and nobly earned. My lord, I 
 would say no more, but that it is the state's. 
 Some day you shall be asked to remember that 
 eighty-eight pieces of gold were this day given 
 to the state." 
 
 She was retiring ; when Morosini, with a half- 
 formed impulse to make her disclose herself, 
 partly through revenge, partly to bring her
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 155 
 
 again into his power, cried " Stay, my lord ; 
 perchance this fair lady offers to the state what 
 is not hers to give. It may be that I could tell 
 her history." 
 
 Teresa turned round, and shrunk as she 
 recognised him. 
 
 " How is this ?" asked Contarini. 
 
 " Spare me, my lord," she cried : " I came, 
 trusting to the sacred purpose of this day for 
 protection. What I have done has been for 
 the justification of the injured and the dead; 
 but do not because I am defenceless make me 
 expose myself to what would now be shame, 
 though it shall one day be honour." 
 
 " You speak fair, lady ; and yet your right to 
 give this offering is challenged ; and by one of 
 such high regard, that it needs some stretch of 
 faith to accept." 
 
 " Alas! my right to give it is but too simple : 
 there is none, else to claim that miserable gold. 
 Let your faith go so far, noble prince. Your
 
 156 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 hair has grown white, and yet in your coun- 
 tenance I see the kindness of young faith and 
 the unfaded light of hope ; therefore you should 
 have lived long enough to know how truth will 
 abide and grow even where there is suspicion, 
 or even vileness most foul ; as in rude nature, 
 the flower is hidden among weeds. And if 
 Messer Morosini," she added, drawing herself 
 up, and speaking to him with a firmer voice, 
 " who has guessed my humble self, must needs 
 make me known, and all my misfortunes, 
 let him not think that I will tremble in telling 
 to Venice, before its Doge, my poor history. 
 Suffer me to depart." 
 
 " You shall receive no hurt, young maid," 
 said the Doge, "and shall depart at once, taking 
 with you your gold." 
 
 " Nay, keep that ; I disclaim it. It is not 
 mine." 
 
 "Why now you puzzle us; for if it is not 
 yours, you may not give it, and we may not
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 157 
 
 take it. See you none here that would be 
 sponsor for you." 
 
 "Alas! no." 
 
 " That will I be," said a man who stepped 
 between Teresa and Morosini. At the sound of 
 his voice, both started as though it had been 
 some unearthly sound : it was Sebastian ! 
 Morosini's pale face grew paler; he clenched 
 his hands and teeth, and stepping forward again 
 was about to speak ; but his son's stern regard 
 arrested him. He folded his arms, in silence, 
 tightly embracing himself to master his panting 
 rage. Teresa clasped her hands, and cried to 
 Sebastian, in a hurried whisper " Not now 
 not here ! Sebastian, meddle not with this." 
 
 " The riddle grows more difficult," said the 
 Doge. " What has brought Messer Sebastian 
 to play so strange a part in it ?" 
 
 " My lord, I am from Pelestrina, with a mes- 
 sage for your private ear. This is no time 
 for disputes amongst ourselves. We should
 
 158 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 forget them. Enough that I will answer for 
 this lady with my life." 
 
 " But know you on what quarrel ? I cannot 
 suspect ill of one that hath so sweet a voice 
 and speaks so well ; and were 1 here but as 
 Andrea Contarini, I would take this offering 
 which she has made for the state as most vir- 
 tuously given : but it is your father that accuses 
 her, and says that it is none of hers." 
 
 " Doth the lady say that the gold is hers ?" 
 
 " She does, and she does not." 
 
 " Then my lord, believe that it is hers to give, 
 but not to keep." 
 
 < k But your father ?" 
 
 " He says nothing, my lord. He spoke know- 
 ing less than I do. v 
 
 " How say you, Messer Morosini?" 
 
 " That if a son knows not when it is unseemly 
 to gainsay his parent, the parent should stay 
 that ugly sight by leaving the quarrel. I say- 
 no more, my lord." Morosini spoke in a low
 
 THE FOSTER-BORTHER 159 
 
 and muffled voice ; and turning round he le t 
 the hall. 
 
 The man that held the bag looked towards 
 the Doge, as if for his order; and the Prince, 
 addressing Teresa, said " And now, fair 
 damsel, do you still will that we should keep 
 this gold ?" 
 
 Her voice told that she was in tears. " It 
 has been accursed, even to this last moment 
 that I have had ought to do with it ; but it is 
 shameless, and will be blessed for Venice's 
 sake. Keep it, my lord : and say of it, not 
 thanks, but that it is welcome." 
 
 " It is welcome. May you be happy, my 
 daughter." 
 
 " My lord/' said Sebastian, " I divine, though 
 I know not why the offering is made; but 
 Venice shall one day know why, and for whom 
 I have thus strangely been sponsor. Mean- 
 while, that -which I have to tell you, brooks 
 no delay : suffer me to see this lady properly
 
 160 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 guarded to her home, and then to attend on 
 you." 
 
 " Do so; you shall find me anon in my private 
 room." 
 
 Sebastian took Teresa, still veiled, by the 
 hand, and led her from the hall.
 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 TURNING to the right as they left the palace, 
 
 Sebastian directed his way with Teresa to one 
 
 of the smaller canals, hoping to find a boat to 
 
 cany her homeward without being too much 
 
 noted. They did not altogether escape unseen. 
 
 A man, loitering among the idle crowd, started 
 
 angrily as they passed him, and pressed forward 
 
 to stop their way, but he could not make a 
 
 path through the press until they had got 
 
 beyond. When he was free, the man looked 
 
 after them, and seemed to change his mind ; 
 
 for instead of hastening to address them, he 
 
 slowly followjed, stealthily dogging their steps. 
 
 At the water's edge Sebastian stood, and looked 
 
 up and down the canal; on which their pur-
 
 162 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 suer came up, asked if it was a boat they 
 sought, and he ran off to seek one. Running 
 towards the canal of St. Mark, the man hur- 
 riedly looked around. He was choice in his 
 mood, for instead of hailing the nearest boat, 
 he passed to one a little further on. 
 
 " Tonio \" he cried, breathless with running 
 and his eagerness, "wouldst earn a ducat or 
 two ? Give me your place then, and let me go 
 with your good fellow. Dost not know me 
 dost not remember Nadale, honest Nadale ? 
 Be assured of your money I will pay you in 
 gentleman fashion/' 
 
 " And who will be your surety, Master 
 Nadale ?" 
 
 " My surety ? I myself will be it, for I will 
 go with you or your fellow. But despatch, 
 good Tonio." 
 
 " Why then Pietro here shall give you his 
 place, and I will go myself/ 7 answered Tonio. 
 
 Pietro obeyed ; Nadale jumped in, and in a 
 minute the boat stood ready to receive the pair
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 163 
 
 that awaited it. Having taken his seat, and 
 turned his regard for a moment from his com- 
 panion, Sebastian glanced at the boatman that 
 had been so ready in his service. The face 
 was not unknown to him, and though he could 
 not tell where he had seen it, it occasioned 
 some disquiet to him. The insolent bully, 
 whom he had surprised in Bianca's room, 
 whom he had struck down in the place of St. 
 Mark, was, indeed, little to be known in the 
 new boatman ; that terrible blow of the out- 
 raged lover's fist had so battered the ruffian* s 
 jaw, that it had been ill to mend, and stood all 
 askew ; the rugged beard swerved aside as 
 though it were for ever blown by a strong 
 wind ; the brutal features were sharpened, but 
 not softened by sickness ; an ashy paleness 
 lent a more deadly expression to the natural 
 villainy of the face ; the sunken eyes, the lids 
 dragged somewhat to one side with the hoisting 
 of the jaw, glared under the contracted brow 
 with a more settled malignity; and the once
 
 164 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 sturdy bravo would have been ashamed to o\vn 
 this gaol hospital creature for his counterpart. 
 Sebastian had doubted his own faint memory, 
 and imputed his dislike to nought but the 
 man's sinister looks. He distrusted him 
 enough, however, to prevent going nearer to 
 Teresa's house than midway up the Canareggio ; 
 where he gave their conductor a ducat, and 
 they landed. Nadale watched them as they 
 walked away; then looking for an instant at 
 the coin, he threw it to Tonio, jumped ashore, 
 and followed. He saw them enter the house. 
 
 Once more alone with Sebastian, Teresa 
 took his hand, and smiling sadly, she kissed it. 
 " You will think, my Sebastian, it is so dear 
 to me to be saved by you, that I wantonly 
 make the need for it. But chide me not. 
 That miserable gold weighed upon my heart ; 
 and there seemed no way but one to repair my 
 poor father's most cruel, but most generous 
 fault." 
 
 " Chide you, my sweet life ! when I chide
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 165 
 
 the sun for shining, or you for loving. But 
 these dangers ever remind me that while I am 
 away, you are defenceless and how defence- 
 less ! Be it so no more. Taking counsel with 
 myself, I have devised a way to place you in 
 safety. Of all my friends, none is so noble 
 and so powerful as Messer Carlo Zeno, and none 
 of such perfect generosity. Know, too, that 
 he has a wife worthy of himself a Justiniani ; 
 as indeed, the first was too ; for how could he 
 join himself to what were unworthy? And so 
 the great lady of Greece, who wooed his early 
 love in honour of his young deeds, and the 
 noble Venetian lady, whom afterwards he 
 chose to be the solace of his riper years, both 
 were such as befits Zeno. Madonna Caterina, 
 whom I know well, is a most discreet and 
 noble lady. Let me take you to her, and for 
 the sake of the true love and service that I 
 render to her consort, she will afford you safety 
 and protection. Say that it shall be so, and 
 we will again depart at once."
 
 166 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 Teresa did not answer for a little while, but 
 looked down, musing; and then raising her 
 eyes, she said " It must not be so, Sebastian. 
 It may be that a time shall come when you 
 may own me, though still unfortunate and 
 disgraced before the world; but let that not 
 happen without need. Perchance, when Venice 
 has recovered from these perils, the voice of 
 justice and of the humble may be heard, and 
 my father may disprove his false accusers; 
 but not till then or at least, not while you 
 have trouble enough of arms and dangers not 
 while Venice needs you with all your high 
 renown, unsullied by taint of suspicion, shall 
 you lead forth the traitor's daughter. Mean- 
 while, here I am safe unknown; and with 
 Rosa's watchful care so faithful, so bold, so 
 gentle, I am safe from harm. Believe me, I 
 will not tempt danger again ; so chide me not 
 in the guise of offering safety to be bought 
 with harm to you." 
 
 Nor could all Sebastian's tender urgency
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 167 
 
 drive her from her resolve ; which she justified 
 as he departed, with new protestations that 
 she would thenceforth keep close in her asylum 
 until he should return again. 
 
 When he went forth, was it the same evil- 
 eyed boatman that he saw skulking away at a 
 distance ?
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 THE year 1380 opened upon the Venetians 
 with the most adverse prospects. In the long 
 and tedious war, although their resistance had 
 been brave and powerful, the Genoese had 
 upon the whole gained ground, inch by inch ; 
 Chiozza they had so long held that it might 
 almost be considered a Genoese town ; and the 
 whole of Brondolo was theirs. Thus, supported 
 as they were by Carrara on the main land, they 
 had become something like a strong and con- 
 terminous power, such as had never before 
 menaced the Venetians ; whose only powerful 
 neighbours hitherto had been landsmen, and 
 utterly incapable of coping with them on the 
 sea. Within the Lagune, and behind Brondolo
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 169 
 
 the intruding enemy had also a marine force 
 supported by that which it retained within the 
 port of Chiozza; some time since, a landing 
 had been effected on the island of Malamocco ; 
 and the extent of ground within the power of 
 the Genoese had gradually extended itself; we 
 have already seen how by the treachery which 
 sapped the strength of the Venetians, a part 
 of the marine force of their foe had penetrated 
 through the barriers into the port of Venice. 
 The long line of islands which separated its 
 peaceful waters from the Adriatic, and really 
 constituted the wall of the city, had been over- 
 passed, and nothing now remained between its 
 palaces and the enemy; its treasury was empty 
 until recruited by the bold measure which the 
 Senate had adopted. Its means of defence were 
 still numerous ; no power could easily have 
 seized the city itself, peopled as it was by a 
 race which considered itself at least equal to 
 any in the world, and whose pride and daring 
 were strengthened as the danger increased ; the 
 
 VOL. II. I
 
 170 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 nobles alone would have formed a band of 
 Immortals sufficient to defend the canals against 
 any invaders for many a day ; to say nothing of 
 the forces scattered over the islands to the east 
 of the Lagune ; the greater part of Malamocco 
 was covered by the fortifications, partly of 
 stone, but more of wood, which had been 
 hastily extended to shut out the invaders, and 
 every point was in possession of a numerous 
 force, chiefly supplied by the Venetians them- 
 selves, with whom the small town of the 
 island was filled. We have seen how by that 
 successful treachery which vitiated their councils 
 an important post had been entrusted to the 
 Condottiere Roberto da Recanati, though the 
 jealous policy of the Venetians had stationed a 
 band, whose red sleeves and fresh colour 
 shewed them to belong to the little army 
 headed by the Englishman, William Cooke, 
 as a guard over the more wily mercenary. 
 Great part of the Republic's army, however, 
 was posted on the long littorale of Pelestrina, 
 which stretched from Malamocco to the port
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 1?1 
 
 of Chiozza ; the intervals between the fort at 
 the northern end of the island, and the fortified 
 camp which lay about midway, and thence on- 
 ward to the south was filled up with hastily 
 constructed towers of wood or stone, connected 
 by palisadoes and trenches which received 
 constant additions, not interrupted by those 
 petty skirmishes between straggling bands, and 
 crossing galleys, to which the war had now 
 dwindled; the Genoese thinking to wear out 
 the besieged. 
 
 On this island lay the worst danger of the 
 Venetians. Their treasury was low, and the 
 mercenary troops that now thronged it, began 
 already to clamour, and to say, that if Venice 
 could not pay for its salvation, Genoa would 
 buy the city. These troops had been as much as 
 possible disposed in separate bands, with small 
 bodies of Venetian soldiers, picked for their 
 courage and constancy, placed between them ; 
 while the high repute of da Recanati had 
 also induced the Senate to impose a share of 
 that duty on him. The more discontented
 
 172 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 of the soldiery were posted about the chief 
 camp in the centre of the the rest, cut off from 
 communication with the Genoese. To the 
 south of the camp had been collected a strong 
 force, where was stationed Marco Morosini, and 
 with him was a small guard of native soldiers ; 
 to the right were seen, ever alert, the ruddy 
 warriors whom William Cook commanded, 
 with red vests, well burnished arms, and the 
 long bows of their country ; to the left was the 
 flower of Recanati's band, gathered from every 
 part of the Italian Peninsula the Neapolitan 
 might be known by his big stature and 
 indolent bearing ; the Florentine by his com- 
 pact and active figure ; the Piedmontese by his 
 height and presence. 
 
 Instead of occupying, as many of the leaders 
 did, one of the houses scattered about the 
 island, and assumed for the occasion by the 
 Senate as the property of the state, Marco 
 Morosini chose the more soldierly plan of pitch- 
 ing his tent at the post of duty. A large pa-
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 vilion capacious, that his military state might 
 be amply furnished, but bare of all that 
 savoured of ornament, had become his dwelling. 
 Here, on the last night of the year, was the 
 Senator-warrior seated at a small table, illu- 
 mined amid the darkness around by a single 
 lamp. He had been telling his project for re- 
 cruiting the treasury of the city. Near the 
 same table sat Sebastian, whom Pisani had 
 made his father's lieutenant, little knowing, as 
 perchance he would little have heeded, the feud 
 between father and son ; on the opposite side 
 were two men who seemed drawn together by 
 the force of contrast. One, who sat upright in 
 his chair, with one hand firmly clenched on his 
 sword hilt, where it had lain motionless through- 
 out Morosini's story, was not much above the 
 middle height, but compact and neatly, 
 if not elegantly made ; the mail which clothed 
 his broad shgulders left bare a throat whiter 
 than many a Venetian maid's, and the closely 
 cropped hair was of a sandy yellow, approach-
 
 174 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 ing to red as it ran into his whiskers and beard; 
 his round features, and laughing blue eyes, 
 gave a good natured expression to his face, 
 which was subdued, but not disguised, by the 
 grave bearing of a military commander: and the 
 frank countenance at once bespoke that gene- 
 rous faith which made William Cooke as well 
 trusted by the Venetians as any of their own 
 race. Next to him was the no less famous 
 Captain Roberto da Recanati, whose tall frame 
 resting partly against the table and partly 
 against the back of his chair, seemed rather that 
 of a lady's gallant than of the hardiest soldier 
 of the time ; not indeed but what strength was 
 manifest in his mail clad chest, and daring, or 
 even audacity in his countenance ; but the short 
 black curls that shaded his brow, the well 
 trimmed silken beard and penciled eye brows, 
 and the soft voice seemed formed rather to 
 impress and to persuade than to command; 
 his long limbs were elegant and slender, even 
 to an appearance of weakness and effeminacy,
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 and his narrow hand and tapering fingers 
 seemed better suited to the jeweled rings they 
 wore than to the hilt of the long sword by his 
 side ; his features were small and delicate, but a 
 long and slightly aquiline nose and compressed 
 lips, gave the character of a manly firmness to his 
 face ; his large black eyes were somewhat shut, 
 and being set close under the brow, with a sharp 
 and watchful aspect, they imparted to the sleek 
 form of his outline the expression of a serpent : 
 and so he was esteemed; daring above all in 
 fight, Roberto da Recanati was a serpent in 
 council; but, accounted unbroken in faith to 
 those who bought the services of his band, 
 none possessed higher fame for the honour of 
 a Condottiere. He too had listened to Morosini 
 with motionless attention. 
 
 " And thus," said the Senator, as he finished, 
 " thus, Messer da Recanati, will we Venetians 
 satisfy the clamours of those soldiers who 
 serve Venice for money, and not for love." 
 
 " Say it, Messer Morosini," replied the
 
 176 
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 Condottiere, with a smile, " not of those be- 
 fore you. Our men heed little of the cares 
 of state ; and those who command, you know, 
 must also serve their followers." 
 
 " I know it, I know it well," answered 
 Morosini. " I know, Messer da Recanati, that 
 in you and in our English friend, the state has 
 faithful servants, and that money little sways 
 you. It speaks, indeed, your power over your 
 men, that you have so long kept them silent, 
 while the state, which once paid so freely, has 
 withheld from them their due. It tells us how 
 the fortunes of Venice have fallen, when Ro- 
 berto da Recanatr's men begin to reproach her 
 with her poverty ; and I do wonder that these 
 sturdy Englishmen have not done the like." 
 
 " You have paid us, Messer Morosini," said 
 Cooke, " in advance ; so generous has the 
 Senate been to us, who have so often served 
 you, that we may yet go on for some time 
 more before we begin to give you credit in our 
 trade. Therefore, pray you, tell the Senate,
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 177 
 
 that in striving for money in these hard times, 
 it may leave out the men of William Cooke. 
 And rather will I myself give some little 
 treasure that is mine, than take from Venice 
 what it can so ill give/' 
 
 " Nay, nay," said Recanati, " you may say 
 as much for me ; though my servants do not 
 follow me quite so blindly as Messer Gugli- 
 elmo's. But, Messer Morosini, have you told 
 this device of yours to your friend Ales- 
 sandro ?" 
 
 " No ; why ask you ?" 
 
 " For many reasons. And first, to know 
 whether he would think it wise that you should 
 surrender so much, unless some good were to 
 be bought by it. And next, to know how soon 
 you can make your citizens give all you ask. I 
 doubt it I doubt whether their generosity will 
 equal yours ; and whether, even were they so 
 generous, they could find their gold so fast as 
 your friends here in Pelestrina will ask it. 
 12
 
 178 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 Remember, Messer Morosini, it was not my men 
 that asked at first it is not my men that call out 
 most greedily ; but that here, in Pelestrina, have 
 you some thousands, whom you have hemmed 
 in like prisoners, lest they themselves should 
 take boat, and seize the Senate House in 
 pledge for repayment. Remember that this 
 night has been fixed by many of the captains 
 as the last day to which they will wait. And 
 here, while we sit, before the sun begins to 
 sink, may we expect to hear the shouts of some 
 new multitude, demanding that Venice should 
 yield in this hopeless war. It is a hopeless 
 war. I still say that I will serve you ; but I 
 serve against hope. But if I dared to say it, 
 all the danger that Venice has braved might 
 be stopped at once, were some better and dis- 
 creeter man to lead her councils." 
 
 Sebastian started to his feet. et What words 
 are these, Messer dai Recanati ? and who has 
 taught them to you ? Treason is indeed ripe 
 among us, when it begins to speak in the
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 179 
 
 mouths of our soldiers and captains. Who 
 has been teaching you, Messer Condottiere ?" 
 
 Slightly turning his head, but keeping the 
 quiet softness of his voice, da Recanati replied, 
 " Be less impatient, Messer Sebastiano. We 
 often say things little discreet ; but I believe 
 none have taught me any more than yourself. 
 We all have a choice, and I have taken mine, 
 which is to serve Venice." 
 
 " True, true," cried Morosini, " and faith- 
 fully. There have been many who do say that 
 Andrea Contarin served Venice better when 
 he was younger. But we listen not to these 
 things, Messer da Recanati ; and if you hear 
 this said, count it only said by the foolish. Here 
 in Venice, I doubt much whether any Vene- 
 tian could so far forget his birth. And our 
 soldiers are not traitors. We have hired them, 
 and it is the naturalest thing in the world, that 
 if they do, not receive their hire, they should 
 forget their duty. But give me your aid, 
 Messer da Recanati and you, Messer Gugli-
 
 180 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 elmo, to pacify these men for two more days ; 
 and if, in that time, I do not bring you some 
 gold, and more promises, take me in pledge, 
 and tear me to pieces among you. To you, 
 Messer Sebastiano, I have permission to leave 
 this post ; and certain do I feel, that with a 
 son of our house it must be safely entrusted." 
 So saying, he arose ; and in a few minutes he 
 was speeding his way towards the meeting of 
 the Senate, for which he had been summoned. 
 
 The day was black, and there was little stir 
 among the Genoese. They seemed disposed 
 to leave their work to be performed by the 
 trouble and treachery working among the 
 Venetians ; and they did not altogether count 
 wrongly. The murmurs which had been heard 
 on every side in Pelestrina increased as night 
 advanced ; as Sebastian kept watch with Cooke, 
 the loud sounds that arose behind them in 
 the distance, denoted that some tumult had 
 arisen ; and in making their rounds, they 
 found knots of men talking among themselves.
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 181 
 
 But though rumours had reached even to that 
 distance from the camp, they could learn 
 nothing distinct. At length, so uneasy did 
 Sebastian become, fearing lest the whole fortune 
 of the city should be destroyed by the want of 
 strength to keep in order its own forces, that, 
 leaving his post to the charge of Cooke, he set 
 out with a small guard for the camp. As he 
 approached it, bodies of men, hurrying hither 
 and thither, shewed that his fears were not 
 altogether unfounded, and that some strange 
 disorder had broken up all regularity. He 
 stopped the passengers occasionally, but could 
 gather nothing more than the old complaint 
 the soldiers wanted to be paid. The camp 
 presented an appearance of one recently seized 
 by the enemy ; for large bands of soldiers were 
 traversing the ground, singing and brawling. 
 In an open place at the centre, near a house 
 occupied by the Proveditore Vendramini, he 
 found a knot of nobles, who were earnestly dis- 
 coursing with the men, and among them. To
 
 182 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 his surprise, he saw that Roberto da Recanati 
 had come before him. The Proveditore was 
 urging, with little effect, the old lesson of 
 patience, while Gianni da Piovere, one of the 
 honestest of the mercenary leaders, was scorn- 
 fully rejecting that scanty comfort. Vendramini 
 himself seemed as if he doubted his own words ; 
 but at length he pointed to the silence of 
 Recanati, and rebuked the other captains for 
 their lesser patience. 
 
