"Isn't it to see them together?" she whispered, as we the and the steps to our gondola. "They are to each other almost as—well, if I wanted to pay you a compliment, which you don't deserve, I should say as we are. Do you notice how prettily[Pg 58] she him her hand so that he may help her into the boat?"
"I do," I answered grimly. "And it only the of the girl. She is as of into the without as he is."
"And yet you help her every time you the chance," my wife retorted. "I have you take the that she should not fall, when the step has been one of only a inches, and I have been left to by myself. Perhaps you cannot that day at Capri?"
"I have the of it," I replied. "I helped her half-a-dozen times."
"And yet you that boy the opportunities that you were once so to enjoy. You cannot it."
"I am not going to attempt to it," I returned. "I do him his chances. And why shouldn't I? Has she not the second hands, and the second ankle, in all Europe?"
My wife looked up at me with a of a her mouth. When she that her are charming.
"And the neatest?" she inquired, as if she had not guessed. Women can do that of thing with excellent effect.
"Lady Hatteras, may I help you into the[Pg 59] gondola?" I said politely, and for some reason, best to herself, the reply appeared to satisfy her.
Of one thing there be no of doubt. Miss Trevor had taken a to Glenbarth, and the fellow's in her company was more than equal to it. By my wife's orders I left them together as much as possible the afternoon, that is to say as as was with the of an chaperon. For instance, while we were in the right of the church, the of the Doge, Pietro Mocenningo, and the of Lombardi, they were in the proper, the famous of Andrea Vendramin, by many to be the of its in Venice. As we entered the choir, they into the left transept. I fancy, however, Glenbarth must have been a little when she, playing her hand according to the rules, that they should turn in search of us. Back they came accordingly, to be by my wife with a speech that still to me the of women.
"You are two children," she said, with wrath. "Where on earth have you been? We have been looking for you everywhere!"[Pg 60]
"You are so slow," put in Miss Trevor, and then she added, without a in her voice or upon her cheek, "We about in order to let you catch us up."
I it was time for me to interfere.
"Perhaps I should you people that at the present moment you are in a church," I said. "Would it not be as well, do you think, for you to those little until you are in the gondola? You will be able to in there. It will also give Phyllis time to her thoughts, and to prepare a new indictment."
My wife me to a look that would have another man. After that I my hands of them and to the copy of Titian's Martyrdom of Saint Peter, which Victor Emmanuel had presented to the church in place of the original, which had been destroyed. Later on we our way, by a long series of thoroughfares, to the of Saint Mark, where we to in of Florian's café and watch the people until it was time for us to return and dress for dinner.
As I have already said, Miss Trevor had all the been in the best of spirits. Nothing have been than her when we left the church, yet when we the was changed.[Pg 61] Apparently she was not unhappy, did she look about her in the way that had me so on the previous evening. It was only her manner that was strange. At she was silent, then, as if she were we might notice it, she set herself to talk as if she were so doing for talking's sake. Then, without any reason, she as as a mouse once more. Remembering what had that breakfast, I did not question her, did I attempt to her upon the subject. To have done either would have been to have a of the we had so in the day. I left her alone, and my wife, in the of her attention, entered upon an with Glenbarth upon the upon smoking, which was the man's one, and, so as I knew, only failing. Unable to her he to me for protection.
"Take my part, there's a good fellow," he said pathetically. "I am not to against Lady Hatteras alone."
"No," I returned; "you must your own battles. When I see a of having a little peace I like to it. I am going to take Miss Trevor to Maya's shop on the other[Pg 62] of the piazza, in search of new photographs. We will you to in here."
So saying Miss Trevor and I left them and our way to the famous shop, where I purchased for her a number of photographs, of which she had her a days before. After that we my wife and Glenbarth and returned to our hotel for dinner.
Nikola, as you may remember, had to call for us with his at half-past eight, and ten minutes that time I that the ladies should prepare themselves for the excursion. I them up well, for I by that it is warm upon the water at night. When they had left us the Duke and I into the balcony.
