Chapter 26 - Page 2

the near and distant view--"they are already far down the
coast, and with a wind like this they cannot fail to reach their haven
in a few hours. Let us go to the cell."

Gelsomina smiled when he assured her of the safety of the fugitives, but
her look saddened when he changed the discourse. Without reply, however,
she did as he desired, and in a very few moments they were standing by
the side of the prisoner's pallet. The latter did not appear to observe
their entrance, and Jacopo was obliged to announce himself.

"Father!" he said, with that melancholy pathos which always crept into
his voice when he addressed the old man, "it is I."

The prisoner turned, and though, evidently much enfeebled since the
last visit, a wan smile gleamed on his wasted features.

"And thy mother, boy?" he asked, so eagerly as to cause Gelsomina to
turn hastily aside.

"Happy, father--happy."

"Happy without me?"

"She is ever with thee in spirit, father. She thinks of thee in her
prayers. Thou hast a saint for an intercessor in my mother--father."

"And thy good sister?"

"Happy too--doubt it not, father. They are both patient and resigned."

"The Senate, boy?"

"Is the same: soulless, selfish, and pretending!" answered Jacopo
sternly; then turning away his face, in bitterness of heart, though
without permitting the words to be audible, he cursed them.

"The noble Signori were deceived in believing me concerned in the
attempt to rob their revenues," returned the patient old man; "one day
they will see and acknowledge their error."

Jacopo made no answer, for unlettered as he was, and curtailed of that
knowledge which should be, and is bestowed on all by every paternal
government, the natural strength of his mind had enabled him to
understand that a system, which on its face professed to be founded on
the superior acquirements of a privileged few, would be the least likely
to admit the fallacy of its theories, by confessing it could err.

"Thou dost the nobles injustice, son; they are illustrious patricians,
and have no motive in oppressing one like me."

"None, father, but the necessity of maintaining the severity of the
laws, which make them senators and you a prisoner."

"Nay, boy, I have known worthy gentlemen of the Senate! There was the
late Signor Tiepolo, who did me much favor in my youth. But for this
false accusation, I might now have been one of the most thriving of my
craft in Venice."

"Father, we will pray for the soul of the Tiepolo."

"Is the senator dead?"