 " Aye/' replied Gianni, " Messer Recanati 
 is a wiser man than we are ; and doubtless he 
 has his reasons. Perhaps it may be that he is 
 wealthier, and can himself pay his men ; or, it 
 may be, that being more powerful, the Senate 
 has given to him the treasure which we poorer 
 soldiers cannot have." 
 
 At this Recanati stepped forward, and press- 
 ing his hand upon his breast, assured the 
 brawlers that he was no more favoured than 
 themselves ; and he appealed to Sebastian to 
 say whether even he had not difficulty in
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 183 
 
 silencing his men. " I do believe/' he cried, 
 " and that is the reason that I tell my men, 
 that the Senate will pay us our due ; nay, I 
 do believe that long ere this we should have 
 had all that we have earned ; and that it is not 
 that the Senate look coldly on us, but that 
 they are poor that they have not the money 
 that Venice is quite bare." 
 
 " Why, then, if so," cried da Piovere, " it 
 were better to end the war at once. We are 
 not Venetians ; and if Venice cannot be saved, 
 it were better to hand her over at once, than to 
 risk our lives in a losing war. What is it that 
 we fight for ? Does Venice so freely bestow 
 its honours and its privileges on all that serve 
 it ? Will it count us her citizens ? Will 
 it " 
 
 " I do beseech you," said da Recanati, " to 
 be silent. Messer Vendramini has asked us to 
 delay eight, days longer ; and though it be 
 eight days, or twice eight days, or any time, I 
 would be content to wait. Indeed, I believe
 
 184 THE POSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 it will be longer. I know not where Venice 
 is to seek her wealth, hemmed in within these 
 Lagune without land, without merchandise, 
 almost without food; for even the path to 
 Treviso cannot long remain open. And where 
 Venice can find the means to pay us I know 
 not. Still let us serve for our good fame ; and 
 if Venice be destroyed, let us fall fighting in 
 her defence, that our name may live in 
 history." 
 
 " Why, Messer da Recanati," said Vendra- 
 mini, " you encourage the men in such 
 fashion, that they are like to die of fear if you 
 talk much longer. I tell you that the Senate 
 has new projects; that it is taking fresh 
 counsel; and that before many days have 
 passed, we shall find some plan to satisfy you 
 all. We will sell our houses before we leave 
 our friends unrequited/' 
 
 " So," cried da Piovere, " you have told us 
 any time these last six months ; but I do not 
 hear that any houses have been sold yet. No,
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 185 
 
 we are now resolved : and this night, as many 
 of us as can find boats, will pass straight to 
 Venice, where we will tell the Doge, that if we 
 are paid we stay, and that if we are not paid, 
 we shall hold Pelestrina for the Genoese. 
 Therefore, Messer Vendramini, stay me no 
 longer ; for our time is past already." 
 
 " If it be so/' said Vendramini, looking about 
 him as if in doubt, "we must stop this traitor 
 project ; and here, Messer Gianni da Piovere, 
 I seize you as a traitor to the State." 
 
 " Those seize who have the power ; those are 
 seized, Messer Vendramini, who are weak.. I 
 will not tell my men to seize you, because I 
 know you mean no harm. But if I do not, 
 count it rather my courtesy than any need I 
 have." 
 
 Vendramini' s face flushed ; and looking to 
 those behind him, he cried again, " Let him be 
 seized !" 
 
 Sebastian alone advanced, seeing that none 
 dared to touch the audacious Condottiere. But da
 
 186 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 Piovere, taking him by the wrist, said, " Messer 
 Sebastiano Morosini, look around and see which 
 of us is like to seize the other." Then, raising 
 his hand, he called out, " Which are my men ? 
 Who are with me?" And at the instant a 
 loud shout arose from the entire crowd that 
 surrounded the small knot of Venetian nobles 
 and the grumbling leaders. " You, most noble 
 sirs," said da Piovere, " are our prisoners ; as, 
 indeed, you have been the whole time that 
 want of pay has made our soldiers your ene- 
 mies. Therefore, fear not ; for your danger is 
 no greater now than then." 
 
 "And you, Messer da Recanati," said Se- 
 bastian, " do you take part with these ? Are 
 you one of the enemies of Venice, because you 
 are not paid ?" 
 
 " My men are so, if you will. But I, like 
 yourselves, am here a prisoner. Think you 
 that I could force my way, or bend to my will 
 this turbulent crowd ? Is it so, Messer da 
 Piovere ?"
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 187 
 
 " No, surely not ; we have but two parties 
 here those who join us, and those who oppose 
 us, and any may take which side they will. But 
 I doubt those who oppose us have small chance 
 of victory. And if you will not be convinced, 
 Messer Sebastiano, we will try it again. Shout 
 once more, my men! Who are for the new 
 bargain with Venice ?" 
 
 Again was there another shout, loud, prompt, 
 and simultaneous, as the former. As it died 
 away, there was a faint echo in the distance. 
 
 " Aye, listen," cried da Piovere ; " they 
 answer us afar. It is the same all over the 
 island." 
 
 " I fear me," cried Vendramini, " that there 
 is no hope for us, Messer Sebastiano, except 
 in letting these cavaliers go on their errand to 
 Venice ; and perhaps there the Senate may 
 teach them a higher duty/* 
 
 "Why perhaps it may, if it have money 
 enough," said da Pioyere. " Hark again, 
 Messer Sebastiano they are answering us like
 
 188 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 two cocks at a distance. Do you think that if 
 we were not of one mind, we could shout so 
 well together? Crow again, companions let 
 them hear us once more." Those around him 
 obeyed, and once more the shout rang through 
 the market-place. 
 
 Vendramini drew Sebastian aside. "This," 
 he said, " is fearful. I know not what to do : 
 I command here no longer ; and Messer Pisani 
 is overtasked in defending the very canals of 
 Venice. Messer Barbarigo, who is Proveditore 
 with me, says nought, and I do. suspect that he 
 would yield, and let these fellows pass to 
 Venice. But if once they were there, we must 
 surrender the city to them, or drive them out 
 as enemies ; and in either way we are lost." 
 
 " Let me," cried Sebastian, " fetch hither 
 our own men, and Messer Guglielmo Cooke ; 
 and we will finish the quarrel here in Peles- 
 trina." 
 
 " Nay, not so ; I have thought of that. But 
 Messer Barbarigo knows that we are too few
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 189 
 
 for the traitors. Alas ! alas ! that men should 
 thus break their faith. I can devise nothing 
 better than to send to the Doge and the 
 Senate, to tell them what straits we are in, and 
 to prepare them to receive these their visitors ; 
 and I can think of no better messenger and 
 discreeter then yourself. Haste, then, to the 
 city; and while you are gone, we will do our 
 best to stay these impatient men." 
 
 " I will go at once, so that none see me. 
 But I would rather that you should take the 
 sword out of these traitors' hands, and scourge 
 them with it." 
 
 " Why so I would ; but I dare not make the 
 venture alone ; and Messer Barbarigo " 
 
 " I will depart. But lead them into your 
 house the leaders, I mean that they may not 
 see me go. Farewell; I will bring, either 
 word to deal roughly with these bargainers, or 
 the Doge himself."
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 VENDRAMINI so far obeyed his young friend's 
 counsel, that he prayed da Piovere to confer 
 with him in his own lodging. At first the 
 sturdy Condottiere refused, saying that they 
 could as well confer in the open place; but 
 da Recanati assented ; and in brief time they 
 entered the hall of the house that served the 
 Proveditore for council chamber; Recanati 
 took care to leave some few of his own men 
 near the door. Exhausted with anxiety, the 
 Proveditore threw himself into a chair. His 
 colleague sat close to him ; and others entered, 
 taking their seats or standing as they listed. 
 But the heated Gianni da Piovere would not 
 sit.
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 191 
 
 " And now that we have entered," he cried, 
 " what more have we to say ? Think you that 
 I can linger here, while those shouts keep 
 calling me to take boat for Venice ?" 
 
 " I would convince you," replied Vendramini, 
 " that the Senate must soon have wherewithal 
 to satisfy you. And Messer Barbarigo will 
 say as much." 
 
 Barbarigo answered not. 
 
 " Messer Barbarigo," cried da Piovere, " is 
 tired of promises he has grown bare of them, 
 as bare as Venice of treasure. There is nothing 
 left for us but Venice itself; and that will we 
 go fetch, with your leave, and that of Messer 
 Sebastiano why he is here no more ! Have we 
 frightened the young man, that he has fled ?" 
 
 " Messer Sebastiano," said da Recanati, " is 
 not one to be frightened. Perhaps the Pro- 
 veditore can tell us why he has gone ?" 
 
 " Nay, I know nothing," answered Barbarigo, 
 breaking silence for the first time. 
 
 "Then shall Messer Vendramini tell us.
 
 192 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 He says nothing. There is treachery here, 
 sirs. I have not liked this enterprise of Messer 
 da Piovere ; but if he is to be betrayed, then 
 will my honour force me to side with him rather 
 than his betrayers.'* 
 
 " And do you too abandon us ?" exclaimed 
 Vendramini. 
 
 " I abandon none. It is we who are aban- 
 doned. I see it all our blood has been spent 
 in vain the promised treasure comes not, and 
 now spies are sent to spread rumours against 
 us, and to betray us. Da Piovere, I go with 
 you to Venice." 
 
 " Be welcome of all men in the army most 
 welcome," said his brother Condottiere. " Let 
 us then dally no longer." 
 
 Vendramini looked aghast. He turned a 
 bewildered despairing look to the other nobles ; 
 but little comfort saw he in their faces. Bar- 
 barigo sat still and expressionless as marble. 
 Lionardo Morosini looked undaunted ; nay, he 
 almost sneered ; but he spake no word of
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 193 
 
 counsel. The rest were as dismayed and 
 bewildered as Vendramini himself. 
 
 " Stay," he cried, " one short delay. Messer 
 da Piovere, never yet did I ask boon of man ; 
 but now will I entreat of you to grant me this 
 one other day. Bethink you, that it may 
 to yourself be the saving of honour, with no 
 loss of profit. I beseech you grant me this. 
 Think how great a city totters to its fall, and 
 spare us." 
 
 Da Piovere laughed. "Let those shouts 
 answer you, Messer Vendramini; for I am 
 loth to speak out a refusal to so courteous a 
 gentleman." 
 
 The shouting truly was loud and long ; it 
 sounded like a body of men approaching to the 
 rest, and swelling the noise with fresh voices. 
 It was like some mad feast, so shrill and lusty 
 was the cry. 
 
 "This," cried Vendramini, "is no echo of 
 yours. There is something new astir." 
 
 VOL. II. K
 
 194 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 " Aye, aye, more of them." 
 
 Hark, again \ 
 
 All listened. Vendramini started, and flung 
 his arms aloft, wild with joy. 
 
 "They shout ' Carlo Zeno P He is come \" 
 
 Barbarigo, too, started, and turned pale, like 
 da Recanati, who bent a fierce look on Ven- 
 dramini, as though he would have smote him. 
 Da Piovere laughed again, crying, " Farewell, 
 Messer Proveditore ; more such pleasant dreams 
 to you." And he moved towards the door of 
 the hall. 
 
 It was opened by Edward, who, entering the 
 hall, made room for Carlo Zeno, and his com- 
 panion Luigi Morosini. Looking around him 
 with a pleasant smile, Zeno said, " I have come 
 in happy time, for my path I found full of lusty 
 soldiers, and then* leaders I find in council." 
 
 "Alas! Messer Zeno," answered Vendramini, 
 approaching to take his hand, " you find us in 
 most unhappy tune ; for the soldiers that 
 seemed to you so ready, are ready to attack,
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 195 
 
 not to defend Venice ; and we in council here 
 are defeated by the traitors that would lead 
 them/' 
 
 Zeno halted in his advance. " You speak 
 riddles/' he answered ; ( I have heard, indeed, 
 through these my friends that came to fetch 
 fie, how Venice had been beleaguered by the 
 Genoese ; and I have heard too of treasons in 
 the city ; but surely I see around me none that 
 I know for other than honest men ? J> As his 
 eye passed from one to another, it rested on 
 Recanati, and he started, adding, "At least 
 none that I know to be other than honest. 
 Which is the traitor ?" 
 
 "Say traitors," replied Vendramini; "for 
 there are more than one. And ask da Piovere ; 
 let him tell the tale." 
 
 " How is this, my friend da Piovere ?" asked 
 Zeno, "surely you have not turned traitor? 
 You were wont to have more skill in the field 
 than in council ; and I fear if you have turned
 
 196 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 senator, you may have made mistakes. What 
 is it that you want ?" 
 
 " Nay " answered the Condottiere, laughing, 
 as if for shame, " let us talk no more of that : 
 we have wanted as soldiers do want, either 
 victory or pay; and now that you are come, 
 we are secure of both. But in sooth for a long 
 time past neither have we had to cheer us." 
 
 " You shall have both if I can bring them to 
 you ; and pay at least you shall have, for my 
 own means are not exhausted, as they shall be 
 presently if Venice need them all. But you 
 spoke, Messer Vendramini, of more than one 
 traitor. Messer da Piovere is none where 
 are they then ?" 
 
 Vendramini pointed to Recanati. 
 
 To Zeno's enquiring glance, the Condottiere 
 returned a steady regard. Drawing himself up 
 to his full height, he stood for a moment as if 
 uncertain how to act. His eye turned hastily 
 to the table where sat Barbarigo, and then to
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 197 
 
 Lionardo Morosini, and then again he looked 
 at Zeno. 
 
 " You are silent, Recanati," said Carlo, 
 
 "I was silent, Messer Zeno, because the 
 Proveditore spoke of traitors, not of me ; but 
 I see that an enemy has come among us, and I 
 am not so easy as da Piovere to think that 
 one man can bring back the fortune and the 
 treasure which the whole Senate and people of 
 Venice have lost ; we have fought for Venice for 
 many a weary month, and when we ask our 
 guerdon we are paid by being called traitors, 
 and then by some fancy of what one great 
 general is to do for us I am not safe here, let 
 me pass to my men," and he moved towards 
 the door. 
 
 " Not so, Messer Recanati," answered Zeno, 
 stopping his passage ; " you shall not leave us 
 in this mood. I would satisfy you as I have 
 satisfied da Piovere before you depart." 
 
 " Why then, Messer Zeno," answered Re- 
 canati, " count me not one to be satisfied like
 
 198 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 da Piovere. If my suspicions were slower than 
 his, as Messer Vendramini will tell you they 
 were, once aroused they are more fixed ; and 
 I say to you, that a few fair words or a few 
 frowns shall not bow me down ; let me pass, 
 Messer Zeno." His eyes grew darker, and 
 again he moved forward ; Zeno laid his hand 
 upon him to stay him, but Recanati rudely 
 pushing him back cried, " Violence is then to 
 be used ;" and rushing hastily to the door he 
 threw it open, calling out as loudly as he could, 
 " Where are the friends of Recanati ? save me, 
 save me !" 
 
 " What folly is this ?" cried Zeno, " there is 
 none threatens you here, Messer Recanati. 
 Bring back the brawling fellow, Edward, and 
 close the door." 
 
 The Englishman essayed to obey, and while 
 he and Luigi seized Recanati by the arm to 
 draw him back, he tried to push the doors close 
 with his foot, but Recanati's men, now pressed 
 into the hall, and the door could not be 
 closed.
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 199 
 
 Barbarigo had risen from his seat, and with 
 Lionardo and the other nobles had approached 
 the entrance of the hall, but all stood as if 
 bewildered. 
 
 " See you not," cried Recanati to his men, 
 "that I am a prisoner they have called me 
 traitor, and when I would have fled to my peo- 
 ple, they have held me fast, I know not for 
 what violence." 
 
 Vendramini endeavoured to make him listen 
 to the assurances that no harm was intended 
 to him, but he would not be pacified: and 
 while he continued to call out like a man in 
 fear, his people pressed into the doorway and 
 kept others back. 
 
 " What folly is this," again said Zeno, " be 
 still, Messer Recanati ; listen, sir, to me." As he 
 spake, he again seized Recanati by the arm to 
 force his attention ; but breaking from those that 
 held him, the Condottiere cried with increasing 
 rage 
 
 " I see, I see, Messer Vendramini, it is my
 
 200 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 life you seek, but think not you shall buy it so 
 cheap." 
 
 And before any one was aware, he drew from 
 his belt a short dagger, with which he sud- 
 denly and fiercely struck Carlo Zeno full in 
 the middle of his chest : the blade broke short 
 off, so that the hilt remained in his hand. Like 
 lightning the swords of Edward and Luigi 
 were out of their scabbards, but as he struck 
 the blow Recanati had hastily drawn back 
 among his men, and the blood which followed 
 the stroke of Edward's sword was not that of 
 their leader. Uttering a loud cry, Vendramini 
 threw himself unarmed between the com- 
 batants, exclaiming, 
 
 " Back sirs, back ; let us not set the whole 
 town in arms !" 
 
 Others of the nobles pressed around Carlo 
 Zeno, and seized him to prevent his falling; 
 but still upright as ever, he gently put them 
 aside, and plucking forth from his clothes the
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 201 
 
 of Recanati's dagger, he held it up 
 crying, 
 
 " " The traitor's weapon was traitor to himself, 
 it is but a scratch, signori miei ; for Zeno is 
 too old a soldier to travel in war time unarmed ;" 
 and he knocked his hand against his breast, 
 showing them by the jangle which they heard 
 that he had a stout shirt of mail under his 
 vest, in which the violence of Recanti's blow 
 had bedded the point of his weapon, though 
 it scarcely touched [the flesh beneath. " But, 
 sirs," he continued, "are we to be bearded 
 thus by a traitor and his band ? are we so 
 few or so scantily armed, that this dozen of 
 men can scare us ? once more then, seize the 
 traitor." 
 
 Himself setting the example he rushed 
 among the Condottiere's men ; surprised by the 
 suddenness of the attack, and hesitating per- 
 haps to wage open war with so many of the 
 nobles of Venice, the traitorous crew feebly 
 resisted, and in a few seconds Recanati was 
 
 K 2
 
 202 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 held firmly by four or five of the nobles, who 
 had now gained courage and energy from the 
 example of their trusted leader. In the mean 
 time too, others of the soldiery had entered the 
 hall, and when Recanati surveyed their num- 
 bers, he resigned himself in sullen daring to 
 the fate that might await him. 
 
 " We must," said Zeno, " crush this con- 
 spiracy at its root. Let him be guarded ; and to- 
 morrow he shall be sent to Venice for the 
 judgment of the Ten." 
 
 But Vendramini seized the arm of Zeno, 
 and speaking low and earnestly, pleaded for the 
 baffled traitor. 
 
 " Bethink you, Messer Zeno," he said, " that 
 this conspiracy began not with Recanati. As he 
 was the boldest to carry it out, so he was the 
 very last to join it. Bethink you that your 
 coming should be graced rather by fresh har- 
 mony, than by blood and death : and much I 
 fear me, that if this captain were slain, so 
 enraged would the others be, that our whole
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 203 
 
 army would be turned to foes. His mistake is 
 not greater than da Piovere's whom you so 
 easily forgave; but that he has been more 
 audacious, which also you should forgive, for 
 it is a soldier's vice." 
 
 " It is not for me/' answered Zeno, " to 
 judge, but for the Ten." 
 
 " Nay, it is for us here to judge in times like 
 these. If we send this man to Venice, he must 
 perforce be adjudged to death, but here in 
 this chamber we can forget what has hap- 
 pened." 
 
 Calling to him Barbarigo, Vendramini made 
 him join in his entreaties, and seeing that his 
 prayers were of no avail, he would have knelt, 
 but Zeno prevented him. 
 
 " Well, noble sirs," cried he, " I have ever 
 found it best to meet and crush danger when 
 first it shews its head, but truly the Senate has 
 yet given me no office : it is mine to obey not 
 to command, and you shall do with Messer 
 Recanati as you will. I have no further will in 
 this business."
 
 204 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 " Then," said Vendramini aloud, " all shall 
 be forgotten. You have found us, Messer Zeno 
 in most miserable estate, with doubts and trea- 
 sons amongst us, and discord among ourselves ; 
 your arrival shall begin a new history ; from 
 this moment we shall have hopes in place of 
 fears ; trust and good faith instead of suspicion 
 and treachery. Messer da Recanati, you are 
 released. Let your men withdraw ; let all with- 
 draw. And while we retire, Messer Zeno, to 
 give you that rest and ease which your voyage 
 must need, one of your friends shall hasten 
 to bear to Venice the glad tidings of your 
 arrival/' 
 
 " Be it so," answered Zeno ; " and let the 
 messenger be Messer Odoardo, who has so 
 well performed the service for which he was 
 chosen."
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 SEBASTIAN returned to Pelestrina before it 
 was light, and learning the joyful tidings that 
 the long wished man had arrived, he went at 
 once to the lodging which Zeno had chosen in 
 Vendramini's house. Zeno slept. He had sought 
 repose, he said, that he might work the earlier ; 
 and Sebastian sat by his bedside. 
 
 Not long after, Zeno awoke, sat up in his 
 bed, and knowing his friend, he said without 
 greeting 
 
 " Sebastian, find me some trustworthy man 
 with whom Recanati has been talking." 
 
 "Myself." 
 
 " Does he disclose his secrets to you ?" 
 
 "No; perhaps he would think it dangerous."
 
 206 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 " Some other then." 
 
 "My father is another, and Guglielmo 
 Cooke." 
 
 " Neither ; they would not see, the one for 
 his simple mind, the other know you of none 
 besides ?" 
 
 " Of none except a boy, Ranieri Arduino." 
 
 " Arduino ! the son of Jacopo ?" 
 
 "The same." 
 
 " And what then is this boy ?" 
 
 Sebastian hastily told Ranieri's history, not 
 concealing from his friend even the part that 
 Teresa had in it, and then telling how Recanati 
 had of late seemed to court the friendship of 
 the youth. 
 
 "And when was that?" asked Zeno, who 
 had listened in silence. 
 
 " But two days since." 
 
 " Bring the boy to me." 
 
 Sebastian took his leave and hastened to his 
 tent to fetch Ranieri ; with whom, not long after, 
 he returned to Zeno's presence.
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 207 
 
 " Here," he said, " is the young friend of 
 whom I spake, Ranieri Arduino." 
 