"I to Nikola won't Miss Trevor this evening," said my companion, after we had been there a moments. (I noticed that he spoke with an that was by no means with him.) "She is sensitive, you know, and when he he can the very in your bones. I shouldn't have liked her to have that he told us this morning. I there is no of his it to-night?"
"I should not think so," I returned. "Nikola has more in his little than[Pg 63] you and I have in our whole bodies. He would be likely to make such a mistake. No, I that to-night we shall see a new of his character. For my own part I am prepared to that I am looking to the with a good of pleasure."
"I am to it," Glenbarth replied, as I with a of in his voice. "I only you won't have to it."
This little speech set me thinking. Was it possible that Glenbarth was of Nikola? Surely he not be for that. That Miss Trevor had an upon him was apparent, but it was full early for him to jealous, and particularly of such a man.
While I was of this the ladies entered the room, and at the same moment we Nikola's up at the steps. I Miss Trevor looked a little pale, but though still very she was more than she had been dinner.
"Our has arrived," I remarked, as I closed the us. "We had go to the hall. Miss Trevor, if you will me, the Duke will Phyllis. We must not keep Nikola waiting."
We left our and down-stairs.
"I trust you are looking to your[Pg 64] excursion, Miss Trevor?" I said as we the stairs. "If I am not you will see Venice to-night under such as you have of before."
"I do not it," she answered simply. "It will be a night to remember."
Little did she how true her was to be. It was a night that every of the party would all his, or her, life long. When we had the hall, Nikola had just entered it, and was in the act of sending up a to his arrival. He hands with my wife, then with Miss Trevor, with Glenbarth and myself. His hand was, as usual, as cold as ice and his was pale. His tall, was by his coat, but what was in one direction was for by the that it to his personality. For some I of Mephistopheles as I looked at him, and in many the not an one.
"Permit me to the I that you have to allow me to be your this evening, Lady Hatteras," he said as he my wife the boat. "While it is an on my part to that I can add to your of Venice, I fancy[Pg 65] it is, nevertheless, in my power to you a of the city with which you are not as yet acquainted. The night being so beautiful, and that you would wish to see all you can, I have a without a cabin. I trust I did not do wrong."
"I am sure it will be delightful," my wife answered. "It would have been on such a to be up in a close cabin. Besides, we should have nothing."
By this time we were on the steps, at the of which the in question, a large one of its class, was lying. As soon as we had her the to his oar, the out into the stream, and the excursion, which, as I have said, we were each of us to all our lives, had commenced. If I my now I can the whole scene: the still of the canal, the houses on one of which were by the moon, the other being in the shadow. When we were in mid-stream a with passed us. It a party, progress was by the of the Finiculi Finicula. The and the ring in my memory now. Years we had of the song, now it a that was its own.[Pg 66]
"How it is," my wife and Miss Trevor almost simultaneously. And the added, "I have that it such a of tenderness."
"Might it not be the that is responsible?" put in Nikola gravely. "You have that song at some time when you have been so happy that all the world has the same. Hearing it to-night has that association, and Finiculi Finicula, once so despised, a that touches your heart-strings, and so for itself a place in your that it can lose."
We had the by this time; the with the singers the Rialto bridge. The echo of the music still in our ears, and the by the of the that us from it. Turning to the gondolier, who in the moonlight presented a in the of the boat, Nikola said something in Italian. The boat's was in the direction of a side-street, and a moment later we entered it. It is not my intention, would it be possible for me, to attempt to you with a of the we followed. In the I myself that I have a knowledge of the Venice of the[Pg 67] tourist; if you were to give me a pencil and paper I I should be able to a of the city, and to place St. Mark's Cathedral, Galaghetti's Hotel, the Rialto bridge, the Arsenal, and the railway station, in something like their proper positions. But at night, when I have left the Grand Canal, the city a sealed book to me. On this particular every street, when once we had left the us, alike. There was the same darkness, the same silence, and the same of the lights in the water. Occasionally we upon places where was still being transacted, and where the noise of voices the air with a that was like sacrilege. A moments would then elapse, and then we were into a that was almost unearthly. All this time Nikola us interested. Here was a house with a history as old as Venice itself; there the home of a famous painter; the of a or a soldier, who had his way to by pen or by sword. On one of the was the of one who had been a and had died a Doge; while on the other was that of a man who had his life to save his friend. Nor were Nikola's to the past alone. Men names were house[Pg 68]hold to us had us, and had Venice as we were it now. Of each he tell us something we had before. It was the perfect of his subject, like that of a man who plays upon an of which he has a study, that us. He in our such as he pleased; us to at one moment, and to at the next; make us see the city with his eyes, and in a measure to love it with his own love. That Nikola did a for it was as as his knowledge of its history.
