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him lie and he will soon find his senses。〃
I waited for a minute or so and then I ventured to take a stealthy peep
from between my lashes。 At first I could see nothing； for I had been so
long in darkness and it was but a dim light in which I found myself。
Soon； however； I made out that a high and vaulted ceiling covered with
painted gods and goddesses was arching over my head。 This was no
mean den of cut…throats into which I had been carried； but it must be the
hall of some Venetian palace。 Then； without movement； very slowly and
stealthily I had a peep at the men who surrounded me。 There was the
gondolier； a swart； hard…faced； murderous ruffian； and beside him were
three other men； one of them a little； twisted fellow with an air of authority
and several keys in his hand； the other two tall young servants in a smart
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livery。 As I listened to their talk I saw that the small man was the
steward of the house； and that the others were under his orders。
There were four of them； then； but the little steward might be left out
of the reckoning。 Had I a weapon I should have smiled at such odds as
those。 But； hand to hand； I was no match for the one even without three
others to aid him。 Cunning； then； not force； must be my aid。 I wished
to look round for some mode of escape； and in doing so I gave an almost
imperceptible movement of my head。 Slight as it was it did not escape
my guardians。
〃Come； wake up； wake up！〃 cried the steward。
〃Get on your feet； little Frenchman；〃 growled the gondolier。 〃Get up；
I say；〃 and for the second time he spurned me with his foot。
Never in the world was a command obeyed so promptly as that one。
In an instant I had bounded to my feet and rushed as hard as I could to the
back of the hall。 They were after me as I have seen the English hounds
follow a fox； but there was a long passage down which I tore。
It turned to the left and again to the left； and then I found myself back
in the hall once more。 They were almost within touch of me and there
was no time for thought。 I turned toward the staircase； but two men were
coming down it。 I dodged back and tried the door through which I had
been brought； but it was fastened with great bars and I could not loosen
them。 The gondolier was on me with his knife； but I met him with a kick
on the body which stretched him on his back。 His dagger flew with a
clatter across the marble floor。 I had no time to seize it； for there were
half a dozen of them now clutching at me。 As I rushed through them the
little steward thrust his leg before me and I fell with a crash； but I was up
in an instant； and breaking from their grasp I burst through the very middle
of them and made for a door at the other end of the hall。 I reached it well
in front of them； and I gave a shout of triumph as the handle turned freely
in my hand； for I could see that it led to the outside and that all was clear
for my escape。 But I had forgotten this strange city in which I was。
Every house is an island。 As I flung open the door； ready to bound out
into the street； the light of the hall shone upon the deep； still； black water
which lay flush with the topmost step。
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I shrank back； and in an instant my pursuers were on me。
But I am not taken so easily。 Again I kicked and fought my way
through them； though one of them tore a handful of hair from my head in
his effort to hold me。 The little steward struck me with a key and I was
battered and bruised； but once more I cleared a way in front of me。
Up the grand staircase I rushed； burst open the pair of huge folding
doors which faced me； and learned at last that my efforts were in vain。
The room into which I had broken was brilliantly lighted。 With its
gold cornices； its massive pillars； and its painted walls and ceilings it was
evidently the grand hall of some famous Venetian palace。 There are
many hundred such in this strange city； any one of which has rooms which
would grace the Louvre or Versailles。 In the centre of this great hall there
was a raised dais； and upon it in a half circle there sat twelve men all clad
in black gowns； like those of a Franciscan monk； and each with a mask
over the upper part of his face。
A group of armed menrough…looking rascalswere standing round
the door； and amid them facing the dais was a young fellow in the uniform
of the light infantry。 As he turned his head I recognised him。 It was
Captain Auret； of the 7th； a young Basque with whom I had drunk many a
glass during the winter。
He was deadly white； poor wretch； but he held himself manfully amid
the assassins who surrounded him。 Never shall I forget the sudden flash
of hope which shone in his dark eyes when he saw a comrade burst into
the room； or the look of despair which followed as he understood that I
had come not to change his fate but to share it。
You can think how amazed these people were when I hurled myself
into their presence。 My pursuers had crowded in behind me and choked
the doorway； so that all further flight was out of the question。 It is at
such instants that my nature asserts itself。 With dignity I advanced
toward the tribunal。 My jacket was torn； my hair was dishevelled； my
head was bleeding； but there was that in my eyes and in my carriage which
made them realise that no common man was before them。 Not a hand
was raised to arrest me until I halted in front of a formidable old man；
whose long grey beard and masterful manner told me that both by years
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and by character he was the man in authority。
〃Sir；〃 said I； 〃you will； perhaps； tell me why I have been forcibly
arrested and brought to this place。 I am an honourable soldier； as is this
other gentleman here； and I demand that you will instantly set us both at
liberty。〃
There was an appalling silence to my appeal。 It wa