 " Why," said Zeno, " you told me of a boy, 
 but here I see a man." 
 
 tf Truly," answered Sebastian, " Ranieri 
 grows fast, and if his friends are absent for a 
 short space, they may well mistake how to call 
 him ; and you see his beard now begins to bud, so 
 that he will not much longer be offended with 
 the name of boy." 
 
 " In sooth," said Zeno, " he is a tall fellow 
 you have a sister, Messer Ranieri ; is she tall 
 too ?" 
 
 " I think," replied the youth, " that she is 
 nearly of my own height." 
 
 " Aye, and but a little while ago you would 
 have been proud to say that you were nearly 
 of her height. Now tell us Roberto da Re- 
 canati has been speaking with you ; what has 
 passed between you ?" 
 
 Without pausing for excuses, or lack of 
 thought, the youth told the two nobles, how,
 
 208 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 early one morning, while he had been loitering 
 about Sebastian's tent, he had been accosted in 
 a soft and courteous manner by Roberto da 
 Recanati. " He spoke to me for some time/' 
 said Ranieri, " as if he knew not who I was, 
 and only discovered it from something that I 
 had said ; and then suddenly he cried, ' What, 
 then, are you the youth that gave up his father 
 to the Ten?'" 
 
 " And what answered you to that ?" said 
 Zeno. 
 
 " I answered nothing, for I felt angry ; and 
 yet was he so courteous in his manner, that I 
 scarcely knew why I should be so. I suppose 
 he saw my anger, for he said, * Nay, be not 
 offended, for I asked only to be sure to whom 
 I spake to.' And then he said, * Messer 
 Ranieri, you are discreet beyond your years, 
 and, if I mistake not, you have the full trust 
 of your friend, Messer Sebastiano MorosiruV 
 I told him that I believed so ; and he said, 
 ( Does Messer Sebastiano know the tale that is
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 209 
 
 told of you in Venice? 5 Then I felt angry 
 again, and I said, Why do you ask ? on which 
 he smiled, and said that he would not ask 
 further if it displeased me. But so he went 
 on, sometimes asking questions, and some- 
 times telling me, in dark and doubtful words, 
 that if I chose, I might reach to great distinc- 
 tion; that I could have high rewards; and 
 that Messer Sebastiano might grow powerful ; 
 and he thought, from what he knew of me, 
 that I could contrive those things ; and also, 
 as Messer Sebastiano had so far trusted me, 
 that he would not be displeased." 
 
 " And what answered you ?" said Zeno. 
 
 " Indeed I answered very little. At first I 
 felt disposed to tell him roughly, that I would 
 listen to no traitor. But I bethought me that 
 I had better take sager council than my own ; 
 so that I told him I could say nothing, but 
 that I would speak to him again. And thus he 
 left me." 
 
 " You should have spoken out," said Se-
 
 210 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 bastian ; " it is not safe to speak with 
 traitors in secret, for always the man that is 
 seen listening to a traitor is thought to be so 
 himself." 
 
 " You have told me, Sebastian," interrupted 
 Zeno, " that Ranieri was discreet, and truly I 
 find him more so than you ; for he has found 
 just what I needed. Think you, Ranieri, that 
 this Recanati believes Sebastian to be leagued 
 with you in some bad device, that he spoke of 
 your yielding your father as if it were a crime 
 which you concealed, and Sebastian allowed ?" 
 
 " So it seemed." 
 
 " Boy, have you courage and firmness enough 
 to play with this traitor at his own weapons ? 
 Will you, for all the rewards which he would give 
 you, but obtained honestly, help me to circum- 
 vent him ? For," continued Zeno, turning to 
 Sebastian, " none that has led, either in council 
 or in camp, can push to his end without deceit. 
 It is one of the things that we have to fight, 
 and therefore must we learn how to fight with
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 21 1 
 
 it, since you never can conquer any combatant 
 if you do not understand his art. The difference 
 between an honest man and a traitor, both 
 using stratagem, is this that the traitor uses 
 it against all, and for his own bad ends ; but 
 the honest man uses it only against traitors, 
 and never for his own ends. You will make a 
 bad general, Sebastian, if you are too proud 
 to use a little of this vile art. That man's 
 honesty is but weak who cannot a little dally 
 and play with it, fearing that it should break 
 down if once he trust it out of rigid keeping. 
 I can see by your friend Ranieri's honest face 
 that he can use some of this cunning, and yet 
 not be the worse ; is it not so, Ranieri ?" 
 
 "I think, Messer Zeno," answered the 
 youth, "that I may well shape myself by 
 your wisdom and conscience, without fearing 
 either disgrace or ill." 
 
 " Then,", answered Zeno, " we must play 
 a little with our friend's character. You shall 
 make this Recanati think that the most proud
 
 212 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 and pure Sebastian doth a little relent to his 
 treachery, and that he is willing to join him in 
 the conspiracy, so that it be safe, and, there- 
 fore, that he acts rather through you than of 
 himself. Shall it be so, Sebastian ?" 
 
 " I have learnt of Ranieri how to answer, 
 and I will say that I am yours to use as you 
 will." 
 
 " Know then, Ranieri, that I suspect this 
 Recanati to hold some secret converse with the 
 traitors here, or in Venice, if not with Carrara. 
 Refuse him then nothing; do all that he 
 wishes ; plot, contrive, and compass the de- 
 struction of us all; but do it on this sole 
 condition that you, on behalf of Sebastian, 
 take part in all his councils, and hear all that 
 is done. There may be danger in this, my 
 young friend ; but never can man reach great- 
 ness except by passing through danger at every 
 step. And as for your good fame, fear it not ; 
 for in whatever part you may fall, I will be 
 sponsor for you to the world. Do this, and
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 213 
 
 you will have done me such service, that when 
 I hold victory in my hand, I shall account you 
 to have given it to me." 
 
 Flushing full up to the eyes, which 
 sparkled with animation and hope, Ranieri 
 promised that he would do what was needed 
 of him. And taking his leave, he hastened 
 away to regain Sebastian's tent ere his absence 
 could be noted. 
 
 " And now," said Zeno, " tell me the 
 Genoese have gained a footing in Pelestrina 
 here behind us, to the north, and on Mala- 
 mocco." 
 
 " Also to the north of Malamocco," said 
 Sebastian ; "for they hold the port of Lido, and 
 the canal within." 
 
 " Holy Mary preserve the city ! We must 
 drive them from it at once. To-morrow 
 I will look to our means to-morrow night 
 Malamocco shall be regained, and Pisani 
 shall sweep clean the canal of the blessed Saint 
 of Venice. Set him his task, and none can
 
 214 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 perform it so well as Pisani. After that but 
 let us think now of the beginning by the 
 blessing of Heaven, I will drive before me both 
 traitors and Genoese."
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 COXTARIXI had arrived at Malomocco. 
 The whole place to the south-west of where 
 the Genoese had entrenched themselves was in 
 a stir. Recanati's men had been drawn off 
 from the face of the enemy to the further end 
 of the island, nearer to Pelestrina, and a new 
 force took up the position in front of the 
 Genoese. Among them might be seen a strong 
 body of Uscocchi, and many of Cookers men- 
 More towards the centre of the island, the 
 soldiers were engaged in striking and pitching 
 tents ; those who had already been there 
 moving off towards remoter posts, and drawing 
 their tents closer together, to make room for 
 the reinforcements which Contarim had brought.
 
 216 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 Every face was changed : doubt and treason 
 were forgotten. More men had come the 
 Prince himself was there, he had brought gold 
 and Zeno had arrived. While the men were 
 thus working like ants, they were stopped in 
 their labours by the shrill clangour of a trum- 
 pet ; and those who could be spared were led 
 to the front of the large tent in which the Doge 
 had taken up his lodging for the nonce. The 
 day was fair, and the sun shone brightly on 
 the white tents; some of the canvas, indeed, 
 had forgotten its first colour, and had assumed 
 many fantastic hues the sun, too, gleamed 
 brightly on the waters of the Lagune, which 
 was covered with galleys, and burchi, and other 
 large boats that had gathered to the spot. The 
 soldiers stood for a short time in order, awaiting 
 what should happen, when another trumpet 
 called their attention, and a large party of 
 nobles, mostly in arms, but some few in robes, 
 issued from the Doge's tent. After them came 
 the Prince, and on either side of him were two
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 217 
 
 forms well known to the armies of Venice. On 
 his left, and walking a little behind him, was 
 the square and athletic Vittor Pisani, in arms j 
 but he had hastily donned for the occasion his 
 robe of office the long red sleeveless robe, 
 buttoned over either shoulder, and the round 
 red cap in which Venice clothed her generals. 
 In his right hand the Prince led Carlo Zeno, 
 and at the sight of him and of the robe he 
 wore, the men set up a loud shout ; so loud 
 and long, that Contarini did not even essay to 
 make his voice heard, but advancing to the 
 square space between the men, he waved his 
 hand in token that he gave a new general to the 
 army. All the while that the chief stood there, 
 the men continued shouting ; so that after 
 saying a few words, that none could hear, the 
 Doge retired again with the generals. 
 
 The men did not relinquish their busy 
 labours. The day was well nigh spent when 
 the whole of the tents were removed and re- 
 pitched; and then were arms taken out and 
 
 VOL. II. L
 
 218 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 scanned to see that they were fit for service. 
 That done, the men gathered into knots and 
 rested in pleasant talk ; questioning what might 
 next be done, and disputing whether Zeno 
 meant to strike at once, or to gather new 
 strength before his first blow. Night arrived, 
 and all went to repose. 
 
 But the night had not passed, ere the whole 
 were in movement again. With as much 
 silence as they might, great part of the soldiers 
 put on their arms and took then" posts, each 
 under his own leader; each uncertain how 
 many like himself might be stirring in the 
 dark, but gathering, occasionally, from the 
 distant tread of men or the clank of arms, that 
 others also were abroad. It was bruited 
 among them that Pisani had left Malamocco 
 before even they had roused them ; but each 
 leader, as he passed away from the camp with 
 his men, was silent, and gave no hint of the 
 work before them. Many moved up towards 
 Lido, slowly and cautiously, and often as they
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 219 
 
 went came messengers, who, speaking to the 
 leaders, passed on and were lost in the dark- 
 ness. 
 
 Within a tent at the edge of the ground still 
 Venetian, were assembled a party of cavaliers, 
 all armed. The troops there stationed were 
 silent as death : they had been roused from 
 slumber, but they stirred not; and those who 
 watched upon the low wall which the Genoese 
 had built around their camp, or looked out from 
 two taller towers that stood near, could not 
 have guessed that a large force was there lying 
 in readiness for action. Even the Venetians 
 themselves were unaware of the numbers 
 gathering in their rear 5 and the cavaliers who 
 looked out from their tent, which was open so 
 that they could see at once the line of the 
 Genoese wall, and the tents of their own men, 
 watched also in stillness, talking among them- 
 selves almost in whispers. Galuzzi was there, 
 Boemondo Tiepolo, Orso Mocenigo, Alberto 
 Alberti, the Senator's son, and Rinaldo Caresini.
 
 220 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 As they watched, a tall form appeared in the 
 dim light at the opening of the tent, and 
 Sebastian entered. Knowing his errand all 
 started to their feet, and before he had said the 
 word that all was ready, they had moved to 
 follow him. As they issued forth, they found 
 ranged among the tents their own men ; who 
 had taken their posts with such silence that 
 they could scarcely be distinguished from the 
 moveless ground. Zeno's orders had pervaded 
 every part, and had been carried on without 
 haste, but with eager zeal. Sebastian pointed 
 to the wall; above which, against that pale 
 light that shewed where the dawn would rise, 
 was moving a solitary watcher. His slow and 
 easy pace shewed that he knew not of the 
 movement so near him. " Let us be unseen 
 as long as we may/* said Sebastian ; " till then, 
 silence is our first duty. But when we once 
 are seen, speed will be our safety. We are 
 to wait here until we know that Messer Na- 
 vagero has made his attack. He lies in the
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 221 
 
 centre, nearer to the Lagune ; and beyond is 
 Malipiero, who also waits for the same signal." 
 
 " I doubt," said Galuzzi, " if Malipiero will 
 wait for the graver Navagero." 
 
 " He has Soranzo with him, who will keep 
 him in until it is time. Besides, for all he has 
 fought in this war more fiercely than ever he did 
 when his blood was young, he has grown more 
 silent and discreet ; and they say that he has 
 waxed marvellously pious, having sworn an oath 
 that he will faithfully serve St. Mark." 
 
 " Why then he will keep it," said young 
 Alberti ; *' for Malipiero has so much of the 
 priest in him, that he would have been in the 
 church, but for his fiery passions/' 
 
 " Are we not late ?" asked Tiepolo ; " for it 
 seems to me that the dawn will overtake us 
 before we have crossed the wall." 
 
 " It is scarcely the hour named," answered 
 Sebastian ; i l and it was Zeno's thought, that if 
 the darkness would be the best for the attack ? 
 some little light would serve us after we have
 
 2'22 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 entered ; therefore is it that we await till now. 
 But Navagero must be ready, and we shall 
 soon know when he moves forward. Let us be 
 silent that we may hear and watch the better." 
 So saying he held his peace ; as did his com- 
 panions. 
 
 They did not wait long, before the man on the 
 wall, whose motions were a sign to them of the 
 peace still reigning on the other side, stood still. 
 Presently another form appeared near him, and 
 then more ; and they moved away towards the left. 
 
 " Methinks they have seen something," said 
 Sebastian. " Let our men stand ready to move 
 forward the stage." 
 
 " They are at their posts," said the voice of 
 Boemondo; " 1 have just been with them." 
 
 The forms of the men upon the wall now 
 moved more quickly, and while some again 
 had jumped down, the others might be seen 
 running ha?tily. A moment's silence, and then 
 the shrill blast of a trumpet startled the night : 
 there was a confused hubbub, and then a
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 223 
 
 crash, and then arose up the sound, of voices 
 a tramping, and the clash of arms. 
 
 " They are at it," cried Sebastian. " Forward ! 
 we will give them work here too." 
 
 He had no sooner spoken, than a large wooden 
 machine on wheels a heavy frame supporting 
 a platform at the top, with a drawbridge to let 
 fall upon the walls, and steps behind by which 
 the besiegers might climb it was dragged 
 hastily forward by a hundred hands. The 
 trench which the Genoese had begun, had made 
 little way in the hard ground, and was easily 
 filled with wood that the Venetians had brought 
 for the purpose. But their noise had drawn 
 others to the wall, and presently showers of 
 arrows began to fall among them. Little heed- 
 ing that hard rain, they pressed forward to their 
 task. Planks were laid the stage was driven 
 to the wall the bridge was lowered, crushing the 
 hand of one man that would have forced it back 
 before it was fixed many feet trampled upon it
 
 024 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 there was a sudden sound of thunder, a 
 glare of light, and the heavy discharge of a 
 manganel swept the floor of the stage. It cast 
 a blasting light full in the faces of the Vene- 
 tians ; and struck by that terrible force, more 
 than one was hurled down to the ground. But 
 Sebastian had pressed on so swiftly, that he had 
 already passed beyond it. He jumped down, 
 and threw himself among the Genoese; and 
 alighting he knew not how upon his feet, dashed 
 his sword into the living mass of men before 
 him. Striking with might and main he pressed 
 forward so lustily that none could withstand his 
 blows ; and as he pushed on he heard the con- 
 stant sound of others jumping from the wall 
 behind him, so that the mere press of numbers 
 began to drive back the Genoese. The tumult 
 had now swelled to an uproar ; the sound of 
 arms and of voices might be heard along the 
 whole line of the wall. At first was heard at 
 intervals the thunder of manganels and bom-
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER* 225 
 
 bards ; but presently they were silent, showing 
 that the surprised enemy had been driven back 
 from the guns. 
 
 Meanwhile, a galley had silently been making 
 its way along the seaward shore of Malamocco. 
 It was the same that had brought Zeno from 
 Tenedos. It had nearly the same freight, save 
 that its deck was now more crowded with 
 armed men, whose tall forms and gallant 
 bearing, shewed that they had been picked 
 from among a number. As soon as it had 
 arrived near the Port of Lido, it turned back, 
 and moved along the shore very slowly, as if 
 those on board were seeking for a landing 
 place. It was so ; the darkness of the night, 
 and the change which the foe had made upon 
 the island had so altered its aspect, that those on 
 board could not know it again. Near the mouth 
 of the port, the shore jutted out somewhat 
 under the water, but at a little distance from 
 it they knew that there was a better landing, 
 and there, too, they had learnt that the 
 
 L 2
 
 226 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 Genoese, little fearing attack from the seaward, 
 had but a weak palisade in place of the stronger 
 wall that faced the land, and turned the corners 
 at the edge of the water. This palisade it was 
 then: object to make ; but the darkness, and 
 the altered buildings, confused their senses ; 
 and while Edward insisted that they had 
 already gained the place of which they were in 
 search, Luigi Morosini was strong in the belief 
 that he recognized a tower which they had 
 passed, like another, he said, which also lay 
 nearer the port than the spot they sought. Zeno 
 left it to them ; for the change had been even 
 greater since he departed from Venice, than it 
 was since they had issued from the port that 
 night when they went to bring him back to the 
 city. Edward too, perforce, yielded to the 
 better knowledge to which il Grasso pretended. 
 Already they heard the tumult which arose 
 when Navagero made his attack ; then it 
 swelled; the manganals ceased too soon for 
 the trusty leaders of the Venetians to have
 
 THE POSTER-BROTHER. 227 
 
 been repulsed, and they guessed that the wall 
 was passed. Still the tumult ashore went om 
 and still the galley made its silent way. 
 Edward turned anxiously towards the fresh 
 east wind, which bore them rapidly past the 
 landing place. In the dim light they could 
 barely discern a tower, as it seemed to glide 
 past them ; and now Morosini turned the head 
 of the galley to the land. Edward went for- 
 ward, and, leaning over the bow, tried to pierce 
 the gloom towards the shore ; but the beating 
 of the waves told him nothing. He had 
 scarcely regained the stern, before a sudden 
 crash, and some confusion below, told him 
 that the oars on the right side of the vessel had 
 many of them broken, and presently the bottom 
 of the ship itself grated heavily and harshly 
 upon the mingled sand and mud that 
 stretched out in patches from the shore. 
 The cry which arose among the rowers, who 
 had been thrown down, and among the bow- 
 men, was answered by one long, loud shout
 
 228 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 on the shore ; and a man's figure was seen to 
 arise against the dim light of the sky at the top 
 of the tower. 
 
 " Silence 1" cried Edward, as he hastened to 
 the stern. " Zanni, run forward and silence 
 those men. Luigi mio, we must get her off 
 as fast as we may ; and the darkness which 
 betrayed us, will help us to avoid the Genoese 
 before they know the prize that has fallen to 
 them/' 
 
 Under the hasty directions of Edward and 
 Morosini, every pole that the vessel afforded, 
 and many of their oars, were now thrust out 
 on the right bow, and the vigorous strain of 
 a hundred arms urged it slowly and steadily 
 back from the place where it had settled. But 
 the wind, which had been shifting as the dark- 
 ness diminished, now sent them, as in very 
 spite, forward again, and the stem again ground 
 hard upon the sand, though a little further 
 from the tower. From the noise on shore, and 
 what they could see of the moving figures on
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 229 
 
 the tower, they were aware that the guard had 
 been roused. Without long delay, a few 
 arrows fell amongst them, and some stuck 
 quivering in the deck. Edward could only in 
 part silence the shout of defiance among his 
 own men, which now marked to the Genoese 
 where the stranded vessel lay, and a thicker 
 flight of arrows followed. Some stifled cries, 
 and another shout, though not so loud as be- 
 fore, shewed that many of the weapons fell upon 
 something different from wood. Another at- 
 tempt was made to drive the galley from the 
 shore, but with no better success. And now 
 the arrows of the Genoese fell like rain- 
 Cooped up at the mercy of the enemy, and 
 unable even to struggle against the dangers 
 that assailed them, the Venetians were struck 
 with terror, and ran hither and thither in their 
 confusion. Many of them, leaving their oars, 
 gathered together in the bow, and took counsel 
 among themselves. Some sought under the 
 deck a shelter from the iron storm which raged
 
 230 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 above ; and the boldest among them stood with 
 their arms folded in sullen indifference. A 
 bright flash of light above the tower, and a 
 noise like thunder, was followed presently by a 
 heavy splash at the side of the ship. 
 
 " The rogues !" cried Luigi ; " that is one of 
 our cannon. They have not yet made them to 
 throw so far, nor such heavy stones." 
 
 As he spoke, the murmur among the crew 
 grew louder, and presently a few among them 
 drew nigh, while those behind raised cries 
 to surrender. 
 
 " Now, Zanni," said Luigi, " what is it ? 
 Have your friends again sent you on some 
 traitorous errand ?" 
 
 " They say," answered the man, " that it is 
 useless to fight thus, when we have nothing 
 but the dark to meet and the wind : while 
 these good Genoese can skewer us all at 
 leisure, like larks brought to market ; and we 
 may be drowned here on this muddy shoal, if 
 we wait till the galley breaks up with the
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 231 
 
 beating of the waves. They say, Messer Luigi, 
 that if we do surrender, and declare that we 
 have Messer Zeno on board, the Doria will be 
 so pleased at that prize, that we shall be saved, 
 and welcomed on shore with lights and feast- 
 
 ing/' 
 
 "Is that what you would have, Zanni? 
 Who gave this counsel it w r as not you? 
 Shew me the man shew me the Genoese that 
 said this. Bring him here, and fetch me a 
 light, that we may look at him. Is this the 
 price you put upon Zeno, that you think him 
 worth no more than this galley, and all who 
 are in it ? or, rather, would it be cheap if all 
 were lost, so that we kept him safely for 
 Venice, who sent us to fetch him ! Bring me 
 the man here." 
 
 The mariners seemed somewhat abashed, 
 and stood in silence; but the shots behind 
 them did not cease, when the voice of Carlo 
 Zeno was heard loud above the tumult " Who 
 talks of surrendering ?" he cried, " the
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 Genoese ? Hark ! hear you those shouts the 
 shout of victory of your fellow Venetians, as 
 they seize the stronghold of our enemies? 
 Hark again : the Venetians have gained the 
 fort. Let us be with them. Ola/' he cried, 
 " is there one among you that can swim ? Give 
 me a man that will face the waters, aye, and 
 death for me, if you have such." 
 
 The sound of his voice was like a spell upon 
 the men the old familiar shout that they had 
 so often before heard, in tempest and in 
 danger, and had so often conquered by, drove 
 away their fears, while it surprised them into 
 the habit of obedience. Many of them rushed 
 to the stern; where stood Zeno and Edward, 
 who had persuaded him to take the command 
 which Luigi had lost. 
 
 " Now," cried Zeno, as the men ran up to 
 him, " which of you can swim best ?" 
 
 " I," and " I," and " I," cried many voices. 
 u Nay, I want not more than one, and let 
 me not have any but the best. Tell me, all
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 of you, which is it that is strongest in the 
 water ?" 
 