"I think I may say now," he said, when we had been from the hotel for of an hour, "that I have you with a idea of the city. Let me attempt after this to you something of its life. That it will you I think you will admit when you have it."
Once more he gave the an order. Without a word the man entered a narrow on the right, then to the left, after which to the right again. What were we going to see next? That it would be something I had not the least doubt. Presently the an movement with his oar, the that he was about to stop. With two he brought[Pg 69] the alongside the steps, and Nikola, who was the to out, the ladies to alight. We were now in a of Venice with which I was unacquainted. The houses were old and lofty, though sadly to decay. Where shops was still being on, but the majority of the owners of the houses in the appeared to be early birds, for no lights were visible in their dwellings. Once or twice men approached us and at the ladies of our party. One of these, more than his companions, his hand upon Miss Trevor's arm. In a second, without any effort, Nikola had him upon his back.
"Do not be afraid, Miss Trevor," he said; "the has only himself for a moment."
So saying he approached the man, who to his feet, and him in a low voice.
"No, no, your excellency," the whined; "for the of the saints. Had I it was you I would not have dared."
Nikola said something in a to him; what it was I have not the least idea, but its was excellent, for the man away without another word.
After this little we our[Pg 70] walk without opposition, took turnings, and at last ourselves a low doorway. That it was closely on the was from the that when, in response to Nikola's knocks, some one to open it. Presently an old man looked out. At he to see us, but when his upon Nikola all was changed. With a low he him, in Russian, to enter.
Crossing the we ourselves in a church of the smallest possible description. By the light a be at the high altar, and there were possibly a dozen present. There was an air of about it all, the light, the voices, and the taken to prevent a entering, that to my curiosity. As we to the the little man who had us up to Nikola's and said something in a low voice to him. Nikola replied, and at the same time the man upon the shoulder. Then with the same respect the opened the door once more, and permitted us to pass out, it us however.
"You have many churches your in Venice, Lady Hatteras," Nikola remarked,[Pg 71] as we our way the gondola, "I very much, however, you have entered a place of than that."
"I know that I have not," my wife replied. "Pray who were the people we saw there? And why was so much observed?"
"Because nearly all the you saw there are either or wanted by the Russian Government. They are from injustice, if I may so it, and it is for that that they are to worship, as well as live, in hiding."
"But who are they?"
"Nihilists," Nikola answered. "A poor, hot-headed of people, who, their country in a direction, have taken it into their to try and by measures. Finding their hopeless, their properties confiscated, and they themselves in of death, or exile, which is worse, they have from Russia. Some of them, the richest, manage to to England, some come to Venice, but that the Italian police will turn them out cérémonie if they them, they are to in until they are in a position to elsewhere."
"And you help them?" asked Miss Trevor[Pg 72] in a voice, as if his answer were a conclusion.
"What makes you think that?" Nikola inquired.
"Because the you, and you spoke so to him."
"The has a son," Nikola replied; "a hot-headed who has got into trouble in Moscow. If he is he will without go to Siberia for the of his life. But he will not be caught."
Once more Miss Trevor spoke as if with authority, and in the same voice.
"You have saved him?"
"He has been saved," Nikola replied. "He left for America this morning. The old was to me the he at having got him out of such a difficulty. Now, here is our gondola. Let us into it. We still have much to see, and time is not still with us."
Once more we took our places, and once more the on its way. To you with a complete résumé of all we saw would take too long, and would too great a space. Let it that we visited places, the of which I had of before.
