XXXI
Piero had watched all night before the little inn of the \"Buon Pesce,\" impatient to meet and conquer his fate, while above, in an upper room, the ladies Marina and Beata tried to sleep; but before the dawn they were off again, down by the way of the brown, rolling river, taking the weary length to Brondolo and the sea.
There were two gondolas now, and the men in each pulled as if the prize of a great regatta awaited them—Nicolotti against Castellani—and silently, saving voice and strength for a great need.
It might have seemed a pleasure party, save for the stress of their speed, as they swept by the groves of poplar and catalpa, which bordered the broad flood, to the sound of the waters only and the song of the birds in the wood; water-lilies floated in the pools along the shore; currents of fragrance were blown out to them on wandering winds; and in the felze, as they were nearing Brondolo, Marina and the Lady Beata, soothed by the gliding motion and the monotonous plash of the oars into the needed sleep which the night had failed to bring them, were unaware of the colloquy between Piero and his gondolier.
\"Antonio!\" Piero called cautiously to the man who was rowing behind the felze, \"I have somewhat to say to thee; are there those within thy vision who may hear our speech?\"
\"Padrone, no; but the time is short for speaking much, for we reach the lock with another turn of the Brenta.\"
\"May the blessed San Nicolò send sunshine to dazzle the jewels in the eyes of Messer San Marco till we are safe beyond it and out of Chioggia!\" Piero exclaimed fervently. \"And thou, Antonio, swear me again thy faith—or swear it not, as thou wilt. But thou shalt choose this moment whom thou wilt serve; and it shall go ill with thee if thou keep not thy troth.\"
\"By San Marco and San Teodoro,\" Antonio responded readily, crossing himself devoutly as he spoke, \"I swear to do thy bidding, Messer Gastaldo.\"
\"And thou wilt die for the people against the nobles if need should be?\"
\"If thou leadest, Gastaldo Grande.\"
\"Hast thou a pouch beneath thy stiletto where thou mayest defend with thy life what I shall give thee?\"
Antonio displayed it silently.
\"This for the need of the cause in thy hand,\" said Piero, passing him a purse of gold. \"But gold is worthless to this token which shall win thee the hearing of the bancali, and the aid of every loyal son of San Nicolò, and shall be proof that thou bearest my orders and my trust.\"
The trust was great—the bancali were the governing board of the traghetti.
Antonio unfastened his doublet and secured the precious token under his belt.
\"Command then, caro padrone.\"
\"Slacken thy pace, for this may be our last speech together. Are those who follow true as thou?\"
\"Messer Gastaldo,\" Antonio answered with reluctance, \"by signs which be but trifles to relate,—by a word dropped in Padua, and not for mine ear,—one of them—I know not which—hath, perchance, affair with a master mightier than thou.\" He made the usual gesture which indicated the Three of that terrible Inquisition whose name was better left unsaid—a sign much used in Venice where the very walls had ears.
It was a blow to Piero, but he wasted no words.
\"They then—both—are apart from this and all my counsel. It shall be for thee alone, Antonio.\"
\"So safer, Messer Gastaldo. I listen—and forget, save as it shall serve thee.\"
\"First, then, Antonio; I have sworn to escort the Lady of the Giustiniani in safety to Rome, from which naught shall keep me—save if the Ten have other plans, the Madonna doth forgive the broken vow!\"
It was a strange admission from a man stalwart and fearless like Piero, but he made it without shame, as a soldier acquiescing in destiny.
\"Santissima Maria!\" Antonio ejaculated with unusual fervor and crossing himself in full realization of the meaning.
\"At Brondolo a brig is waiting—orange and yellow of sail, device of a blazing sun; a hunchback, with doublet of orange above the mast for luck, and a fine figure of a gobbo upon the deck—a living hunchback—by which thou shalt know it for mine, and bound to my order whether it come by me or by my token. If we reach and board her it shall be well—and Rome, so will it heaven, before us all! But if the dreaded ones are on the search and overtake us——\"
Again the sign.
The tragedy of the situation was in his face as he looked steadily at \"Thy duty, then, Antonio, shall lie elsewhere. Thou must escape, unseen, while they lay hands upon the lady and me, whom first they will secure before they give thee a thought.\"
Antonio instantly touched his stiletto, and looked his question with a fearless glance.
\"Nay,\" said the gastaldo scornfully, and drawing a line quickly about his own throat. \"Thou wilt serve me better with thy head in its place. Thou shalt return to Venice—by Fusina or Brondolo, as thy wit shall serve thee—leaving the precious gondolieri to prove whether their silken sashes be badges of men or traitors! Art thou listening?\"
\"Command me, padrone!\"
\"Within two days, if I be free, the bancali shall have news of me. Listen well, Antonio,\"—again the hand and eyes went up with the dreaded unmistakable sign,—\"if thou seest THEM seize me before thou takest leave, wait no longer than to plan with the bancali to come and demand my release. Thou shalt tell the bancali that I sent thee; thou shalt tell them there are affairs of moment for the Nicolotti which shall go hard for the traghetti if I be not there to work them—Art listening, Antonio?\" he questioned feverishly.
Antonio''''s eyes were fastened upon his. \"Padrone, yes!\" he answered breathlessly.
\"With my token thou canst command the loyalty of every Nicolotto—is it thine oar that made that rustle?—and perchance, if there were a rising of the traghetti to demand aught of the Signoria—come nearer, Antonio!—the Castellani also, if they willed to join with their traghetti in asking for justice—would not serve under my token the less heartily for the word, confided low to their bancali—dost understand?— that if their taxes and their fines oppress them , these also, I being free, will pay this year to the maledetto Avvogadoro del Commun.\"