 " I am," said Zanni ; " they will all tell you 
 so." 
 
 " Strip, then, and let me see your limbs, if 
 the darkness will let me. And now, my friend, 
 can you brave a little salt water? Listen 
 then get ashore, with a rope in your hand, 
 and make us a path to the land ; if we cannot 
 get our galley off, we will land where we needs 
 must." 
 
 Zanni made no answer, but knitting his 
 limbs, walked slowly to the side, and threw 
 his legs, one after another, over the bulwark. 
 He still hung with one arm firmly over the 
 side of the vessel, until, in its rolling, it came 
 nearer to the water, then, dropping straight 
 down, he cleared a high wave without a splash. 
 Many eyes strained after him, until he re- 
 appeared some ten or twenty cubits from the 
 ship. 
 
 " It will do \" cried Zeno ; " if we could
 
 234 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 have made a fish do our office, we should not 
 have done better. And now, boys, let us also 
 bestir ourselves. An arrow will find us as 
 readily when we are still, as when we are at 
 work." 
 
 Animated by his words, the rowers again 
 strained every nerve, but now to thrust the 
 galley further towards the shore. The wind 
 favoured their efforts, and slowly, and with many 
 a hindrance the heavy ship glided forward. 
 Realizing so soon the success that Zeno seemed 
 always to command, the discipline of the men 
 improved, and they silently drifted in. Another 
 burst of light, however, though it sent the mass 
 of stone far away from the galley, in its course, 
 again disclosed the Venetians to their foe, and 
 the next flight of arrows spent its full force upon 
 them. 
 
 "Now boys," cried Zeno, "to your oars; 
 the water is deep here." As he spoke, seizing 
 the rope, of which Zanni on the land held the 
 other, he jumped from the ship, and partly
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 235 
 
 swimming, and partly wading, he dragged himself 
 swiftly to the shore. By the same rude bridge 
 followed others, and more, until the whole 
 were on shore ; Edward closing the rear. Still 
 the nianganels kept up a fire at intervals, 
 and the better light enabled those on the tower 
 to see them. " This is no palisade," cried 
 Zeno ; " but a sound wall; " and he moved 
 towards it to try its height. The ground 
 beneath it was rough, rising in a low broken 
 bank. He began to climb it he staggered 
 he fell. At first they thought that he had only 
 stumbled. But as he endeavoured to rise, they 
 saw him stagger and fall backwards ; he 
 lay quite still. In an instant Edward and 
 Luigi were at his side : knowing that he must 
 be wounded. With his hand he pointed to 
 his throat, and in the imperfect light, they saw 
 that there was an arrow sticking there ; but he 
 was silent. 
 
 " He does not faint,'' said Edward, " for I 
 can feel his hand grasp mine. I fear me that
 
 236 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 he cannot speak." Zeno grasped the shaft of 
 the arrow, which was short and thick, and strove 
 to draw it from his throat; but the pain had 
 weakened him, and he signed to Edward to 
 draw it out. Edward looked close to the wound, 
 and seeing as well as he could for the darkness, 
 he found that the iron still remained in great 
 part outside, and therefore not fearing to tear the 
 flesh, he pressed with his fingers gently on the 
 sides of the wound, and drew the weapon forth. 
 ' Does it bleed much ?" said Luigi. 
 
 " I can feel the blood on my fingers," an- 
 swered Edward, " but there does not seem 
 much." 
 
 " And yet," said Luigi, " I can feel him 
 clutch my hand, as though the pain were worse. 
 He is choking, and we have no surgeon here." 
 
 They watched him as he lay, his limbs 
 quivering slightly, and his strength seeming to 
 grow less ; and already they feared that they 
 had brought him to Venice merely to be carried 
 to the tomb.
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 237 
 
 " He would have us to do something, 5 ' said 
 Luigi. " What is it, sir ?" 
 
 Zeno was making signs with his hands. 
 
 "I think," said Edward, "that he would 
 have us turn him round." They laid him on 
 his face, and the blood which had flowed into 
 his throat and choked him, now ran freely from 
 the wound. They could feel from the stillness 
 of his hands that he was easier. But how to 
 remove him ? Edward looked up once more 
 towards the tower and the wall, and thought, 
 almost with despair, how the wounded man 
 lay, in that narrow strip of ground between the 
 sea and the enemy. He began to deem it the 
 safest to force their way through the enemy ; 
 and scarcely had the thought crossed his mind, 
 ere Zeno himself reviving, made a sign that 
 they should lift him over the wall. His wound 
 had now ceased to bleed so violently as it did 
 before, and Edward prepared to obey. His 
 first task was to take the wall; on which he 
 could dimly descry the moving forms of those
 
 238 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 who manned it. He stood not upon stratagem ; 
 but making his men bring their ladders, they 
 were laid against the wall; and while some 
 held them tightly to it, others scrambled up, 
 Edward at their head. He was seized at the 
 top by many hands that strove to throw him 
 back; and sharp was the struggle; but Ed- 
 ward fought for more than life, and after one 
 fierce embrace on that perilous stone couch, 
 both besiegers and besieged toppled in together. 
 By great good fortune, as Zeno had reckoned, 
 only a small force remained to guard that sea- 
 bound post; and the Venetians had no hard 
 labour to force them back. Without waiting 
 to assail the tower, Edward helped those below 
 to raise the wounded general to the wall ; and 
 once within it, they hurried forward, carrying 
 him in their arms, and shouting, "Viva San 
 Marco ! Carlo Zeno ! Carlo Zeno \" The few 
 whom they encountered fled before them, or 
 throwing down their arms, craved protection ; 
 and still as they hurried on, a new standard
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 239 
 
 was unfurled upon the furthest wall by the 
 Port of Lido it bore the winged lion of Saint 
 Mark. They had come just in time to share 
 the victory, and in the name of Zeno and of 
 Venice to grant mercy to the prisoned Genoese. 
 Presently there was a new shouting towards 
 the port, and where the wall was lowest they 
 might see above it the mast of a galley pass 
 hastily along ; while the Venetians who had 
 already manned that battlement, were shouting 
 as if in triumph, and discharging arrows at the 
 passing vessel. "Pisani," exclaimed Edward, 
 " has done his duty ; the Genoese are flying." 
 Another galley was now seen to pass as hastily 
 as the first. They would have carried Zeno 
 within that he might be tended ; but he made 
 signs that they should bear him to the port, 
 and there reclining upon the wall, a leech was 
 brought to him, while he looked out upon the 
 Lagune. H& watched for Vittor Pisani, whom 
 he had sent to drive the Genoese from the 
 waters of Saint Mark. Already they could see
 
 240 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 a fleet of galleys hastening towards the port 
 first there were some two or three fugitive 
 Genoese, straining every nerve to escape the 
 pursuers behind, and to dash through the port 
 now guarded by their enemy. They went on 
 their way, but as they passed, some few drops 
 of blood marked the skill of the bowmen in the 
 fort that made sport of their flight. Then 
 came the body of the fleet dashing and crowding 
 into the port. There was a space behind them, 
 and two galleys might be seen running a race 
 for the outlet. The one to the right of those 
 who viewed it from the fort, bore the standard 
 of Saint Mark. A cavalier was standing at its 
 prow, sword in hand : by the golden fess upon 
 the blue ground, blazoned on his jupon, it was 
 Taddeo Justiniani. The object of the Venetian 
 was to cut off the path of the Genoese galley, 
 which came more to the left, and which in turn 
 was striving to make the outlet before the 
 Venetian. The race was nearly even ; but the 
 Genoese was too much on one side of the
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 241 
 
 channel, and thus its path was a trifle longer. 
 All its men stood moveless on the side next the 
 foe. Every eye was strained as the two paths 
 drew to a point. They neared : the oars of 
 the Venetians ceased for an instant, that they 
 might take the galley in its flank ; then they 
 beat the water again, and dashed furiously 
 against the other galley ; Justiniani standing 
 ready to leap on board at the instant that they 
 touched. The whole of the men in the Genoese 
 galley rushed to its right side, their weight and 
 that of all the things that they had already' 
 passed to that side, bringing it down close to 
 to the water, throwing the opposite bulwark 
 high into the air, and hiding the two parties 
 from each other. As they leaped, the Vene- 
 tians fell against the wet and slippery sides of 
 the galley; many toppling into the water, 
 where they sank from the weight of their arms. 
 The Genoese- shouted in derision, as they heard 
 the splash and tumult. One Venetian alone 
 retained his hold : it was Taddeo Justiniani, 
 
 VOL.. II. M
 
 242 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 
 
 who had leapt the first, and who was now thrown 
 by the force of his leap right into the Genoese 
 galley, and went running and stumbling alone 
 among the enemy ; but no fear mastered his 
 heart. Hastily scrambling to the nearest mast, 
 he passed his left arm round it, while with his 
 right he struck fierce and fast on those who 
 assailed him; the slanting deck gave them a 
 bad footing, and many a man fell under the 
 blows which he dealt from his vantage-ground. 
 Seeing how he withstood so many, the captain 
 of the galley made his men go back to the other 
 side, so that the galley righted, and now from 
 the shore they saw that Taddeo stood with his 
 back to the mast, defending himself against death 
 from the swords that must slay him by their 
 numbers. The Genoese called out to him to 
 yield, while some few went forward to attack him 
 from behind ; turning to this new enemy he left 
 the others, and striking the first he met he 
 rushed to the bow of the vessel he leaped on to 
 the beak dropped into the laguna, and strove
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 243 
 
 to swim for the shore, liking rather to yield to 
 the waters of his native country than to the 
 cruel mercy of the Genoese ; but his arms 
 were heavy, his strength was spent, he could 
 not even answer the shouts of the friends 
 whose hands were stretched out to him in vain, 
 and before his own galley could reach him, he 
 had sunk to rise no more. 
 
 No hostile eyes witnessed his last struggle, 
 for when they would have pursued him as he 
 rushed to the bow of the galley, a fresh assault 
 made the Genoese think only of their own 
 safety; their galley staggered under a violent 
 shock, and before they were aware of it, Vittor 
 Pisani who had remained to sweep the last of 
 their vessels from the canal, marking the danger 
 of his friend, had come to his help too late to 
 to save him, but not to revenge. Seeing that 
 all hope was gone, the Genoese drew them- 
 selves together, determined to sell their lives as 
 dearly as possible; they would not ask for 
 mercy, they would not give it, but hewed down
 
 244 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 
 
 by Pisani on one side, and by the men of 
 Justiniani, who now came on board with little 
 resistance on the other side, they stood to be 
 reaped down in a bloody harvest. Say, when 
 Vittor Pisani stood master of the galley, how 
 many Venetians, after that dance of battle, 
 shared with the Genoese the bloody bed of 
 death?
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 AFTER leaving Zeno, it was Ranieri's care to 
 keep himself as much as possible alone in 
 Sebastian's tent, so that no interruption might 
 be offered to his next conversation with Roberto 
 da Recanati, and he instinctively provided for 
 his contest with the crafty man, by keeping 
 ready to his hand a book which he read from 
 time to time, though his thoughts ever wan- 
 dered to more stirring matters. The day was 
 well nigh spent before the Condottiere came. 
 While he seemed to note him not, Ranieri 
 caught at once the sound of his stealthy foot- 
 step ; he drew near to the stool on which the 
 youth sat and laid his hand upon his shoulder, 
 Ranieri started round, as if taken by surprise,
 
 '246 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 and looked in Recanati's face like one who 
 would know what he wanted. 
 
 " You have not forgotten," began the Floren- 
 tine, ( ' of what we talked the other day r" 
 
 " Truly no/' answered Ranieri, " and I have 
 not misused my time." 
 
 " Tell me then how you have speeded/' 
 
 Ranieri paused, and smiling he replied, " I 
 think that it is not for me to begin to tell any- 
 thing yet, rather should you tell and I hear 
 more." 
 
 " How so ?" asked the Condottieri, " what 
 said Messer Sebastiano ?" 
 
 " I have nothing to tell you of what Messer 
 Sebastiano has said, nor shall I. Think of me 
 as Sebastian himself: speak to me as Sebastian, 
 and I will tell you what I say." 
 
 " Why this," replied the soldier, " is making 
 compacts with one who keeps in the dark. How 
 can I treat with Messer Sebastiano, if all the 
 talk is on my side ? Is it nothing that we offer 
 him such power and such possessions as, though
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 247 
 
 he were to live to be the oldest man in Venice, 
 he never could attain ? and we offer it for him 
 or his father at once : it is for him to choose his 
 prize." 
 
 " Aye ; you offer to give him some small part 
 of what you are losing in despair, in order to 
 keep the rest ; and he would lose in your defeat 
 the whole of what he has. You know, Messer 
 Roberto, to what Sebastian may look one day. 
 You know that there is no station in Venice 
 which he cannot enter, having, so young, 
 achieved such high fame. You know that the 
 Ducal robe itself has been worn by others of his 
 family ; and that it may be so again, even 
 without the aid of Messer Roberto da Recanati. 
 For him the only gain in your success would be 
 one of time the risk and the danger, I say, are 
 all on his side ; and if you would have his aid, 
 you must have it on his own terms. I tell you 
 that I am Sebastian ; and that if you are de- 
 feated, I alone will take the risk. If you win,
 
 248 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 more powerful hands than mine shall crown 
 your triumph. Have it so, or not at all." 
 
 The Condottiere looked hard and thought- 
 fully at Ranieri ; who leaned his arm upon the 
 table, with his head resting upon his hand, as 
 though he would give the other all his own time 
 for reflection " You speak in riddles,'' said 
 Recanati, " and if you fear to speak more 
 plainly, truly we can go no further in this 
 matter." 
 
 " I tell you that the risk is all ours ; the gain 
 will be all yours ; for you are now losing, and 
 therefore must you have it so, or have it not at 
 all." 
 
 Recanati pressed his lips together, and his 
 black eyebrows met in a fierce frown, as, look- 
 ing at Ranieri with a new expression, he cried, 
 " How shall I know, young man, but that you 
 are playing with me? How shall I know that 
 J may speak to you as to Messer Sebastiano, 
 with his leave ? ' 
 
 " Why," answered the youth, carelessly,
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 249 
 
 " that is one of your chances : Messer Sebasti- 
 ano will not appear to you, nor speak to you, 
 while you are losing all, and he can gain nothing 
 but disgrace. If you need proof that he has 
 given me his power, which is no small one, 
 take it in the command I hold here. Think 
 you, that if 1 were not as Sebastian himself, that 
 I, young as I am, should have the obedience of 
 his men?" 
 
 Stepping to the door of the tent, he called 
 out, " Ola, Ordelaffo !" and then walked back to 
 the table. A soldier appeared, and respect- 
 fully waited the youth's command. 
 
 " Have your men," said Ranieri, " retired to 
 rest ?" 
 
 " But now, my lord," answered the man. 
 
 " Rouse them instantly, for I may need them ; 
 and bring them here into the open ground 
 before my tent." 
 
 The man bowed and retired. 
 
 " It is long," said the youth, as he resumed 
 his seat, " since you were at Florence, Messer 
 
 M 2
 
 250 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 Roberto. You must weary of this camp life 
 after the amusements of your own city." 
 
 The Condottiere did not answer, but looked 
 at his companion as if half amused and half 
 perplexed. They remained silent for some 
 minutes, during which Ranieri had taken up 
 his book. Presently there was a sound of 
 many feet outside, and Ordelaffo reentered the 
 tent. 
 
 " We await yourcommands, Messer Ranieri/' 
 he said. 
 
 " Stay awhile without, sir," replied the 
 youth : " Messer Recanati and I will be with 
 you anon, and may need you or release you 
 to your beds, as we shall determine." 
 
 Ordelaffo again retired, with an obeisance. 
 
 " You see," cried Ranieri, " turning to Re- 
 canati, " that I am Sebastian here ; and truly 
 I think you will be in danger of little mistake, if 
 I am Sebastian also to you. You will have 
 none other as yet, therefore must you be con- 
 tent with this poor shape of that nobler
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 251 
 
 gentleman, my friend, or you must leave your 
 enterprize. So now, Messer da Recanati, 
 take your free choice." 
 
 The Condottiere hesitated; then suddenly 
 putting on a frank manner, he cried, " Be it 
 so, Messer Sebastiano Morosini ; I shall doubt, 
 no longer. So what say you of your own 
 proper mouth ?" 
 
 " Nay, nay," cried Ranieri, smiling, " I have 
 still the same answer for you. It is you that 
 are to speak, not I. What say you, Messer 
 da Recanati ? How am I, Sebastian Morosini, 
 to know that you have the power you boast ? 
 You see me here in Sebastian's tent, leading 
 Sebastian's men, who attend my bidding 
 without, holding Sebastian's powers ; but how 
 know I that you have entry into Chiozza ; that 
 you have the ear of Carrara, and power to 
 speak for him ? I have shewn you all that I 
 possess before we began our compact. You 
 have let me see nothing; thinking, perhaps, 
 that so young as I am, I may be ready of
 
 252 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 faith. But remember, that if I have Sebastian's 
 powers, also I have Sebastian's years, and 
 Sebastian's counsel." 
 
 " What would you ? You know as much as 
 I can show you Messer Sebastiano knows 
 how Alessandro da Padova " 
 
 " I know all that Sebastian knows ; but 
 Sebastian himself knows not how things have 
 altered since the fortunes of war have altered 
 how you, (I say it not to offend you, Messer 
 Recanati) being trapped into a difficulty by the 
 cunning Carrara, may be using me to escape 
 from your trouble, secretly, and without the 
 privity of Carrara. Look you, I have shewn you 
 all my power ; before we go further, you shall 
 shew me "yours, if you would have us be allies." 
 
 What is it you ask ?" 
 
 " Proof that you have the ear of Carrara/' 
 
 " Why, do you not see the command I hare 
 here ? Do you not see the secret powers that 
 I have held, and which well-nigh cost me my 
 life last night?" 
 
 " I know you, Messer Recanati, for one of
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 253 
 
 the discreetest and astutest of Condottieri ; and 
 I see, that great part of the hired troops here 
 assembled look up to you for counsel." 
 
 " Have you not noted the power I hold over 
 these soldiers ; and do you believe that I could 
 hold it, but that I have held the purse that I 
 haye had money ?" 
 
 " I know that you are the most sought after 
 of all your craft, and that you have been well 
 paid, Messer da Recanati ; you have treasure, 
 I doubt not, stored up in Florence." 
 
 " Little of that, indeed, as you will learn, if 
 ever you carry on the trade of a Condottiere. 
 But how can I give you proof of what you ask, 
 here in Pelestrina? There is no such proof, 
 unless you were to be in Chiozza itself, and see 
 the conference I hold with Carrara." 
 
 " Be it so." 
 
 " Be it so ! but how can it be so ! how can 
 any stranger enter that fortress, or how would 
 you venture thither by your own will ?" 
 
 " As to tha venturing, Messer da Recanti,
 
 '254 THE FOOTER-BROTHER. 
 
 do not believe that any danger will stop me or 
 if Sebastian thought that it would, I should not 
 now hold the powers I do, or speak to you as 
 from himself. For the rest, take your choice. 
 I will have the proof you named, or you shall 
 not have my alliance." 
 
 " In sooth, Giovinetto, you are as difficult 
 to deal withal as a woman ; you are so proud 
 and wilful, you ask what is impossible." 
 
 " I am not yet so old as you, Messer Ro- 
 berto, and have not learnt to use that word 
 impossible. When I have been with you to 
 Chiozza, we will talk further." 
 
 Ranieri rose from his chair and took off his 
 cloak, as if to prepare for rest; to hint that his 
 visitor might retire. After a short silence, 
 Recanati said. " I leave you then, Messer 
 Ranieri : a rivederci.'' Recanati stepped towards 
 the entrance of the tent ; but then returning, he 
 said, " Have you bethought you, young man, 
 that there is danger in playing too far with men 
 intent upon a desperate game ?"
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 255 
 
 " I have thought of all, and am as you see, 
 unarmed. I am ready to go with you, also 
 unarmed, wherever you like. There are some 
 things that we will not trust to any man, and 
 there are oiher things which we will trust to 
 any. I will not trust Sebastian's fame and for- 
 tune in your hands ; but this body, comely as it 
 is, and of price to its owner and divers young 
 damsels, you shall have in pawn when you list." 
 He continued slowly unbuttoning his vest. 
 
 " You are the boldest spoken lad that ever 1 
 encountered. Undress no further, my friend, 
 for I will humour you sooner than you might 
 think. What if I were to take you now ?" 
 
 " Why then, as the night is cold, I shall put 
 on my cloak again." 
 
 " I will not, however, disturb you so unawares." 
 
 " At your own time. But having on my 
 cloak, I will go forth to dismiss the men." 
 
 " You are a strange youth, Messer Ranieri. 
 You shall hear from me again ; but now I take 
 my leave." And he departed.
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 THE blow on the Genoese at Malamocco 
 was followed up with such resistless might, 
 that the whole fortune of the war was changed ; 
 and the change might be noted in the altered 
 bearing of the soldiers ranged under the stan- 
 dard of St. Mark. A cheerful confidence was 
 seen in every face, activity and prompt obe- 
 dience reigned throughout, and the murmurs 
 of treachery were hushed. It were needless to 
 recount how the post of the Genoese in Peles- 
 trina had been assailed like that at Malamocco, 
 and how they craved leave to retreat to Chiozza ; 
 which Zeno allowed, to the surprise of some 
 among his colleagues. " Every mouth in 
 Chiozza," he answered, " does battle on our
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 257 
 
 side," And soon stories were told, how in the 
 night, large bands of prisoners, the people of 
 the town, were carried away from Chiozza, to 
 the main land ; where they might more readily 
 be fed. But soon the traffic with the main land 
 was rendered difficult; for Pisani pressed so 
 with his galleys and smaller boats upon every 
 part that the enemy were now driven hi upon 
 Chiozza and the neighbouring island Brondolo. 
 To do all this Zeno did not wait for the healing 
 of his wound, though that went on apace ; but 
 seated in his lodging at Pelestrina, he ordered 
 anew the fortunes of Venice. He sent back 
 the venerable Doge to the city, bidding him 
 restore hope and good rule to its troubled 
 people. He watched the bearing of the 
 Genoese, as the toils were narrowed around 
 them ; and while he evoked the whole strength 
 and wealth of his country in one last 
 struggle for death or destruction, he inspired 
 his countrymen with his own resolve, that the 
 Genoese should be driven from the lagoons,
 
 258 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 or that Venice should there close her history 
 and drown her existence in the reddened waters. 
 Still, too, he watched when the treachery that 
 he knew to lurk among them should shew its 
 ugly face or wicked hand; but it seemed to 
 shrink as the Genoese shrunk within them- 
 selves : none was more active than the uncon- 
 scious traitor Morosini than the conscious 
 but faithful Malipiero, rejoicing to wield the 
 sword in expiation for his oath-chained tongue 
 than the vigilant Alessandro, whose dark 
 eye no man could read. Surrounded by un- 
 corrupted bands, Recanati remained in idleness 
 on Pelestrina. All seemed to go well. 
 