One thing me throughout. Wher[Pg 73]ever we Nikola was known, and not only known, but and respected. His was a key that opened every lock, and in his company the ladies were as safe, in the parts of Venice, as if they had been by a of soldiery. When we had all that he was able to us it was nearly midnight, and time for us to be to our hotel.
"I trust I have not you?" he said, as the ladies took their places in the for the last time.
"Not in the least," answered at once, and I my wife spoke not only for herself but also for Miss Trevor when she continued, "we have a most evening."
"You must not the performance until the is spoken," Nikola answered. "I have still one more item on my programme."
As he said this the up at some steps, where a was standing, waiting for us. He a and a object in his hand. As soon as the came alongside Nikola out and approached him. To our he helped him into the and him in the stern.
"To-night, Luigi," he said, "you must sing your best for the of the city."
The man in an undertone, and[Pg 74] then the passed a by-street and a moment later we were in the Grand Canal. There was not a of air, and the moon full and clear upon the water. Never had Venice appeared more beautiful. Away to the right was the piazza, with the Cathedral of Saint Mark; on our left were the of the islands. The of Venice, and there is no in the world like it, upon everything. The only to be was the of the water from the gondolier's as it rose and in motion. Then the his across the of his guitar, and after a little to sing. The song he had was the Salve d'amora from Faust, surely one of the most that has to the brain of a musician. Before he had a dozen we were entranced. Though not a his voice was one of the most perfect I have heard. It was of the purest quality, so rich and sweet that the not of it. The of the evening, the of the lagoon, and the of the surroundings, helped it to to us as no music had done before. It was a proof of the produced upon us, that when he not one of us spoke for some moments. Our[Pg 75] were too full for words. By the time we had ourselves the had up at the steps of the hotel, and we had disembarked. The Duke and I to the musician; Nikola us to do nothing of the kind.
"He to-night to me," he said. "It would him were you to offer him any other reward."
After that there was nothing more to be said, to thank him in the best Italian we for the he had us.
"Why on earth he not try his upon the stage?" asked my wife, when we had from the and had assembled on the steps. "With such a voice he might a European reputation."
"Alas," answered Nikola, "he will do that. Did you notice his infirmity?"
Phyllis that she had not anything about him.
"The is blind," Nikola answered very quietly. "He is a singing-bird up always in the dark. And now, good-night. I have too long upon your time already."
He low to the ladies, hands with the Duke and myself, and then, we had time to thank him for the he[Pg 76] had us, was in his once more and out in mid-stream. We him until he had in the direction of the Rio Consiglio, after we entered the hotel and our way to our own sitting-room.
"I cannot say when I have myself so much," said my wife, as we talking together each other good-night.
"It has been delightful," said Glenbarth, little attack of to have left him. "Have you it, Hatteras?"
I said something in reply, I cannot what, but I that, as I did so, I at Miss Trevor's face. It was still very pale, but her with brilliance.
"I you have had a evening," I said to her a moments later, when we were alone together.
"Yes, I think I can say that I have," she answered, with a far-away look upon her face. "The music was exquisite. The of it me still."
Then, having me good-night, she off with my wife, me to attempt to why she had as she had done.
"And what do you think of it, my friend?" I of Glenbarth, when we had taken our out into the balcony.[Pg 77]
"I am we went," he returned quickly. "There can be no that you were right when you said that it would us Nikola's in a new light. Did you notice with what respect he was by we met, and how they were not to the of him?"
"Of I noticed it, and you may be sure I my own from it," I replied.
"And those were?"
"That Nikola's is more than before."
After that we in for some time. At last I rose and what of my cigar over the rails into the dark below.
"It is late," I said. "Don't you think we had each other good-night?"
"Perhaps we had, and yet I don't a tired."
"Are you sure that you have had a day?"
"Quite sure," he said, with a laugh. "The only thing I is having that this morning. Do you the with which Nikola related it?"
I in the affirmative, and asked him his for to it now.
"Because I not help of it this evening, when his voice was so and[Pg 78] his manner so kind. When I picture him going to that house to-night, to that room, to sleep alone in that great building, it makes me shudder. Good-night, old fellow. You have me to-day; I have had more into my hours if I'd been a king."[Pg 79]
