THE PIRATES OF SEGXA. 391 



heard except the distant hum of the multitude as- 

 sembled in the quarter of St Mark's. AVithout ex- 

 citing suspicion or attracting observation, they reached 

 the Eialto and the Grand Canal, and the gondola 

 stopped at a landing-place opposite the church of San 

 Moyses. 



As the young painter assisted his mysterious charge 

 out of the boat, a gentle pressure from the warm soft 

 hand which for a moment rested \ipon his, quickened 

 every pulse in his frame ; and long after the enig- 

 matical being had disappeared behind the angle of a 

 palace, he stood gazing, like one entranced, at the 

 spot where he had last seen her imposing and grace- 

 ful figure. The approach of Jacopo, still crossing 

 himself, and calling upon all the saints for protection 

 against the snares of the evil one, roused the per- 

 plexed youth from his reverie ; and, stepping into 

 the gondola, he was soon gliding rapidly over the 

 canals in the direction of his father's palace. 



CHAPTER VI. 



THE PICTURE. 



The gondola of the young painter, gliding rapidly 

 and silently over the still waters of the canals, was 

 passing a turn leading to the Giudecca, when it sud- 

 denly occurred to Antonio that he would seek his old 



VOL. iv. 2 c 