 At length Zeno was whole again, and could 
 bear arms. Pisani was summoned to Pelestrina, 
 and close was the council. Some hours after- 
 wards, the night was moonless, but calm and 
 tranquil a great fleet of galleys, and of all 
 the smaller vessels that could be commanded, 
 was gradually stealing along the shore towards 
 Chiozza, so silently that those in each vessel
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 259 
 
 might have supposed that it was alone, or that 
 only the one or two nearest to it were moving 
 like itself. The whole fleet moved slowly, as 
 if the purpose were not to let a needless sound 
 escape, and to keep even the rowers unfatigued. 
 Thus they passed along the low flat shore of 
 Pelestrina. Its outline shewed against the 
 grey side of night, where the dawn was to 
 appear ; and how changed from its wonted 
 aspect ! No small fisher's house loomed against 
 the sky, no vine leaves danced in the air ; but 
 all along were the straight and cornered lines 
 of palisades and bastions, or the sharper angles 
 of tents crowded into that narrow space. On 
 their right, lost in the darkness, lay the safe 
 and quiet waters of the Lagune. It was already 
 morning when they arrived at the port of 
 Brondolo, and those which were foremost, 
 taking a course to the left, made for the shore 
 of the island, in the strait. After the galleys 
 had for some time turned in that path, one of
 
 260 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 them, followed as silently still by those behind, 
 pursued the shore towards Chiozza. The deck 
 of that galley was crowded with a band whose 
 death-like silence denoted the command that 
 swayed them. Near its poop was gathered a 
 knot of cavaliers ; some sitting on the boards 
 taking a hasty repose ; others watching as well 
 as they might in the dark, the path of the 
 galley through the waters. Carlo Zeno stood 
 by the right side of the ship, and near him 
 were the two friends. 
 
 (f So far," he said, " our path is smooth and 
 quiet : the spell that we have cast upon the 
 Lagune has lulled the Genoese into the belief 
 that we have grown idle ; and perchance to 
 despise us. Hear you any sound?" 
 
 " Nothing," said Edward, " save the steady 
 splash and rumbling of the oars. But we have 
 yet a good piece to go." 
 
 " Aye ; our friends in little Venice have their 
 choice of three ways to meet us. They may
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 261 
 
 force us to a battle on the shore ; or they may 
 meet us with courtesy, and give us all we ask ; 
 or they may think (arid it is more likely) to 
 trap us by suffering us to land. Every stroke 
 now gives us a better chance ; and unless they 
 have a stronger force on this side of the canal 
 than we have learnt, we could even now land 
 faster than they could issue out upon us. For 
 Pisani, who has gone before, will keep them 
 busy at Brondolo ; and I know that we could 
 now jump ashore faster than they can pass the 
 bridge. I have been fearing day after day to 
 hear that they had crowded this place before 
 us to stay our landing ; but if this scanty light 
 deceive me not, there has, as yet, been none 
 on shore. Have you seen any, Odoardo ? for 
 my eyes have been more turned to the right 
 here, watching for any lights in Chiozza." 
 
 " None ; if we knew not otherwise we might 
 suppose all the- town deserted/' 
 
 The course of the galley now became slower ;
 
 262 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 for some minutes it glided so gently that it 
 might almost seem still ; presently it stopped, 
 and a mariner coming towards them asked if 
 it was the GeneraPs pleasure to land, for that 
 was the place. 
 
 " Be it so," cried Zeno, " go among the men, 
 Sebastian, and let there be no hurry, for we 
 have less need of time than of silence ; before 
 we are seen I would have all on shore, less that 
 I fear to make good our landing, than that I 
 wish to hide our strength. Is it you, my friend, 
 who will lead us to the hollow that I spoke 
 of?" 
 
 The man bowed in token of assent. Gradually 
 the galley parted with its living freight, and 
 the sound of footsteps was heard treading care- 
 fully and steadily on the shore. The drowsy 
 Cavaliers had now shaken off their slumbers, 
 the repose of the short voyage was exchanged 
 for a more active eagerness, and Zeno passed 
 on shore amid a troop whose measured, but
 
 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 263 
 
 elastic steps showed the hopes and courage 
 that animated each among them. All was quiet 
 on shore. The troops moved forward after their 
 guide, and were lost in the silent darkness. 
 Zeno and his friends remained by the water 
 side, watching the bands that nimbly alighted 
 from the galleys, and followed in the same path. 
 
 " I am amazed," he said, " at the stillness of 
 the Genoese, and do suspect rather some trea- 
 chery than mere neglect ; go, Messer Andrea 
 Donato, take with you whom you will outside 
 these hillocks, and learn if all be clear/' 
 
 There was no sign or sound of life, except 
 the now steady tramp of the Venetians inland ; 
 and the whole of the galleys, and the smaller 
 boats which followed them, had landed their 
 men ; before the light could betray them to those 
 within the neighbouring city. Following in 
 the rear of the party, Carlo Zeno who needed 
 no guide in -treading that ground, led his 
 friends almost on the ridge of the slight rising 
 that separated the little marshy hollows from
 
 264 THE FOSTER-BROTHER. 
 
 the part towards Chiozza, until they came 
 nearly opposite to the great bridge, where he 
 placed himself behind a little chapel, so that 
 they might be concealed while they could yet 
 watch. As the dawn began to break, they could 
 see more clearly the Venetian forces ; and it was 
 a marvel how so strong a band could have 
 found its way to that solitary place, with so 
 little noise or confusion. As the light increased, 
 what had seemed mere shadows of the uneven 
 ground, grew into men ; so that a goodly force 
 might be seen, of some two thousand bow-men ; 
 but in front, and nearest to the bridge, was a 
 small troop of William Cooke's sturdy English- 
 men, dismounted men at arms. The morning 
 was chill, but clear and pleasant ; and the light 
 clouds that broke away in the west served ra- 
 ther to shew the brightness of the sun, than to 
 conceal it, as the English band, and a few of the 
 bowmen advanced up the hillock to show them- 
 selves to the enemy.
 
 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 265 
 
 " The sluggards will wait till we go to knock 
 at their gates," said Zeno ; " and in sooth I 
 would rather fight them here than there. 
 Stay, what is this ?" 
 
 As he spoke a column of smoke, so black 
 and thick that it seemed a solid pillar, rose 
 from the city near the end of the bridge, 
 and fresh masses of it danced quickly above 
 the wall, rising high up in the air and sailing 
 slowly away with the wind. 
 
 " That," cried Zeno, " is no sudden chance, 
 and I marvel since they must have known 
 we are here, that they have not troubled us 
 before." 
 
 *' They will be with us anon," answered Se 
 bastian, " for see, here is one running to tell 
 us that they come." He pointed inland, where 
 a man might be seen coming as fast as he 
 could run, and making no stay to answer those 
 who questioned him as he passed each sepa- 
 rate band at its post. He made straight for 
 the party behind the little chapel, and came 
 
 VOL II. N
 
 266 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 
 
 with such haste that when he had made his 
 obeisance, he could scarcely speak. . 
 
 " How now/' said Zeno ; " have you 
 Doria and all his men behind you, that you 
 ccme so fast ?" 
 
 " Messer Gradenigo has sent me," answered 
 the man, " to tell you that we on the other 
 side can see, in Brondolo, a large pillar of 
 smoke rising in the air." 
 
 " Ha," exclaimed the general, " is it any- 
 thing like that," and he pointed to the smoke 
 near the bridge of Chiozza. 
 
 " Why it is its very counterfeit," answered 
 the man, " and Messer Gradenigo thought it 
 might be some signal." 
 
 " They think," said Zeno to his friends, " to 
 enclose us, but I fear them not in Brondolo ; 
 for they must eat Pisani before they can feast 
 on us. We may care little for the smoke be- 
 hind us, so that we watch what this shall bring 
 forth. And it is not long first, you see.'* 
 He pointed to the bridge, on which might now
 
 THE FOSTER RROTHER. 267 
 
 be seen a body of men steadily marching along 
 it. They seemed to become aware of the 
 English and Venetians who showed themselves 
 in front, for suddenly they stopped ; but pre- 
 sently they moved forward again, and the 
 whole outline of the bridge showed a moving 
 row of figures. 
 
 " Tell Messer Gradenigo," said Zeno to the 
 messenger, " to watch well what he may see 
 towards Brondolo ; and let it be his care that 
 none come at our backs, for we shall have 
 work before us in plenty." 
 
 The man moved to obey him ; but scarcely 
 had he gone ten paces from the chapel, ere a 
 little hissing was heard in the air, and some 
 three or four arrows fell near him, one striking 
 him on the neck, so that he fell badly 
 wounded. 
 
 " Why, what is this ?" cried Zeno, " have the 
 Genoese some friends in heaven that fight 
 for them ?" 
 
 " It is likely enough," answered Edward, 
 N 3
 
 268 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 
 
 "for I think the mischief comes from this holy 
 place." 
 
 He held out his hand towards a little bell- 
 tower which stood some distance from the 
 chapel. And the general now noticed that 
 what seemed but an appendage to the holy 
 building had been walled about with a strong 
 palisade of wood, as if to block their entrance. 
 All looked quiet, however, and there was 
 no sign that it held any people. 
 
 " How like a holy hypocrite this chapel is," 
 said Zeno. " How tranquil And see that 
 sign of peace and forgiveness," pointing to the 
 cross which surmounted the other end where 
 the entrance lay. " And yet from out this 
 belfry have we these treacherous shafts. So 
 often do some holy folks stir up war! As 
 these busy [ riests will not let us rest, let us 
 even begin our work." 
 
 The line of warriors crossing the bridge had 
 now drawn its hindmost end on to the land : 
 there were no more to coine. Those who
 
 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 269 
 
 had reached the shore had hastily formed 
 themselves first into one band which stood 
 rather to the right of the bridge, and now 
 into another on the left ; and both slowly came 
 forward. Zeno stepped as he spoke towards 
 the troop of English soldiers that stood in the 
 van. Another little flight of arrows whistled 
 along as he passed beyond the shelter of the 
 chapel ; but they all fell wide, and Edward 
 who followed him with Sebastian pointed to the 
 fortune which seemed to bear the Zeno 
 harmless. 
 
 Raising his loud voice, that had so often 
 made itself heard against the wind, Zeno spake 
 so that it might reach beyond the English 
 to his own countrymen, and hastily addressed 
 them in one of those short and animated 
 speeches, with which he was wont to begin 
 the combat. 
 
 " We have buckled on our armour this day, 
 my soldiers," he cried, " with good omens* 
 The sun that shines upon us will dazzle the
 
 270 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 
 
 eyes of those we fight ; and you see how God 
 is leading them, little by little across that 
 bridge, that it may be easier for us to find 
 them than if they were on the further shore. 
 Truly God stands against wicked and unjust 
 enterprizes, and blinds the eyes of those who 
 pursue them. See how they come on, judging 
 our prudence with a corrupt judgment, taking 
 it for very fear : through their error and your 
 wisdom shall our glory be begotten. Stand 
 quiet yet a little, and silent But when the 
 time shall come and I give you the accustomed 
 sign, then crying out and with a good will, 
 we will run upon them and drive them back, 
 broken and disordered, against the walls which 
 they cannot re-enter. This day shall bring 
 destruction to the daring of our foes, and this 
 miserable war shall have a happy end. For 
 all human things have the same course ; nor 
 was there ever BO troubled and perilous a 
 tempest that had not behind it a serene 
 calm."
 
 THE FOSTER BROTHER 271 
 
 He ceased, and turning towards the foe, he 
 watched the distance as it diminished between 
 them. 
 
 "They have one advantage over us," he 
 said, speaking low to his companions, " for 
 if they have few horses, we have none. And 
 yet methinks they seem to gain but little 
 confidence from that ; for as they come near 
 and see our numbers greater than they showed 
 at first, note how they seem to stop and doubt. 
 Gerardo da Manteloro, that is he on the black 
 horse, is not often so slow in coming to battle ; 
 for never was there a braver man, as there 
 is not a discreeter. These holy bowmen at 
 our right will not let us forget them. I must 
 not have them left here to make a panic 
 behind us, Be it your task, Sebastian, to 
 drive them out as soon as we move forward." 
 
 After a short pause of silence, Zeno sud- 
 denly turned to the men behind him, and 
 crying " Evviva San Marco " was answered by 
 a loud and deafening shout: as the Eng-
 
 272 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 
 
 lishmen rushed forward at his back, a roaring 
 flight of arrows flew from the bows of the 
 Venetians behind them. 
 
 The Genoese did not wait the shock in 
 silence ; but answering to the shout, rushed 
 forward to encounter it. More than half way 
 did the invaders meet them, and with such 
 force did they rush together, that many in 
 front could not use their arms, but were driven 
 body to body, or were hemmed in among 
 their enemies. Followed close by Edward, 
 Carlo Zeno might be known by his red cap, 
 piercing far and deep among the Genoese; 
 and in a few moments, around him was the 
 thickest of the fight. 
 
 Gerardo da Manteioro, pointing to Zeno with 
 his sword, called out to him by name, and 
 cried to his men to seize and bind him. But 
 even his own horse could not bring him near 
 to the coveted prisoner ; for so fast did Zeno 
 push forward, and so close was the press of
 
 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 273 
 
 men, that Gerardo's sword could not make 
 way. 
 
 The shout of defiance had died away, and 
 in its place was heard the jangling of the 
 mail, as those who wore it struggled in a close 
 embrace ; the hacking of swords upon the 
 steel ; the deeper shouts of execration, or of 
 agony; and for a short space the combat 
 seemed to waver in one fierce convulsive 
 struggle on the spot where they first met. 
 
 But the Genoese had been deceived: the 
 number of the Venetians wag greater than 
 they had counted from the bridge ; and the 
 fierce onset of the Englishmen, headed by 
 Zeno, which seemed to drive the small band 
 through rank after rank, as if each were 
 no stronger than water, made the Genoese 
 behind believe their strength still greater 
 than it was. The soldiers remaining on the 
 bridge had stopped those who had put 
 their foot on the land began to think it 
 aafer to return, and in pursuing Zeno in his 
 N 5
 
 274 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 
 
 fierce career towards the bridge, Gerardo 
 himself had hurried his men backward in 
 what many took for a flight. Turning his 
 horse a little from without the press, he 
 galloped back to the bridge, and strove to 
 stay those who fled, now with entreaties, now 
 with reproaches, and at times even with his 
 sword. But the madness of fear was on his 
 men, and rather than face the danger that 
 might be quelled, they thought of nothing 
 more than to reach the bridge alive. 
 
 Terrible was the slaughter made by the 
 Englishmen, who hacked the fugitives as they 
 ran ; carving them behind, and strewing the 
 whole path to the bridge with bodies. As they 
 regained it, the very crowding and crush made 
 them stand. And those on the wall, seeing 
 the danger, helped their friends as they might ; 
 turning upon the Venetians the thunder of 
 manganels and bombards, from which great 
 round stones were hurled with such force, 
 that armour even could not resist, and many
 
 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 275 
 
 went then to their last account. Some of the 
 heavy missiles, falling short, fell among the 
 Genoese themselves, and helped the sword 
 of Venice. 
 
 Seeing that strange aid, the Venetians 
 gained new strength, and still pushed on for 
 the bridge. 
 
 Now was the day of vengeance for that 
 time when the Genoese fought their way into 
 Chiozza by the same road ; now the Genoese, 
 as the Venetians did then, fled before greater 
 numbers, but they turned more in coward 
 fear, and abandoned themselves more to agony 
 and distraction. When Zeno reached the 
 bridge, the press upon it was so close that 
 scarce his sword could pierce its way ; and still 
 there were Genoese behind him too bewildered 
 to strike, and striving for nought but to 
 scramble past, in the vain hope of reaching 
 the city. 
 
 " Push forward, push forward," cried Zeno 
 to Edward, " let us enter with them."
 
 276 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 
 
 Seizing the advantage of the press, Gerardo 
 now endeavoured to make some stand against 
 those who had so surprised him. His horse 
 had fallen over the entangled bodies, and he 
 was on foot. His courage and his sword would 
 have forced a path forward, but that his own 
 men drove him back, nay, sometimes almost 
 lifted him off' his feet. Near him was a young 
 cavalier, who now aided him with his sword, 
 and at times upheld him when he would have 
 fallen. Seeing that this n an a little stopped 
 the forward course of his countrymen, Edward 
 made tov\ards him, and, calling out that he 
 might not take him unawares, struck him 
 with all his force upon the head. The blow 
 made the knight reel and stagger, but turning 
 round he repaid it with profit to him that 
 dealt it. As he struck, Edward knew hia 
 face it was young Francesco Carrara ; and 
 though his sword was raised again to strike, 
 the Englishman, remembering where he last 
 had seen him, lost heart to do so. Not so
 
 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 277 
 
 Turnbull, whose weighty form had borne him 
 among the foremost. His sword had broken 
 short off on the back of some flying Genoese, 
 but rushing to the Cavalier, who had so 
 rudely assaulted his slighter friend, he struck 
 him with a blow that might have opened a 
 city gate, full upon the chest. 
 
 The youth's mail seemed to shrink and 
 crumple under the blow like silk, and his face 
 which was red with heat and the violence of 
 of his toil, turned ashy pale. He did not fall 
 for the press around him was so close ; but he 
 seemed about to sink on his trembling knees, 
 when Edward, seizing him by the arm, raised 
 him up, and cried, 
 
 " Push forward, sir, to the city while you 
 may ; for there is no victory to be gained 
 here, and you have done more than your due 
 already." 
 
 Turning to look where his General was, 
 young Carrara saw that Gerardo had now 
 given up the contest, and was yielding, though
 
 278 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 
 
 slowly, to the backward pressure. Both sides 
 had nearly ceased to fight, and the striving to 
 rush forward had become more like the struggle 
 to enter a church on some festival than the 
 storm of a city. 
 
 The wooden bridge creaked and shook under 
 the moving weight. The Venetians halted; 
 some sudden thought checking their footsteps 
 the bridge groaned and labored like the 
 mast of a ship in a storm, but a hundred fold 
 louder suddenly there was a sharp crack 
 then a shrieking tear and Zeno and Edward 
 stood pressing backwards with their feet at 
 the edge of a precipice, while the broken draw- 
 bridge fell suddenly down, and poured forth 
 the living mass upon it into the canal below. 
 For an instant Gerardo, who had almost passed 
 the weaker part of the bridge before it broke, 
 might be seen to cling to the splintered end 
 of a beam ; partly it gave way in his grasp 
 partly his hasty hold yielded to the weight 
 of his falling body ; and he too was seen
 
 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 279 
 
 struggling beneath. But the fight for life now 
 became how to resist the pressure of the mingled 
 fugitives and pursuers behind, who knew not 
 what had happened. Those in front turned 
 round and cried out to all behind them, friend 
 or foe, to keep back ; but they understood not, 
 and already many Venetians and Genoese had 
 been thrust forward into the splash and scramble 
 below. 
 
 With a sudden thought Edward seized in 
 his arms the man on whom the hopes of 
 Venice rested; motioning to Turnbull, he 
 made the ponderous Englishman also clasp 
 him ; and thrusting their feet firmly forward, 
 the two threw themselves back against the 
 living stream that rushed to the brink of the 
 broken bridge. Never had Edward endured 
 so fierce a struggle. The group swayed from 
 side to side like the bow of a ship that meets 
 a beating sea. Little by little he could feel 
 his feet move forward, where but a few inches 
 of ground remained before them.
 
 280 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 
 
 But gradually the pressure lessened; the 
 flying Genoese and the pursuing Venetians 
 began to know the doom that had cut off the 
 path to Chiozza, shutting these out from victory 
 the others from safety. 
 
 Forgetting their strife, the late foes might 
 be seen leaning together over the rail, and 
 watching with fearful earnestness the struggle 
 of the armed men in the water. With most it 
 was short, for the weight of their arms soon 
 dragged them under the surface. Some few 
 however had fallen with the broken fragments 
 of the bridge or had seized them in the water. 
 
 O ***^ 
 
 Among these, was the unfortunate general 
 of the fugitives ; and when the struggle 
 for his own life had subsided, Zeno called 
 to his followers that they should save the 
 illustrious Genoese; offering them large re- 
 wards. Some few hastily joined their sword 
 belts and threw one end towards the general ; 
 but another seized it, and he himself was dizzy 
 and faint with his fall. The beam that lay
 
 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 281 
 
 beneath his arm rolled over with the struggles 
 of those near him : his head went backwards, 
 and presently nothing was seen but the splash 
 of the water where the Cavalier had sunk. 
 
 Scared by that misadventure the fugitives 
 and the pursuers watched each other in listless 
 curiosity. Even the Genoese who remained 
 behind, and who now made their best speed 
 towards Brondolo, were but little molested 
 by those who had so hated them. For the 
 dreadful doom which had struck so many 
 seemed like the hand of heaven : pity and 
 awe withheld the hand of mortal. Recalling 
 his men, Zeno withdrew towards the chapel, 
 pointing as he passed to the heaps of slain, 
 whose mangled features showed how bloody 
 had been the victory of the Venetians. No 
 arrows assailed them from the little belfry, 
 but near it stood Sebastian, with a small band 
 of four Genoese prisoners, bound. Pointing 
 to them he said,
 
 282 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 
 
 " There are our captives ; there are fourteen 
 dead bodies within the belfry, and twice as 
 many more Venetians lie around it." 
 
 " Your triumph," said Zeno, as he laid his 
 hand on Sebastian's shoulder, " has been dearer 
 bought than ours ; but it is more soldierly for 
 chance and some few rotten timbers have marred 
 the work we could not complete. If Pisani 
 has done as well at Brondolo as we have here, 
 Venice has now regained the shores of the 
 Adriatic ; and the Genoese hold Chiozza not 
 as a fortress but us a cage. Still must I leave 
 you here, Sebastian, with enough force to 
 guard the ground we have gained ; while 
 I hasten on to Brondolo, to speed Pisani's 
 certain victory ; for never has he truly belied 
 his name of Victor." 
 
 And so, without resting, Zeno, taking with 
 him Edward, and such of his troops as he 
 judged to be most fresh, moved southwards for 
 the town. He had not seen it since he left
 
 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 283 
 
 Venice, and now he mournfully thought that 
 he was in some strange place, so altered was 
 every part. They came to where once stood 
 the monastery of Cistercian nuns, and there 
 stood a ruin, deserted even by the rude soldiery 
 that had converted it into a dwelling and fort. 
 Still going on, they came to where the town 
 should have begun ; but low walls, some of the 
 earliest raised to close in the camp of the 
 Genoese, replaced the houses of the ancient 
 town more ancient than Venice itself. Here 
 saw they a tumult in front, but it was no 
 battle. The fight was over ; the town was re- 
 taken, and a host of prisoners remained ; while 
 another host had fled as they might to the 
 main land. 
 
 As they drew nigh, something seemed to fix 
 the random movements of the Venetian strag- 
 glers who had staid outside the streets ; and 
 then a little band, slowly moving, marched 
 from among them, bearing what looked like a 
 litter. Zeno's party still went forward, and
 
 284 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 
 
 presently they knew that the soldiers had 
 hastily made a litter of their spears, covered 
 with cloaks and such softer things as they could 
 find : on it lay a wounded man ; his robe like 
 Zeno's was red ; it was Pisani ! 
 
 u How is this, my friend and brother?" 
 cried Zeno, as he took his hand ; u are you 
 hurt ?" 
 
 " To the death, Zeno ; but I have gained 
 one more victory before I die, to show that I 
 was worth letting out of prison. Set me down, 
 my children. I see that you have conquered, 
 for you are here. Is Chiozza taken ?" 
 
 " It is not ; for the way to it is cut off by 
 the breaking of the bridge, of which many 
 died ; and the Genoese are locked up in the 
 trap they have made for themselves. But 
 your colour goes ! Where is your surgeon ?" 
 
 " There is none here ; nor does it need : it 
 is too late. I did but long to see you, and to 
 let you see me under the sun of victory, that 
 hereafter you might remember me as one who
 
 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 285 
 
 did well for Venice. We have caged the foe, 
 and you will drive him out without me. Em- 
 brace me, Zeno." 
 
 Zeno took his friend in his arms, and stooped 
 over him. So lay the wounded man for a 
 while, locked in that embrace. "When Zeno 
 rose, his face was wet with tears ; and then the 
 ead soldiers who stood around, saw that Vittor 
 Pisani was dead. 

 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 THE shouts of the victory had died away in 
 Pelestrina, and the day was drawing to a close, 
 when Recanati, so long absent, entered Sebas- 
 tian's tent. His pale cheek was flushed with a 
 red spot, his silken eyebrows were drawn into 
 a frown, and his delicate features were pinched 
 together with the resolve of a man who is 
 spited by fortune, and has made up his mind to 
 some last resort. 
 
 " You know for what I am come," he said. 
 
 u I do forget," answered Ranieri ; " you 
 must tell me anew." 
 
 " Have you repented of your promise of
 
 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 287 
 
 your wish to go with me to Chiozza ; for time 
 presses more than we thought ? Or will you 
 give us Sebastian without that idle cere- 
 mony." 
 
 " I have never yet repented of any thing. 
 It will be time to repent, when one can learn 
 to undo what is done. I am ready." 
 
 Rec;uiati turned, and left the tent, followed 
 by the youth ; who would not arm ; well 
 aware that arms would in no way lessen his 
 risk, though their absence, by seeming to show 
 greater daring, did lessen it. When they had 
 reached the condottiere's tent, Recanati entered 
 it alone. Presently he returned, and beckoning 
 to the other they again took their way, joined 
 by two more cavaliers, who followed them in 
 silence. 
 
 u Who are these ? ' asked Ranieri. 
 
 '' They are men who bear us company on 
 an errand like our own, and," he added in a 
 severe tone, " they know you, Messer Ranieri, 
 and will know you hereafter."
 
 288 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 
 
 " Be it so." 
 
 Proceeding to the water's edge, they entered 
 a small boat, in which they were rowed 
 silently, but steadily and swiftly towards the 
 Genoese. When they had come under the 
 town they turned to the right, and went slowly 
 along until they arrived at the mouth of the canal 
 that divides the island. Whispered challenges 
 were given and answered as they passed be- 
 tween the galleys stationed there, and floated 
 within the barrier at the entrance. They 
 landed, and as they proceeded through the dark, 
 streets Ranieri was aware that scanty troops of 
 soldiers loitered about rather with the air of 
 men in idleness, than of those kept to guard a 
 town invested by the enemy. Occasionally 
 a torch borne by one or other of them 
 shewed him gaunt forms, and the vacant 
 sulky languor of men whose spirit had been 
 wearied out. 
 
 They entered the same house, and the same
 
 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 289 
 
 hall in which we saw Pietro Emo the night be- 
 fore Carrara had galloped into the place. 
 
 Where Emo had stood consulting how to 
 repulse the Genoese, there stood Carrara taking 
 counsel how to repulse the Venetians. 
 
 In his condition he had much altered since 
 he sat with Alessandro listening to the con- 
 versation of Marco Morosini with the monk. 
 His frame had grown more meagre and the 
 watchful look of his face, its hardened lines, 
 and more angry eye, explained the wasting of 
 his frame, which still was square and muscular. 
 The colour of his cheek seemed more settled 
 on the surface, and his hair, grown greyer, 
 no longer set off his face to so much advantage. 
 Yet was there the same bold and dauntless ex- 
 pression, and the same ready smile, though a 
 trifle bitterer, as he listened to the companion 
 beside him. 
 
 This was Doria, whose grave and dignified 
 face had grown more solemn ; and he, unlike 
 Carrara, seemed to bear rather than to brave 
 YOL n. o
 
 290 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 
 
 the difficulties that overwhelmed them. And 
 in truth he had more at stake. The Genoese 
 cooped up in Chiozza could barely hope to 
 escape even with life and limb, while the Paduan 
 had gradually managed to withdraw the greater 
 number of his forces ; and he himself, cunning, 
 active and fertile in resources, had no fear of 
 escaping from the trap into which he had ven- 
 tured. The worst to him was that bis game went 
 against him. Doria was anxious for his life 
 his fame, and the existence of the thousands 
 that depended upon him. There was in the 
 grave anxiety of his look a rebuke to the 
 more careless manner of the unscrupulous 
 Carrara. 
 
 As an attendant ushered in the small party 
 that interrupted them, Carrara rose and came 
 towards the strangers as though he expected 
 them : but looking beyond the Condottiere, his 
 manner shewed that he was surprised at seeing 
 him accompanied by others of his cfwn condition, 
 whom at first he had taken for servants.
 
 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 291 
 
 Recanati took him familiarly by the arm, and 
 leading him apart from his companions, spoke 
 to him for a few minutes with earnestness and 
 rapidity. 
 
 Ranieri watched them for a little time ; but 
 it was not at all his purpose in venturing so 
 far to suffer the soldier to conceal his projects. 
 Once or twice he moved with the intention of 
 stepping forward and interrupting their con- 
 versation, but he chose a discreeter course. 
 Turning to one of those who had come with 
 him, whom he had not yet addressed, he said 
 with a sneer, 
 
 " It seems that Messer da Recanati has not 
 quite admitted us to his counsels. It may be 
 dangerous to us to buy what we do but half 
 see. The sack may contain a serpent to bite 
 us if we see not to the bottom." 
 
 *' True," answered the other, " I was just 
 going to think as much," and he stepped to- 
 wards Carrara and the Condotliere, crying, 
 o 3
 
 292 THE FOSTER BROTEHR. 
 
 " Pardon me, Messer da Recanati, but those 
 who share the risk must share the council." 
 
 " True, true," said Recanati, " I had 
 
 thought that you would follow me, but " 
 
 He stopped on seeing that Ranieri had not re- 
 mained behind, and that the third of his compa- 
 nions had also pressed close upon him. " These, 
 then, my lord," he paid to Carrara, " are the 
 gentlemen of whom I spoke ; Messer da Piovere 
 you already know ; and this time I hope he 
 will be more discreet. This is Messer Buzza- 
 cherino." 
 
 u And who," asked Carrara, " is this young 
 gentleman ? This is not Messer Sebastiano 
 Morosini." 
 
 " It is, and it is not : it is a hostage for 
 Messer Sebastiano; one who has all his power, 
 and will convey it to us even to help our suc- 
 cess. But Messer Sebastiano will not trust 
 himself with us until he sees better into our 
 chance." 
 
 rf Why this, 3 ' cried Carrara, drawing angrily
 
 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 293 
 
 back, " is not the way, Recanati, in which 
 you were wont to make your compacts. It is 
 the compact which the old thief made with the 
 young one ; to share the booty if the boy got 
 away with it, but to inform against him if he 
 were caught." 
 
 " Those are strict in their compacts, my 
 Lord, who have the power to be BO. We must 
 take what we can get, and we have too Messer 
 Sebastiano's hostage." 
 
 " Aye, a hostage ; but say that Messer 
 Sebastiano forfeits it, what were his loss ?" 
 
 *' This young gentleman has a life as sweet 
 to him as his master's, and I think that 
 he will not risk it ; therefore it is for him to 
 see that Messer Sebastiano fulfil his part. 
 The young man knows that he lives only while 
 he is true to us." 
 
 " Aye, and as for that," said Ranieri, putting 
 on a little more audacity than he felt, 
 " you, too, have kept in the dark as well as 
 Sebaatiano. I have only half yet made our
 
 294 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 
 
 bargain, Messer Condottiere, nor shall I close 
 it till I know better what it is you mean to 
 do. You tell me that you have Messer Car- 
 rara's word ; but I have not yet heard it from 
 him. You tell me that you have projects ; 
 but I know them not : and truly shall you 
 not have Sebastian's men or Sebastian's aid, 
 until I can say for what purpose it shall be 
 given, and what is the gain. You have me 
 here, Messer Condottiere ; and this powerful 
 gentleman, whom I take to be the Lord of 
 Padua, can dispose of me as he pleases. Let 
 me never return to Pelestrina, if you will 
 you, who have gone so far in the contract, 
 stop it if you list. I shall not be missed ; 
 or, if I am, no one will lay my life at your 
 account. But if it be that } ou desire to have 
 me help you, I say I must know in what I 
 give it, and what I give it for." 
 
 " A bold youngster," cried Carrara with a 
 smile ; " and Carrara tells you, boy, that no 
 triumph in this world was ever gained but
 
 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 295 
 
 that which may be won by daring and by 
 cunning. Each apart may make a man a 
 ready tool for others' uses ; but to make him 
 a master, both must be joined. Now I will 
 tell you what it is we need, and therein lies 
 my boldness ; cunning I have no need for. 
 There is but one risk, but one discovery to 
 be made, and all rests upon our boldness. We 
 do desire, having lost great part of our force, 
 to buy over to our own use what we can of 
 the Venetian forces. We have already the 
 company of Messer Recanati ; Messer da Pio- 
 vere has come to give us his, and there are 
 more that may be purchased. We have al- 
 ready in Venice those who, if we approach it 
 in power, will yield to us the rule of the city ; 
 but truly should we be well pleased to have 
 more of those whom the people themselves 
 would favour those who are loved in the 
 streets and in the Lagune, as well as those 
 who are cunning in Council. Therefore is it, 
 Messer giovane, that we would buy the good
 
 296 THE FOSTER BROTHER, 
 
 will of your friend ; for as I hear there is none 
 other so young that is so well beloved in 
 Venice. That is what we want. And now 
 for the price. It is Venice. Those who join 
 in this our great enterprise shall share Venice 
 among them its wealth amongst us all, 
 leaders and men ; its rule to those who bring 
 u& power, whereof Messer Sebastiano shall 
 have large part. To make this compact, 
 Messer Roberto da Recanati has full power. 
 He is the leader of that Venetian army which 
 will pass over to me so soon as we know all 
 whom we can gain. In him may you trust 
 as to myself. And now, sir, I have told you 
 all ; what gage have we that you are 
 faithful ?" 
 
 " None but that which Messer da Recanati 
 told you of just now, my life. I think, as I 
 have told him before, that the risk is all 
 with us; for you, it seems, have lost everything 
 already ; whereas with us our losses are to 
 begin."
 
 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 297 
 
 " Be it so." 
 
 Recanati once more attempted to draw Car- 
 rara aside ; but Ranieri laying his hand upon 
 his arm, said 
 
 ;. " If we are to be true to each other, there 
 must be open Councils for all." 
 
 " Nay, nay," replied the Condottiere, " I 
 do but wish to ask Messer Carrara's plea- 
 sure, and anon you shall hear it. You are 
 a young Councillor, Messer Ranieri, and too 
 sharp." 
 
 When the two had conversed for a few 
 minutes, the Lord of Padua beckoned to 
 Ranieri, and said to him 
 
 " Now, this shall be your first task : it is 
 necessary to our enterprise that on some pre- 
 tence the whole of our friends should be called 
 out before the rest of the army in Brondolo, if 
 it may be. Think you that you could so con- 
 trive, when the time comes, that some one who 
 has the power should give such order that it 
 o 5
 
 298 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 
 
 might be done without any show of activity 
 amongst yourselves ?" 
 
 Ranieri thought for a moment. How to 
 do it he did not attempt to consider. The use 
 that it might be put to, was scarcely more 
 distinct to him. Chiefly he thought what 
 would be the best answer for him to make 
 before those with whom he spoke, and in a 
 firm and confident but quiet voice he an- 
 swered 
 
 " It shall be done." 
 
 " Enough," answered Carrara. " You have 
 gained that for which you have visited us in 
 our poor lodging, Messer giovane. We have 
 learnt that which Messer da Recanati came 
 to tell us, and we need keep you no longer. 
 But," said Carrara with a smile, " a gen- 
 tleman of your condition must needs lack 
 service, and for your sake I have asked Messer 
 da Recanati to spare two of his most comely, 
 discreet, and bold men to be your attendants.
 
 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 299 
 
 They will help you in keeping true to your 
 trust, Messer giovane : so you may thank 
 me for this generous act of Messer da Re- 
 canati's." 
 
 " I will thank you, my Lord, some few days 
 hence when you shall ask Messer Sebastiano 
 to confer upon me that office in Venice which 
 I shall then have earned." 
 
 " In three days, or never." 
 
 Leaving the presence of Carrara, da Re- 
 canati and his companions took their leave ; 
 and having re-entered their boat, regained 
 Pelestrina in early morn, without obser- 
 vation.
 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 RANIERI had not long returned to Sebastian's 
 tent, when two men entered to him ; and one 
 of them, a sleek and decent serving man not 
 much older than himself, taking off his cap, 
 approached with a low obeisance. 
 
 The man's manner was humble and re- 
 spectful, and yet there lurked in his cunning 
 eye and slightly compressed lips a smile of in- 
 solent daring. 
 
 '' We have been told, my Lord," he said, 
 " that you need more servants, and that you 
 will take us for your attendants." 
 
 " Who sent you ?" asked Ranieri. 
 
 " Messer Roberto da Recauati."
 
 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 301 
 
 " I aua obliged to him for the courtesy, 
 and what wages am I to give you ?" 
 
 " Messer Roberto, my Lord, is too desirous 
 for you to be served well to trouble you 
 to pay us ; but we are to have, elsewhere, 
 double the wages that you may chose to 
 name." 
 
 " Why, then I can give you generous pay, 
 and yet be none the poorer. Who is your 
 friend here ; will he take equal wages with 
 yourself ?" 
 
 '' Battista is an honest man, my Lord ; but 
 will scarcely ask so much, my Lord, as I do 
 always have.'* 
 
 " Why then, sir, say that my wages to you 
 shall be a bowman's pay, eight ducats a month ; 
 and your friend's a rower's the half of that. 
 And you say that you will have double ; will 
 that satisfy you ?" 
 
 "We shall be satisfied, my Lord, with what- 
 ever you chuse to vouchsafe ; and 1 will say
 
 302 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 
 
 to you that never will you have closer atten- 
 dants than we shall prove." 
 
 " I think that I shall never have been so 
 well attended, for look you see how I have 
 thrown my clothes here all in confusion : you 
 shall enter upon your duties at once, and set 
 them all in order for me." 
 
 The man bowed obsequiously, and entered 
 upon his new task as if he had already for 
 years been the young gentleman's servant. 
 
 Ranieri was puzzled how to deal with his new 
 attendants. He felt no great fear, though he 
 saw by the man's manner and the blunt daring 
 that appeared in the deportment of the other, 
 that there were set upon him spies who would 
 stop at no extremity ; yet embarked as he 
 was in an enterprise that promised more 
 honour even than danger, he was prepared to 
 run the risk with the same temper that men 
 brave the rocks and storms of the Adriatic, 
 and busied himself rather to think how he
 
 THE 108TER BROTHER. 303 
 
 might out-manoeuvre even the great Carrara, 
 and his tool Recanati, than how he might 
 avoid the peril to his own person. It seemed 
 to him that he could even turn this watch set 
 upon him to advantage, and that if he could 
 deceive these spies, who were naturally less 
 cunning than their masters, he might through 
 them more readily deceive the masters them- 
 selves. Carrara should have had only Carraras 
 for his spies, and then he might have trapped 
 Venice at his will. 
 
 His first task was to confer with Sebastian, 
 both that he might seem to be carrying on 
 the plot into which he had entered with 
 Recanati, and that he might possess his friend 
 of the actual state of matters. He made no 
 attempt to evade his attendant spies, but now 
 he turned to account the art which his sister 
 had taught him, of writing. While the men 
 were busied about the tent, he wrote a short 
 story of what he would tell to his friend, and 
 seeming to put it away, he hid it in his sleeve ;
 
 304 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 
 
 the soldiers little heeding that clerkly em- 
 ploy. 
 
 He set forth in early day-light to seek 
 Sebastian in Pelestrina. Before entering Se- 
 bastian's room, he beckoned to him the younger 
 serving man, and asked his name. 
 " Giovanni," replied the man. 
 " Then, Giovanni," said Ranieri, " 1 would 
 have both of you attend me where I am going, 
 but keep you closer to me than your friend 
 Battista; for however useful a sturdy arm 
 may be, I deem you to be the discreeter man ; 
 therefore you keep closer to me, but yet not 
 so close as to offend the noble with whom 
 I am going to confer ; for Messer da Recanati 
 may have told you that he is ready to take 
 offence and yet he is a gentleman, whose 
 favour your master most needs. 1 ' 
 
 Ranieri's familiar manner had already in part 
 disarmed the cunning spy, and he bowed with 
 more respect than he had yet shown for his 
 master-charge. They entered the room. Se-
 
 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 305 
 
 bastian was right glad to see his young com- 
 panion return in safety ; hut observing stran- 
 gers with him, he somewhat smothered the 
 expression of his pleasure. Nevertheless 
 Ranieri embraced his friend with more than 
 wonted fervour, and while he did so, thrust 
 the paper he had written into his clothes at 
 the back of his neck, saying in a quick low 
 tone, 
 
 " Read this and say nothing." 
 " Dear Sebastian," he continued aloud. I 
 have, you see, returned, and better attended 
 than I went, for rny friend Recanati has left 
 these excellent servants for my use." 
 
 Sebastian was silent, not knowing how to 
 answer, and Ranieri continued ; he told Se- 
 bastian that he had been whither he knew he 
 was to have gone ; and that the friends whom 
 he had seen wished him to cause an order 
 to be issued for the whole of the troops to be 
 drawn out on a day to be fixed, as if to see
 
 306 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 
 
 their strength ; and," added B-anieri, " let it be 
 done ; for then shall we see our strength." 
 
 And presently he took his leave. 
 
 No sooner was he gone, than Sebastian 
 feeling like one in a dream, hastened to pluck 
 out the paper that Ranieri had thrust under 
 his clothes, and read it. It ran thus: 
 
 " I have seen Carrara in Chiozza. He has 
 has gained, through Recanati, the troops of 
 Piovere, Buzzacherino, and some more whose 
 names I know not. If the troops be all drawn 
 out, they will show their strength, and entice 
 others, and declare for Carrara. He offers you 
 a large share in the Government of Venice, 
 having many friends therein. I have promised 
 that the troops shall be drawn out. The men 
 who are with me are spies, to kill me if I be- 
 trayed Carrara, therefore remember that in 
 thinking of what I say to you aloud. Tell 
 Messer Zeno of these things, and let him do as 
 may please him."
 
 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 307 
 
 Sebastian was struck with amaze at the 
 youth's daring and his danger ; and he in- 
 stantly went to Zeno, with what he had heard 
 and the paper. 
 
 " Ah ! the traitor," cried Carlo, " I did sus- 
 pect as much ; but scarcely could I have 
 thought such daring and such discretion in so 
 young a man as your friend. His promise 
 shall be fulfilled. I see it all. And you say he 
 was dogged by two of Recanati's men. Aye, 
 Roberto has the sting as well as the cunning of 
 the serpent ; but we will foil him by his own 
 scheme. Can you count, Sebastian, upon 
 your men, or has this traitor been poisoning 
 their ears?" 
 
 ie No, my lord ; they are faithful ; and so I 
 think are all. Since Ranieri did not tell of 
 any more, I should suspect that there are no 
 new traitors ; but it is likely that those whom 
 we have already marked, have returned to their 
 falsehood. These I can name to you, and 
 these must be watched."
 
 308 THE FOSTER BROMHER. 
 
 " They shall be so. Give you order that 
 Recanati's troops be brought here on the mor- 
 row, and stationed with da Piovere's behind us 
 here, towards Brondolo. Now forsooth do I 
 feel that I am driving these traitors before me, 
 while they think they are running their own 
 course. On the day after it will be the Lord's 
 day, and we will rest ; but for the next day we 
 will contrive a plan to defeat and use these 
 knaves."
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 THE morniug was bright and sharp ; and as 
 the men moved hither and thither to take their 
 allotted station, every one looked alert and 
 ready for action. All had been disposed as 
 Zeno desired. Recanati and his own force had 
 been specially summoned from Pelestrina, and 
 so had the remainder of Sebastian's men, who 
 had been left there under the command of 
 Ranieri. 
 
 In the open ground between the town of 
 Brondolo and Chiozza, were arrayed the whole 
 force that JZeno had gathered to the spot ; the 
 several bands standing in compact bodies, at 
 intervals ; the view of the whole broken by
 
 310 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 
 
 * 
 
 the tents that had been raised. Far in the 
 rear, Recanati was at the head of his men, 
 anxious care gradually giving place to a daring 
 hope, as with the advance of day the whole of 
 his project seemed to go forward to his wish. 
 Near him stood da Piovere ; the burly soldier 
 dissipating in a restless activity the mixed 
 anxiety and shame which moved him as he 
 thought that the day had come when he was 
 to betray the patron who had so often shared 
 his dangers, improved his fortunes, and had 
 even so lately forgiven his treachery. Near 
 him also stood Ranieri, in whom the suspicious 
 Recanati believed that he had an instrument 
 as willing and as cunning as himself, embarked 
 with a good faith in his treacherous enterprise. 
 Ranieri's bearing was such as to strengthen his 
 confidence. The youth was clothed in gay and 
 well made arms, given to him by Sebastian. 
 He felt no alarm at the approaching crisis of 
 his fate. The danger was as far too great for 
 his own controul, as for him to oppose. And
 
 TTE FOSTER BROTHER. 311 
 
 he placed his trust in God, and in the fortune 
 of the day, throwing in his safety as a stake 
 in the game where the prize was to be an 
 honor so much above his years. Thus, while 
 he still was with Recanati, he had nothing to 
 distract his niind from the immediate task be- 
 fore it, and he set himself to advise the Con- 
 dottiere in the disposal of his men, and in his 
 own demeanour towards Zeno, as though he 
 were heart and soul in the successful issue of 
 the scheme. 
 
 " Now, Messer Ranieri, that we have gone 
 so far," said the mercenary, " it were well to 
 tell you the immediate purpose that we have. 
 See you here," he continued, as he stepped 
 apart from his band to command a better view 
 of their array, " these men are mine ; those 
 beyond belong to Messer da Piovere ; and 
 those again on this side to Buzzacherino ; and 
 on this, and on this," pointing as he spoke, 
 " we also count ; the whole of this body, 
 strong as it is, belongs to us ; and to our
 
 312 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 
 
 scheme. Then there are your own men or 
 Messer Sebastiauo's whom also we may count 
 with us. Is it not a good show ? We are ill 
 placed here, and must find some way presently 
 to move more to the front ; but there is time 
 enough ; for it is yet full early ; though I have 
 told those who are to receive us, never to 
 think it too soon, but to watch for us even 
 from midnight. I do believe that when we 
 declare ourselves, more will join us than 
 Messer Sebastiano ; for already have friends 
 of mine spoken to Messer Vendramini, who 
 has been very hopeless ever since he found 
 the troops so discontented at Pelestrina, and 
 truly we can offer much to those who seek our 
 favour. This then is our plan : being all here 
 assembled in our strength, we shall first strive 
 to know how we may increase it, and having 
 gathered all we can, look you, we march to 
 Chiozza, which opens its gates, and straight 
 way we are joined by all the force it can bring 
 to the field we already possess. Carlo Zeno
 
 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 313 
 
 may have heart for the fight, but the sword 
 will break in his hand. There are dangers 
 which even a secret shirt of mail cannot turn 
 aside." 
 
 lt The scheme promises well, so that nothing 
 occur to interrupt our path." 
 
 " To interrupt us ! what can occur ? We 
 have the path in our own power : it is straight 
 before us. See you here ; there is nothing 
 that lies between us and Chiozza., but that 
 palisade, the gates of which we hold as soon as 
 we will. What can occur ?" 
 
 As he spoke, a gentleman came to them and 
 said, that the generalissimo desired their pre- 
 sence at a council, wishing to learn the condi- 
 tion of all the men and their stores. Recanati 
 looked at Ranieri, as much as to ask if he had 
 heard of this council ? 
 
 " Perhaps," said Rainieri to him, in a low 
 voice but smiling, " this may be one of the 
 accidents of which I spoke ; for it ia more 
 than either you or I meant." 
 VOL r P
 
 314 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 
 
 " It is no matter," answered the Condottiere. 
 " Accident or design, it yet may serve our 
 purpose. Let us go. I will but return to tell 
 da Piovere thrt he may keep my command 
 until I come back, and that we will go 
 together. 
 
 Whether some suspicion crossed llecanati's 
 mind that made him more anxious to keep the 
 youth by his side, or whether it was that he 
 always worked in doubt and distrust, certain 
 it is that he seemed more anxious than ever 
 not to miss Ranieri. The young man obeyed 
 his wish ; and shewing no distrust, accompanied 
 him to his post at the head of his men, but 
 when they arrived there, they found that 
 da Piovere had already repaired to the council 
 to which he had been summoned, and one of 
 Recanati's officers told him that he had seen 
 many other leaders of the different bands on 
 the ground repairing to Carlo .Zeno's tent. 
 
 "Why then," said Kecanati to his com- 
 panion, " we must go per force ; for it would
 
 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 315 
 
 be amiss to remain outside, unknowing of 
 what passes." 
 
 The distance was not so great but a man 
 might walk it in less than a quarter of an hour. 
 They entered the tent, and the Condottiere 
 cast around a hasty glance. He suppressed 
 the surprise he felt when he saw Zeno ac- 
 coutred in full armour, as if ready for action, 
 the white and azure bars, of eight pieces, 
 blazoned on his surcoat; all the nobles by 
 whom he was surrounded were also in arms: 
 near him stood the Proveditore, Vendramini, 
 Marco Morosini and his son, Pietro Emo, 
 Edward, William Cooke, and many trusty 
 leaders of the Venetian Armies, even some 
 whose men were not upon the ground. The 
 Condottiere had not expected to find so full 
 a council. Not far within the entrance of the 
 tent stood da Piovere, and the companions 
 of Recanati's conspiracy ; and he was somewhat 
 reassured, when among the group near Zeno, 
 he saw Alessandro da Padova, Lionardo 
 p 3
 
 316 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 
 
 Morosini, Marian Barberigo, and Pietro di Ber- 
 nardo. 
 
 There was a general silence. Even the few 
 whispers that passed between those who stood 
 near to each other might almost be distin- 
 guished in the general stillness. The prin- 
 cipal group stood perfectly mute Zeno seem- 
 ing to await some further event. As they 
 went in, Ranieri would have stepped over to 
 Sebastian, but Recanati suddenly grasped 
 his wrist, and drew him close to his side, 
 pressing to take up their station in the midst 
 of the small knot of leagued captains. 
 
 " I did but desire to ask," said Ranieri in 
 a whisper, " the meaning of this council." 
 
 ** It is well," answered the other, " but we 
 can wait." 
 
 Though he studiously forbore to meet the 
 eye of Recanati, Carlo Zeno had noted his 
 entrance ; and soon afterwards stepping a 
 little forward he said aloud, 
 
 " I have summoned you all, gentlemen, my
 
 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 317 
 
 very good companions, to learn from you the 
 state in which our forces now are. The power 
 of the Genoese has sunk so low, that but 
 a little more struggle will throw them entirely 
 within our reach. To make the blow the 
 quicker, to make it the more merciful to 
 ourselves, it needs that we should have our 
 utmost strength for a last attack. Therefore 
 would I know in what condition are our .men, 
 and in what mood ; for if they are not with 
 us in their hearts, their arms can little avail 
 us ; and I would take Chiozza only by the 
 help of those who desired to seize it with me. 
 We have had amongst us, as it has been said 
 aloud in Venice, foul treachery. It has even 
 shewn its face before our sight ; but that was 
 when the fortunes of Venice seemed at their 
 lowest. The favor of heaven always maketh 
 men kind, and I am fain to believe that now 
 we are in our strength, there are none that 
 seek to abandon us. Therefore have I almost 
 forgotten the treachery that showed itself
 
 318 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 
 
 amongst us of that, no more , but I would 
 learn from you, who so well can tell me, how 
 are your men furnished with arms, whether 
 they are well contented with the provision 
 that they have had, and in what state is their 
 discipline. Are they prompt to obey ? ready 
 to advance at a word ? ready to fall back at 
 a sign? and especially those who are most 
 strange to us, and owe less love and allegiance 
 to Venice. Messer Guglielmo Coco shall first 
 tell me whether his men are faithful as ever. 
 Stand forth, excellent sir, that we all may 
 hear your answer." 
 
 " My lord," replied Cooke, answering in 
 English, u I think that when you command 
 you will know no difference in the bearing 
 of my men from what you have found be- 
 fore." 
 
 ** I need scarcely translate our friend's 
 answer," said Zeno, "for it is what we all 
 expect. And you, Messer da Piovere, are 
 your men as sturdy as ever, as bold, as gen-
 
 THE FOSTER BROTHER, 319 
 
 erous, and as faithful as their leader ? Stand 
 forth, sir, that all may understand what noble 
 soldiers are your men, and how much they 
 deserve their excellent leader.'' 
 
 The old soldier's colour went and came. He 
 turned pale at first, and then flushed to a 
 purple red ; and as he swayed from side to side 
 hesitating whether to step forward or not, 
 whether to speak or reiaain silent, he muttered 
 some scarcely intelligible sounds. 
 
 rt How is this, Messer da Piovere," cried 
 Zeno. " Nothing has happened amiss? In- 
 deed I saw your men as I entered, and truly 
 I thought that never I saw a finer band. 
 Come hither to me, my good friend, and if 
 some doubt has assailed you, tell it softly to me 
 here, and we will find a remedy." 
 
 As he spoke, Recanatils face had grown 
 gradually dark and angry his cutting glance 
 had passed from the old Condottiere to Se- 
 bastian and Ranieri, and to the high conspirators 
 whom he saw engaged among the Venetian
 
 320 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 
 
 nobles. Placing his hand stealthily towards 
 his fellow soldier, he struck him in the side 
 to recal him to himself, and said, in a low 
 voice, 
 
 " Answer, answer ; let your answer be what 
 it will, speak at once." 
 
 Mechanically obeying both commands da Pi- 
 overe stepped forward towards the General 
 stammering as he said, 
 
 " My lord, I trust you suspect no ill ?" 
 Recanati saw da Piovere leave his side with 
 impatient anger, and turning to his com- 
 panions, he said, in an under tone, 
 
 " Look after our young friend here. You 
 shall account to me for this, sir." 
 
 " Be discreet," answered Ranieri, " there i 
 nothing yet wrong if you can but silence that 
 old babbler, who has no more rein upon his 
 tongue than a child ; therefore speak you as 
 soon as you can to stop him." 
 
 Recanati bent another hasty regard on 
 Ranieri, doubtful whether to trust him the
 
 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 321 
 
 more, or to suspect him the more for the calm- 
 ness of his reply. 
 
 ""What means this?" cried Zeno, "has 
 something befallen our friend da Piovere? It 
 may be that his companions can tell us ; and 
 you, Messer dai Recanati, may perchance ex- 
 plain how comes it that this excellent old man 
 is so strongly moved ?" 
 
 Recanati at once suppressed all outward sign 
 of the rage and doubt that now consumed him, 
 and he answered with a smile, " Our grey- 
 headed warrior is as shame-faced as a girl ; 
 and therefore is it, that in the presence of so 
 many your words have moved him." 
 
 Motionless for an instant .Recanati looked 
 from Zeno to Ranieri; and then he said to 
 the General, in a stern voice that rang in the 
 silence of the place, 
 
 " I see that Messer Zeno still ungenerously 
 suspects me; that I have been betrayed by 
 spies set over me, and that I can no longer 
 seek honour in the service of Venice." 
 P 5
 
 322 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 
 
 Suddenly the fire of his eye grew fiercer 1 , 
 and moving with a rapidity that the eye could 
 not follow, he snatched forth a short dagger 
 from his side and plunged it into Ranieri 
 not waiting to pluck it back, but rushing 
 towards the entrance. 
 
 " Seize him," cried Zeno. 
 
 He was gone. The men who had stolen be- 
 hind the group of conspirators to seize them 
 at a given signal, rushed forward and captured 
 Kanieri and those near him. But the chief 
 had darted through their confused rank, like a 
 swallow between the branches of a tree. 
 
 " Pursue him," again cried Zeno. 
 
 The men darted from the tent in pursuit : 
 the whole place was in confusion ; swords had 
 been drawn at the first act of violence, and 
 there was a general move to follow the fugi- 
 tive. 
 
 u Stop, sirs, stop," cried Zeno, holding up 
 his hand ; ' let us not check each other's way. 
 He has already escaped, or we shall find him in
 
 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 323 
 
 bonds. Follow me who lists, but let us go 
 orderly." 
 
 The agile Recanati would far have distanced 
 his pursuers, but for the most untoward ac- 
 cident. As be rushed headlong from the tent, 
 a soldier of the guard without crossed the path, 
 and the flying cavalier dashed against him. 
 The soldier was struck down on the spot, and 
 Recanati, stumbling over the falling man fell 
 at full length upon the ground. The soldier 
 bewildered and angered by the sudden assault, 
 grappled with his assailant and called loudly 
 for help. 
 
 " Release me release me," cried Recanati, 
 <k I have a message from the general." 
 
 The angry man heard him not ; and some 
 short time had passed before he could tear him- 
 self free from the grasp that held him. As he 
 rose he saw that he was surrounded by the 
 band from which he had fled. Nothing daunted 
 he drew his sword and again dashed forward, 
 pushing desperately for his onward path, and
 
 324 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 
 
 striking those who opposed him with such im- 
 petuosity that even the increasing numbers 
 that now assailed him from every side could 
 not altogether resist his progress. In the skir- 
 mish, some received the blows from their fel- 
 lows that were meant for him ; many a hand 
 grasped his clothes, felt them torn apart with 
 fingers chafed by the rapidity of his motion ; 
 and more than one hand thus thrust forward 
 was hastily snatched back in bleeding agony. 
 Still he mgde way, when Zeno issued from the 
 tent, and seeing how matters stood, hastily 
 sent round some few who yet were fresh, to 
 place themselves full and close together in the 
 Condottiere's path ; while, with Morosini, Ed- 
 ward and others of his friends, he stepped to- 
 wards the desperate traitor. 
 
 " Yield yourself, Messer da Recanati," he 
 cried, " there is no longer hope for your 
 flight. Yield yourself if you would have 
 mercy. He heeds me not ; the blundering 
 ibola hinder each other and fight on his side.
 
 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 325 
 
 Who will stop him for me ? for if he escape, 
 Venice may be lost." 
 
 At the word, Edward sprang forward, and 
 calling out to the soldiers to leave his prey, 
 he rushed upon the traitor himself, llecanati 
 turned to his new foe. Despite his exertion 
 his face was pale with rage and settled pur- 
 pose, and losing no time in words or attempts 
 at flight, he threw into one fierce blow at the 
 neck of Edward, whose head was unarmed, 
 his whole intent to destroy at one sweep that 
 hindrance to his flight. Edward but half 
 avoided the stroke, which alighted partly on his 
 neck and partly on the edge of his mail ; writ- 
 ing in a deep red line of jagged flesh and iron 
 the strength and fierceness of the Florentine. 
 The other too strove to make the first blow do 
 the whole of his will, and he aimed his thrust 
 full in the face of Tlecanati. It struck him on 
 the chin and glancing down between the bone 
 and the edge of the mail wounded him deeply 
 in the throat. He staggered.
 
 326 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 
 
 " One more blow for Venice," cried Zeno. 
 
 Edward's arm obeyed the will of its leaxiar ; 
 and his second stroke cleft the falling traitor 
 across the eyes, and he fell a dead man. 
 
 By this time the open space outside the 
 tent was in the utmost confusion men run- 
 ning hither and thither, shouts echoing in 
 every part, aud a large moving crowd keeping 
 up a continual scramble to see what was pass- 
 ing in the circle around the combatants. 
 
 " We must silence this,*' said Zeno, " or we 
 shall have the traitor's men upon us. Bear in 
 the body. And let us at once dispose of these 
 infected bands. Where is Sebastian ?" 
 
 " I am here," answered the man himself '. 
 
 " I had thought that you were with your 
 wounded friend : how fares he ?" 
 
 "I am here too, my lord," answered Ranieri, 
 " with nothing worse than a bruised cut upon 
 my shoulders,." Stepping close to the general 
 the youth said to him in a low and earnest 
 voice, " Did you, my lord, understand my mes-
 
 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 327 
 
 sage ? there is a path open for us into Chiozza 
 if we use it betimes."' 
 
 Zeno smiled ; he was pleased with the bold- 
 ness and spirit of the youth, and more so with 
 his discreet cunning. 
 
 " It is all planned, Ranieri mio ; and you, if 
 you are not much hurt, shall take your share 
 in it ; for none of us can so fitly be the guide, 
 since you know what is passing on both sides, 
 and you are known to both. It is all done. Se- 
 bastian, hasten to your own men, and let Mes- 
 ser Guglielmo and the other troope whom you 
 have in readiness quickly move around those of 
 this traitor here. And now let me have some 
 sharp fellow among your men." 
 
 Sebastian beckoned to a soldier, who ap- 
 proached them. 
 
 " Can you look frightened, my brave fel- 
 low ?" said Zeno. 
 
 '' I will try, my lord." 
 
 " Why then run to Messer Recanati's men. 
 You know where they are stationed ; run and
 
 328 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 
 
 shout, as if for your life, that Messer Recanati 
 is betrayed, and that they must hasten to his 
 rescue. Now, stand no longer, but run, and 
 let us see how fast your legs can go." The 
 man scampered off as if he ran for a footrace ; 
 and presently he had passed the tents that hid 
 him from their sight. " They will already have 
 heard the tumult ; let me have another such 
 fellow, Sebastian." 
 
 Sebastian again summoned one of those that 
 stood around. 
 
 " Now, my man," said Zeno, u see if you 
 can run as fast as our friend : follow him and 
 say that Recanati is dead. Shout it aloud, and 
 let them hear it well dead., dead; mind that 
 they hear that." 
 
 That man too ran off, and presently was out 
 of sight. Sebastian and Cook, with other 
 officers, had already left Zeno's side to take the 
 head of their men ; and the general himself 
 with Vendrarnini, Morosini, and the guard fol- 
 lowing them close, now took the path that had
 
 THE FOSFER BROTHER. 329 
 
 been taken by the two soldiers. In a little 
 time they came in sight of Recanati's men, and 
 there, as they expected, they saw all confu- 
 sion ; a large number already hastening with 
 fire and anger in their looks, towards the part 
 where the nobles had come. Leaving his 
 friends Zeno stepped briskly forward alone, 
 and standing erect he held his hand on high. 
 The mutinous soldiers stopped, as ijf uncertain 
 of their purpose. 
 
 " What is it you want, my friends ?" he said 
 in a loud and pleasant voice ; " what is it you 
 seek ?" 
 
 " Da Recanati, our captain ; our Recanati," 
 shouted the men ; some few again moving 
 forward. 
 
 Again Zeno raised his hand. 
 
 " Your Recanati," he cried, lt is dead ; he 
 would have betrayed you, as he would have 
 betrayed us'; and for his own gain he would 
 have led you to death. He had deceived you, 
 for he told you that he was strong while he
 
 330 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 
 
 still was weak. He tod you answer me, 
 did he not ? that Messer Morosini's men 
 were your friends who would be on your 
 side. Now look you here." He waved his 
 hand around. *' These are Messer Morosini's 
 men who surround you. Look behind you 
 they are the men of Messer Coco. You are 
 surrounded and divided in every part, and the 
 prize that da Recanati had promised, you was 
 hopeless. Tell me your wishes. They shall 
 not be denied." 
 
 As he spoke in a pleasant manner, the men 
 looked round, and seeing that truly they were 
 encompassed on every side by close bands 
 that kept marching slowly round and separated 
 the disordered mutineers in more and more 
 places, they were daunted, and standing sul- 
 lenly still, they yielded to the command of 
 Zeno. 
 
 Had it been any other they might 
 longer have resisted ; but Zeno's fortune was
 
 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 331 
 
 accounted too irresistible not to overbear the 
 courage of men who had lost their leader, who 
 knew not the path to pursue the enterprize 
 to which he would have led them, and who 
 lacked confidence in each other. 
 
 Zeno again spoke 
 
 " Fear not for yourselves ; it is your Captain 
 that was the traitor. You were betrayed, 
 and yet again in the triumph of Venice you 
 shall reap that guerdon, you shall have that 
 spoil which he would have denied to you. Go 
 back to your tents and rest you ; more at 
 leisure I will confer with those among you in 
 whom you trust, and we will contrive how 
 you shall be provided with leaders, and how 
 you shall be paid. Does that please you ? 
 Some of ye answer me." 
 
 " Aye, my Lord," cried one near to him, 
 *' we must be content perforce, since it seems 
 we are prisoners, and truly you speak us 
 fair."
 
 332 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 
 
 " I speak no fairer than I will do. Back 
 to jour tents, and on the, morrow if need be, 
 you shall again be led forth in the batle of 
 Venice. Messer Vendrainini the Proveditore 
 will lead you to your tents. You know him 
 for a friend of old, and you know how highly 
 be is esteemed in Venice." 
 
 As he had said, Vendramini and other of 
 the nobles approached Recanati's men, who 
 went the way they caine slowly, and per- 
 chance somewhat sullenly ; casting on either 
 side no pleased glances at the close ranks 
 that formed a barrier to their path and opened 
 as they advanced to let them pass with their 
 Venetian leaders. 
 
 Seeing that his purpose was thus done, Zeno 
 turned round saying 
 
 " Now your second task begins, Kanieri. 
 Come hither." 
 
 He laid his hand on the youth's shoulder, 
 and seeing him wince, he said 
 
 " I had forgot your wound, and it is often
 
 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 333 
 
 that the love of friends will thus hurt us in 
 pleasing itself. But your cut has not taken 
 the colour from your cheek. It was well for 
 you that Recanati .was in such haste, for he 
 did not often aim so ill. Have you still 
 strength to do our bidding ?" 
 
 " I believe, my Lord, that all who serve 
 you will go on as long as you please to com- 
 mand, for I do not see that any draw back 
 when you bid them go forward ; nor wilt I 
 be the first to do so. I am only too fortunate 
 in being chosen while so young and help- 
 less" 
 
 " Young truly," cried Zeno, " but there are 
 many older who have given me less help, 
 with all their years, than you have in these 
 few days. We shall yet task your strength 
 and courage still further, and you may re- 
 member that if we now push you within the 
 very reach of death, you are making your 
 good fame faster than any of us have 
 made it.**
 
 334 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 
 
 " I think, my Lord, that one reason 
 why you are so well served is that you 
 over-pay yonr servants with too much 
 praise." 
 
 " Why, then," answered the General, " con- 
 sider that I have paid you in advance, and 
 if I have put too much in your treasury, you 
 shall still earn it. And now for the first time, 
 Giovinetto mio, you shall enter into most 
 grave and solemn council. Come with ma to 
 my tent where you shall be taught your task. 
 But this I will tell you before we enter : that 
 old man da Piovere has wits so feeble that 
 he cannot keep his own honesty, but must 
 even let his will lie abroad to be handled by 
 every knave that will steal it. Thus I account 
 it not his knavery that he is a traitor, but 
 rather that in his person da Recanati himself 
 waa two knaves. Now this old man is very 
 free of heart, so that you may easily turn him 
 to your purpose, good or bad ; therefore will
 
 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 335 
 
 we, shaming him sorely, mnke him very peni- 
 tent, and you will see that he will do our 
 bidding as easily as he would da Recanati's. 
 He went with you, did he not, when da Re- 
 canati took you to Chiozza ?" 
 " He did." 
 
 " Why then he shall go with you now, for 
 then seeing him as well as you, the Genoese 
 will put more trust in you. But this is what 
 I would tell you, lest we should be mistaken 
 in da Piovere's good intent, or lest he should 
 be even yet more feeble than we account him, 
 and should iall from his word we must be 
 shielded from the dangers of his weakness ; 
 therefore he will go with you as a companion ; 
 but with him shall be, to keep close by his 
 side, even as you were watched, some three or 
 four stout fellows ; who, at the pointing of 
 your finger, shall despatch him at your feet. 
 And now tell me, Ranieri mio, if you can 
 steel your heart like a man to do Venice this 
 duty ?"
 
 336 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 
 
 " My Lord, I have given myself up to you 
 to be fashioned as you list, knowing that you 
 are the wisest workman in Venice, whose order 
 we have only to make good. Therefore what- 
 ever you think fit to command, I think, 
 because it is so commanded, the properest 
 to do."
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 SOON after they had entered the tent, a general 
 movement might be observed among the sol- 
 diers, who were marched in close bands from 
 the rear towards the edge of the encampment 
 fronting Chiozza ; and on all faces might be 
 seen that anxious and unsettled, though 
 pleased look, that men exhibit who are bent 
 on some unknown enterprize, which they 
 believe to be important. This movement was 
 yet unfinished, fresh hamds were still quietly 
 taking up their station, when Ranieri and da 
 Piovere, attended by some few of the soldiers 
 attached to Zeno's person, issued from the 
 pavilion. 
 
 VOL. II. Q
 
 338 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 
 
 Ranieri walked with a quick and con- 
 fident step. His eye glowed, but bis com- 
 pressed lip marked the effort of his young 
 mind to put restraint upon his bearing worthy 
 of the enterprize. 
 
 The old soldier looked dejected and shame- 
 faced ; but still was there an effort to be bold 
 and cheerful ; while in the alacrity of his step 
 and the closeness of his attendance upon his 
 young companion, he seemed to show that 
 there was no need for the guard that had been 
 placed about him to secure his new fidelity. 
 They stepped to the band, picked from among 
 Sebastiano's men, stationed nearest to the 
 palisade, and with a brief delay issued at 
 once towards the town. As they came in 
 sight their movements grew quicker, and their 
 march turned to a run in a feigned flight. 
 
 To give colour to the trick, another band 
 headed by Cooke, pursued them for some short 
 distance in counterfeit hostility, but quickly 
 drew back as if engaged with fresh combatants
 
 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 339 
 
 in the rear. Ranieri slackened his pace, and 
 forming his men into better order, they still 
 kept on a hasty march towards the bridge. 
 The draw-bridge was raised ; behind it stood 
 a thick crowd of the besieged troops; and in 
 the midst of them was the veteran Doria, 
 watching the issue of the movements on the 
 opposite side. Long had he stood at his post 
 expecting the signal for his army to issue 
 from the town ; and now, when he saw Ranieri 
 flying before his pursuers, the delay seemed 
 in part accounted for Recanati's enterprize 
 must have failed. The fugitives had come 
 far upon the bridge, and still no sign was 
 made that the upraised draw-bridge would be 
 lowered. 
 
 The youth cried out as he still pushed on, 
 " Lower the bridge, sirs, if you would not 
 have us slain." 
 
 " How js this, Giovinetto ?" cried the 
 Genoese commander. " We have not seen 
 the signal ; and our compact was, that we 
 Q 3
 
 340 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 
 
 should issue to you, not that we should admit 
 a strange band into the town." 
 
 " Aye,'' answered Ranieri, " so would it 
 have been if we could have promised success ; 
 nor yet are we defeated; but traitors have 
 been amongst us, and Messer Roberto has 
 been obliged to forget the signal, while we 
 fought for our lives." 
 
 ** Where is the captain? And is this the 
 whole strength that he was to bring us ? 
 
 " Not so, he is still behind, and will be here 
 anon, but he remains to guard the rear, while 
 we bring" oft' as many as we may ; for a large 
 part of the army has joined with us. Still 
 Zeno will not let us off so easily, but that we 
 have had to fight our way, and you must find 
 room for us in the town if you would keep us 
 for your own service. Lower the bridge, sir, 
 that a path may be made for us." 
 
 " I cannot lower the bridge until I see the 
 signal, or until Messer Recanati himself shall 
 come to make a new compact."
 
 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 341 
 
 " What ! a compact with Carlo Zeno and 
 an armed host at our heels ! Lower the 
 bridge, sir; or if you will not lower it, in 
 eooth we will go back to Zeno, for he will 
 treat us with less cruelty than those for whom 
 we have deserted him. Rather would I have 
 the mercy that Zeno will show to traitors, 
 as he may truly call us, than stand here 
 parleying with one for whom we have shed 
 our blood yet who refuses us shelter. See you 
 not Messer da Piovere, who has been separated 
 from his own band ; and look you here, how 
 I have been wounded in the shoulder. Truly 
 will God bring destruction on those who 
 thus forsake their friends. Lower the bridge, 
 sir, or we will go back will we not, men?" 
 cried the youth, in a loud voice, as he turned 
 to his followers. 
 
 " Aye," shouted a hundred voices. 
 
 "How know we that your tale is true, 
 that we should open a way into our town,'' 
 said Doria.
 
 342 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 
 
 " True ! do you ask for the truth of our 
 story ? why, will not our danger will not 
 this very blood tell you that we have no time 
 to contrive falsehoods ? And see, here come 
 more of us. If you do not lower the bridge 
 I will go back, and say that you cast us off, 
 and that we had better make peace with Zeno, 
 while yet we have arms in our hands ; for 
 we are so strong, sir, that we yet may make 
 terms for ourselves with Zeno before he has 
 quite conquered us. Only that we thought 
 to join our friends and to increase our strength, 
 Messer Recanati would sooner have sent me 
 to open a path for him into the town. Let 
 down the bridge at once, or we return." 
 
 Doria still hesitated ; but after remaining 
 for some moments silent, he suddenly started 
 like a man who has cast aside some dreaming 
 doubts ; and with a wave of his hand he signed 
 for the bridge to be lowered. Its creaking 
 joints had scarcely ceased their sound, ere 
 its shaken timbers, late so hastily repaired,
 
 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 343 
 
 were pressed with the tread of Venetian sol- 
 diers : in a few minutes, llunieri and da 
 Piovere stood among their men before Doria at 
 the open gate of the town ; which was crowded 
 on the top and on every side by anxious spec- 
 tators ; while the space within was peopled 
 by the bands that stood ready to issue forth. 
 " Where ia Messer Carrara, my lord," asked 
 Ranieri of the Genoese, " that he is not here 
 to confer with us at such a moment ?" 
 
 Carrara has been watching here since sun- 
 rise, and he left us but just before you came, 
 for I sent him in to rest while I should 
 watch." 
 
 " He had better be sent for," said the youth, 
 " since you say that some new compact must 
 be made ; for while our companions are march- 
 ing to the town with an angry foe behind 
 them, it little behoves to have in front that 
 which will stop our way. If the old compact 
 is not enough, my lord, let us have a new one 
 at once ; for I do believe that Messer Keca-
 
 344 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 
 
 aati will not arrive so long as he can keep back 
 the Venetians ; and when he does there will 
 be little time for us tp stand here at the town 
 gate making terms to enter it or not send for 
 him at once, sir, that Messer da Piovere and 
 I may make the compact with him now." 
 
 " You speak boldly, youth," said the venera- 
 ble commander. u I did but talk of compacts 
 while I doubted. It is too late to doubt now. 
 But keep your men together, and we will 
 make compacts after you are in town. March 
 your men, and we shall see them safely dis- 
 posed of in the Piazza." 
 
 " Nay, my good lord," answered Ranieri 
 with a sneer, " those who doubt, wake others' 
 doubts ; and I will not leave this gate while I 
 see the path for my hard pressed companions 
 uncertain. Let your men stand back, for 
 there will not be room for us ; and truly, when 
 Messer Recanati comes, we shall be in haste to 
 shut the gate behind his back." 
 
 While this converse had proceeded, another
 
 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 345 
 
 band, and yet another had come, flying from 
 the encampment ; hasty steps already re- 
 sounded on the bridge. Ranieri's companions 
 began to press hard upon the soldiery stationed 
 under the gate ; and turning with an angry 
 glance to the old Condottiere, the youth said, 
 
 " You are silent, Messer da Piovere ; we 
 want your tongue here as well as your hand ; 
 why do not you help me to make a path for 
 our men ?" 
 
 The old man flushed like one rebuked, and 
 then called out in a loud voice, asking Doria 
 to order back his own soldiers. The Genoese 
 commander complied ; he motioned them back, 
 and a few steps more placed the front of Ra- 
 nieri's troop within the gates. Still more of 
 the Venetian soldiers now crowded behind 
 them. More and more came on, still keeping 
 up a semblance of flight. More and more 
 again, till it seemed that the living stream 
 would never cease to pour over the edge of the 
 hill. 
 
 Q 5
 
 346 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 
 
 Doria's frowning brow grew thoughtful and 
 gloomy, as he saw so large a force now hold 
 the bridge and the gate, and pressing in to- 
 wards the town. Privately he sent one to 
 summon Carrara, while others went among his 
 own men and bade them stand firmly to their 
 posts, making a narrow path for the Venetian 
 fugitives. 
 
 lt I do not see,'' he said, with a look of grow- 
 ing suspicion, to Ranieri, " that much fighting 
 passes yonder. Let your men march in, sir, 
 for we ourselves must keep the gate, and the 
 bridge is overcrowded; March in, sir." 
 
 " Anon, anon," answered Ranieri scarcely 
 heeding him ; for not far off he saw William 
 Cooke, and but a little behind him Sebastian 
 and Carlo Zeno with a whole troop of Vene- 
 tian leaders following close upon their general : 
 " I have told you, sir," he said, turning to 
 Doria, " that 1 will not leave the gate until 
 my friends have entered it ; and I shall atand 
 to my word."
 
 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 347 
 
 " Nay, youngster, it is I who command in 
 Chiozza as yet ; therefore, 1 say, move on, if 
 you would not be roughly handled. We will 
 close the gates upon you and keep you out, 
 if joining us you obey not our command." 
 
 Zeno was pressing forward through his men, 
 whose passage was now blocked, and already he 
 was upon the drawbridge, when Ranieri, see- 
 ing that the time had come to relieve the 
 bridge of its choking load, turned to Doria 
 and said, 
 
 " Now, sir, we will go forward." 
 There was something in his look that 
 alarmed the Genoese with a suspicion of the 
 truth. Glancing his eye hastily towards the 
 bridge, he saw, threading their way through 
 the dense mass of soldiers, a long line of 
 cavaliers, too many and too august in their 
 bearing to be the Condottieri with whom the 
 compact had been made ; while Recanati him- 
 self was still absent. Suddenly drawing his 
 sword with violence, Doria said,
 
 348 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 
 
 " None shall enter the town, young sir, until 
 Messer Kecanati comes before me ;" and 
 raising his weapon he signalled for his men 
 to advance. They were not slow to obey. 
 The path into the town was walled across by 
 the crowded soldiery of the Genoese, who began 
 in their turn to press upon the intruders ; while 
 Doria cried out to Ranieri, 
 
 " Stand back, sir, or I shall strike you 
 down/' 
 
 His arm was raised. Ranieri heeded it 
 not, so intent was he in watching Zeno's ad- 
 vance there was something in the gallant 
 bearing of the lad, and even in the manly 
 beauty of his form, that made the stern old 
 warrior spare the blow while yet he might, 
 and dropping his weapon he pushed the youth 
 with the other hand towards the bridge. 
 
 Ranieri turned, and starting swiftly from 
 the stalwart veteran, he shouted, loud and 
 clear, 
 
 " On, men, on ; now for Chiozza. Viva 
 San Marco !"
 
 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 349 
 
 t 
 
 " Viva San Marco !" shouted the men ; and 
 in an instant the place where Ranieri had 
 stood chaffering with the ancient noble, was 
 filled with the din of arms. The sudden rush 
 of the Venetians headed by Ranieri and 
 da Piovere, who took vengeance on the sur- 
 prised Genoese for the shame of his own 
 wrong and treachery, had carried them far 
 into the town a town now crumbling to 
 pieces in that long, wasteful war. Pressed 
 behind by their friends, they drove back Doria 
 and his men a great distance before they came 
 to a stand. Bewildered by the suddenness 
 with which their new allies had turned to 
 invaders, the Genoese soldiers struck at random 
 and stood to their ground less obstinately than 
 was their wont. Ranieri resting his fortune 
 upon the deeds of that day, dashed madly for- 
 ward, and a few far on in the town were engaged 
 in the unexpected fight before their distant 
 General could give them order to resist. 
 
 So it went on. It was more a scuffle than a
 
 350 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 
 
 combat. Those who newly issued from the 
 houses into the streets were forced back by 
 the strangers, who had now little to do but 
 to drive the herd before them ; so panic- 
 stricken and bewildered had the once bold 
 possessors of Chiozza become. Their limbs 
 were weakened by bad food, and still more by 
 fear ; and when the cry of " Viva San Marco !" 
 rang in the open place before the Podesta's 
 palace, many who heard it before and knew 
 that the town was taken, believed that some 
 visitation from heaven had destroyed the 
 power of the Genoese. Overpowered by num- 
 bers, so pressed in the crowd that he could 
 not wield his sword, Doria yielded himself 
 a prisoner ; and as Carlo Zeno came before 
 the palace, the place seemed suddenly re- 
 peopled by its old race so utterly had the 
 baffled Genoese been routed so joyous and 
 so multitudinous was the throng that shouted 
 the national cry of triumph.. 
 
 " Well done, Ranieri I" said the General,
 
 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 351 
 
 as he struck the youth on the shoulder ; " let 
 us hasten in to the palace ; perchance the 
 arch traitor may still be there, and our 
 victory may be crowned by the capture of 
 Carrara." 
 
 At the word the whole band of nobles 
 around him again pressed forward and entered 
 the palace.
 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 As the Venetians entered the palace, Ales- 
 sandro da Padova, who had kept close to Zeno 
 with Marco Morosini, took the lead, and 
 running before them as though he would show 
 his zeal, and almost take the palace by him- 
 self, guided them to the principal hall. It 
 was deserted. On a chair near a table lay 
 Carrara's cloak, and near it the cloth that he 
 wore upon his head in exchange for his helmet, 
 after the fashion of his family. 
 
 " Seek him through the house," cried Zeno, 
 speaking aloud, above the din that broke the 
 silence of the mansion. 
 
 Many hastily left the room at every door.
 
 THE FOSFER BROTHER. 353 
 
 Zeno with his friends and Morosini followed 
 the way that Alessandro went ; and after 
 running up a small staircase, they found 
 themselves in a room less than the one below. 
 Here also some clothes of Carrara's were left 
 in haste. A little bed in the corner was still 
 smooth, for he had not slept that night ; and 
 on the table lay a few papers that, in the 
 haste of the flight, he had forgotten. They 
 were the spoil of the conquerors. Beneath 
 
 | 
 
 the bed was a small box, which Sebastian 
 hastily dragged forth. It was fastened some 
 twenty hands presently wrenched the lid from 
 its hinges. The box contained nought but 
 papers like those upon the table. They 
 were poured out hastily, and hastily glanced 
 at. 
 
 Suddenly every eye was turned at a loud 
 cry from Alessandro ; his look was fixed in- 
 tently upon one of the papers that had been 
 snatched from the box. His eye glared as if
 
 354 THE FOSTER BROTHER, 
 
 he had seen an apparition ; and yet there was 
 in it the fierceness of a bitter triumph, which 
 showed that it was not fear that had possessed 
 him. He stood transfixed ; his outstretched 
 hands, both grasping the paper, shook with 
 eagerness as he read it. 
 
 " What is it, Messer Alessandro?" cried 
 many voices. 
 
 " Is it the compact between Doria and 
 Carrara," said one. 
 
 " Is it a bill of exchange," said another with 
 a laugh, " which Messer Alessandro fears that 
 he must share with us." 
 
 lt I think," cries another, " that it is a letter 
 from Messer Alessandro's mistress to the Lord 
 of Padua." 
 
 ( What is it, man ?" 
 
 " Would that I had not found it," he said 
 solemnly. " This indeed might make Venice 
 rue her victory : read, it Messer Vendramini. 
 The Proveditore alone should read it; and
 
 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 355 
 
 read it aloud, sir, that none may doubt here- 
 after what it is which we have found in this 
 accursed box " 
 
 Veudramini took the paper, and at the first 
 word a frown of dismay contracted upon his 
 brow. He looked around him uneasily, like 
 a man who almost fears what he has to say ; 
 and then taking breath that his voice might 
 be heard, he read aloud. 
 
 TO THE MOST NOBLE LORD, 
 
 MESSER FRANCESCO DA CARRARA, 
 
 LORD OF PADUA. 
 
 Excellent Sir and most dear Friend, 
 
 I have received from your secret and 
 trusty messenger, Messer Jacopo Arduino, 
 the sum of gold which you entrusted to him 
 and of which he has given me the full weight ; 
 for he is an honest and zealous, though a very 
 poor man. But he told me that you had well 
 paid him for the service. And, indeed, I know
 
 356 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 
 
 that you are ever generous, not less to those 
 who are poor and little worth your consider- 
 ation, than to those of high station and esteem. 
 I am happy that I could serve you in the 
 matter wherein you have paid me by this 
 gold; and I should have been pleased still 
 to serve you, though you had not been so 
 free to pay me my due. Ever you may count 
 upon me ; and while I may seem most your 
 foe, and most eager against you in my place 
 among the Venetians, my countrymen, still 
 believe that you have no servant so willing 
 to your command, as 
 
 Your most humble and loving Friend, 
 
 CARLO ZKNO." 
 
 All around devoured the words as they were 
 read by the Proveditore ; every eye glancing 
 in dismay at Zeno, who stood unmoved. 
 
 When Vendramini had finished, Alessandro 
 said, in a loud voice,
 
 THE FOSTER BROTHEB. 357 
 
 {< This then ia the plot that has been amongst 
 us this the hidden treachery of which so 
 many have spoken. We have the other traitor 
 in our power, that trusty messenger that took 
 to Messer Zeno the gold sent by the enemy 
 of Venice. It was Jacopo Arduino ; it was 
 the father of that youth that is now before 
 us the servant of Messer Carlo Zeno. We 
 are too late to catch the chief traitor, and we 
 know (for Messer Carlo Zeno has told us) 
 that Ranieri Arduino was in Chiozza but 
 two nights since. It was an easy way for 
 Carrara to fly from his compact with the 
 Genoese, now that the power of Venice was 
 rising to crush him. Oh ! we see it all, 
 Messer Zeno ; for no traitor ever yet threatened 
 Venice, but his treachery was exposed, and 
 brought him to his own ruin. I accuse him 
 before you my lords before Messer Ven- 
 dramini you, Messer Marco Morosini and 
 you, Messer Lionardo, and all of you I ac-
 
 358 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 
 
 cuse Carlo Zeno of treacherous conference 
 with Messer Francesco da Carrara, long time 
 ago when this gold was sent, and also now, 
 but two nights ago, when the son of that 
 same messenger came to Chiozza; and my 
 evidence is that paper in the Proveditore's hands. 
 I accuse him before the state ; and now if he 
 escape, be not mine the fault." 
 
 " Traitor in your teeth, Alessandro da Pa- 
 dova !" cried Sebastian fiercely. " Look me 
 in the face, man, while I tell to these nobles 
 that I know you of old for an unblushing 
 traitor, that has sought to compass the ruin 
 of Venice. This is some juggle. Alessandro 
 had brought here the paper which now he 
 would foist upon us." 
 
 " Aye,"' cried Alessandro with a loud laugh, 
 " traitors are ever readiest to talk of treason. 
 See how true a servant Messer Sebastiano has 
 been to the general that would have betrayed 
 Venice. Ask his father, the noble Marco
 
 THE FOSTER BROTHiiK. 359 
 
 Morosini, that faithful senator, how he has 
 done his duty as a son ? All can be witness 
 that I took the paper from the box which we 
 found here. I ask you, Messer Vendramini, if 
 you saw me not ?" 
 
 The Proveditore nodded. 
 
 " Why, Messer Zeno does not deny he has 
 not said that he did not write the paper ; ask 
 him." 
 
 All turned to the general. 
 
 * 4 It is my writing," he said, " and at the 
 proper time I will say wherefore I wrote it. 
 But now, since this gentleman has accused me, 
 let the matter come before the senate and the 
 Ten. It has ever thus been my fortune, 
 that when most I have triumphed, then some 
 sudden blow has struck me. And it may be 
 that Heaven never gives us such high fortunes 
 (for to conquer in the name of Venice is the 
 highest fortune that can befal man) without 
 some great affliction, lest we should grow
 
 360 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 
 
 too proud and think that it is we 
 who have done it, and not our blessed 
 Lord, who to the prayers of San Marco 
 vouchsafes glory and safety to our city. I 
 shall not escape ; but let me be guarded. 
 Be you who have shared with me my vic- 
 tory, my guards ; for this shall be the favour 
 that I will ask of you, that I shall have no 
 baser guards than those whom I have led to 
 our triumph." 
 
 *' Let others then be guarded too," said 
 Alessandro " I accuse him, that boy Ranieri 
 Arduino, whose traitor father is already 
 in our prisons. And you," continued he 
 to Edward " but no ; I know nothing that 
 touches you. You have been the close 
 companion of Messer Carlo Zeno ; but you 
 may be innocent, and never will I accuse 
 upon mere suspicion, or stretch accusal to 
 make it fit my fancy rather than plain 
 knowledge."
 
 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 361 
 
 He glanced at Sebastian for an instant ; but 
 his eyes quailed at the steadfast regard that met 
 them. Alessandro looked at his foster brother ; 
 and Marco Morosini started forward. Wearied 
 with seeing the lead taken by others, he had 
 worn a dull and listless look, which even the 
 heat of battle had not quite cleared away. 
 But as Alessandro's accusation went on, the 
 Senator awakened : his eyes flashed a sterner 
 fire, and a gleam of fierce pleasure dawned 
 upon his face 
 
 " Say on, Alessandro," he said. " Spare 
 not me. If Venice demands it, forget our 
 friendship ; for I see that you have more 
 to tell." 
 
 " I obey ; though fain would I spare the 
 son for the father's sake. I know your unpa- 
 ralleled audacity, Sebastiano. We have been 
 alone, and I well know that, if you had your 
 will, he Avho refused to serve your treachery 
 would be the victim. I know you ; but bold 
 
 VOL. II. R
 
 362 THE FOSTER BROTHER, 
 
 as you are, I will match your boldness. Not 
 a father's just anger, not love for your 
 country, nor shame before him you would have 
 tempted, can blanch your matchless insolence. 
 You then, also, 1 accuse. And know, my 
 Lords, that in secret converse, under cover of 
 the night, this bad, bold young man, swearing 
 me to secrecy before I guessed at crime so 
 horrible in one so young, tempted me with 
 promises of power, if I would join a dark con- 
 spiracy to force his honoured father on our 
 ducal chair ; saying, forsooth, that Contarini 
 was old and helpless ; and but I will say 
 more before the judges. Let them not escape. 
 They would have destroyed us ; but we will 
 bring them to justice, and God defend the 
 right." 
 
 " Silence, blasphemer," cried Sebastian. 
 " Will none seize the traitor ? Is it not enough 
 that here in the moment of victory he thus 
 foully accuses a name, the very sound of which
 
 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 363 
 
 revived the fortunes of Venice ? Will not one 
 of you, Lords, seize the wretched traitor that 
 seeks escape in a tale so extravagant that 
 even by crossing the threshold the dream that 
 transfixes you with wonder shall be dis- 
 pelled." 
 
 Alessandro pointed, with a smile, to the 
 paper in Vendramini's hand. 
 
 " I told you," said Zeno in a quiet voice, as 
 he laid his hand upon Ranieri's shoulder, 
 '' that there was peril and risk to be braved ; 
 but I did not think, my son, that we should 
 share so high a triumph, and then presently 
 be partners in such deep distress. But I fear 
 not ; as you can face danger, so I see by 
 your steadfast eye that you dread not accusal ; 
 I fear not that we shall both regain our 
 honour." 
 
 The youth could not answer, but taking his 
 fellow prisoner's hand, he pressed it fervently 
 to his lips.
 
 364 THE FOSTER BROTHER. 
 
 Surrounding the accused victors, some out 
 of respect, some with eager suspicion, the 
 whole company moved to leave the house ; and 
 in a short time all stood upon the deck of 
 a galley, as they bore the conqueror to 
 re-land in his native city, a prisoner awaiting 
 judgment. 
 
 THE END OF VOL. II.
 
 A 000 121 253 9