Still not a tear wetted his cheek, until the body disappeared from his view. Then nature triumphed, and straying from out the circle, he took a seat apart and wept, as one of his years and simplicity would be apt to weep, at finding himself a solitary wanderer in the wilderness of the world.
Thus terminated the incident of Antonio Vecchio, the fisherman, whose name soon ceased to be mentioned in that city of mysteries, except on the Lagunes, where the men of his craft long vaunted his merit with the net, and the manner in which he bore away the prize from the best oars of Venice. His descendant lived and toiled, like others of his condition, and we will here dismiss him, by saying, that he so far inherited the native qualities of his ancestor, that he forbore to appear, a few hours later, in the crowd, which curiosity and vengeance drew into the Piazzetta.
Father Anselmo took boat to return to the ca.n.a.ls, and when he landed at the quay of the smaller square it was with the hope that he would now be permitted to seek those of whose fate he was still ignorant, but in whom he felt so deep an interest. Not so, however. The individual who had addressed him in the cathedral was, apparently, in waiting, and knowing the uselessness as well as the danger of remonstrance, where the state was concerned, the Carmelite permitted himself to be conducted whither his guide pleased. They took a devious route, but it led them to the public prisons. Here the priest was shown into the keeper"s apartment, where he was desired to wait a summons from his companion.
Our business now leads us to the cell of Jacopo. On quitting the presence of the Three, he had been remanded to his gloomy room, where he pa.s.sed the night like others similarly situated. With the appearance of the dawn the Bravo had been led before those who ostensibly discharged the duties of his judges. We say ostensibly, for justice never yet was pure under a system in which the governors have an interest in the least separated from that of the governed; for in all cases which involve the ascendency of the existing authorities, the instinct of self-preservation is as certain to bias their decision as that of life is to cause man to shun danger. If such is the fact in countries of milder sway, the reader will easily believe in its existence in a state like that of Venice. As may have been antic.i.p.ated, those who sat in judgment on Jacopo had their instructions, and the trial that he sustained was rather a concession to appearances than a homage to the laws. All the records were duly made, witnesses were examined, or said to be examined, and care was had to spread the rumor in the city that the tribunals were at length occupied in deciding on the case of the extraordinary man who had so long been permitted to exercise his b.l.o.o.d.y profession with impunity even in the centre of the ca.n.a.ls. During the morning the credulous tradesmen were much engaged in recounting to each other the different flagrant deeds that, in the course of the last three or four years, had been imputed to his hand. One spoke of the body of a stranger that had been found near the gaming-houses frequented by those who visited Venice. Another recalled the fate of the young n.o.ble who had fallen by the a.s.sa.s.sin"s blow even on the Rialto, and another went into the details of a murder which had deprived a mother of her only son, and the daughter of a patrician of her love. In this manner, as one after another contributed to the list, a little group, a.s.sembled on the quay, enumerated no less than five-and-twenty lives which were believed to have been taken by the hand of Jacopo, without including the vindictive and useless a.s.sa.s.sination of him whose funeral rites had just been celebrated. Happily, perhaps, for his peace of mind, the subject of all these rumors and of the maledictions which they drew upon his head, knew nothing of either. Before his judges he had made no defence whatever, firmly refusing to answer their interrogatories.
"Ye know what I have done, Messires," he said haughtily. "And what I have not done, ye know. As for yourselves, look to your own interests."
When again in his cell he demanded food, and ate tranquilly, though with moderation. Every instrument which could possibly be used against his life was then removed, his irons were finally and carefully examined, and he was left to his thoughts. It was in this situation that the prisoner heard the approach of footsteps to his cell. The bolts turned, and the door opened. The form of a priest appeared between him and the day. The latter, however, held a lamp, which, as the cell was again shut and secured, he placed on the low shelf that held the jug and loaf of the prisoner.
Jacopo received his visitor calmly, but with the deep respect of one who reverenced his body office. He arose, crossed himself, and advanced as far as the chains permitted, to do him honor.
"Thou art welcome, father," he said; "in cutting me off from earth, the Council, I see, does not wish to cut me off from G.o.d."
"That would exceed their power, son. He who died for them, shed his blood for thee, if thou wilt not reject his grace. But--Heaven knows I say it with reluctance! thou art not to think that one of thy sins, Jacopo, can have hope without deep and heartfelt repentance!"
"Father, have any?"
The Carmelite started, for the point of the question, and the tranquil tones of the speaker, had a strange effect in such an interview.
"Thou art not what I had supposed thee, Jacopo!" he answered. "Thy mind is not altogether obscured in darkness, and thy crimes have been committed against the consciousness of their enormity."
"I fear this is true, reverend monk."
"Thou must feel their weight in the poignancy of grief--in the--" Father Anselmo stopped, for a sob at that moment apprised them that they were not alone. Moving aside, in a little alarm, the action discovered the figure of the shrinking Gelsomina, who had entered the cell, favored by the keepers, and concealed by the robes of the Carmelite. Jacopo groaned when he beheld her form, and turning away, he leaned against the wall.
"Daughter, why art thou here--and who art thou?" demanded the monk.
""Tis the child of the princ.i.p.al keeper," said Jacopo, perceiving that she was unable to answer, "one known to me, in my frequent adventures in this prison."
The eye of Father Anselmo wandered from one to the other. At first its expression was severe, and then, as it saw each countenance in turn, it became less unkind, until it softened at the exhibition of their mutual agony.
"This comes of human pa.s.sions!" he said, in a tone between consolation and reproof. "Such are ever the fruits of crime."
"Father," said Jacopo, with earnestness, "I may deserve the word; but the angels in Heaven are scarce purer than this weeping girl!"
"I rejoice to hear it. I will believe thee, unfortunate man, and glad am I that thy soul is relieved from the sin of having corrupted one so youthful."
The bosom of the prisoner heaved, while Gelsomina shuddered.
"Why hast thou yielded to the weakness of nature, and entered the cell?"
asked the good Carmelite, endeavoring to throw into his eye a reproof, that the pathos and kindness of his tones contradicted. "Didst thou know the character of the man thou loved?"
"Immaculate Maria!" exclaimed the girl--"no--no--no--no!"
"And now that thou hast learned the truth, surely thou art no longer the victim of wayward fancies!"
The gaze of Gelsomina was bewildered, but anguish prevailed over all other expression. She bowed her head, partly in shame, but more in sorrow, without answering.
"I know not, children, what end this interview can answer," continued the monk. "I am sent hither to receive the last confession of a Bravo, and surely, one who has so much cause to condemn the deception he has practised, would not wish to hear the details of such a life?"
"No--no--no--" murmured Gelsomina again, enforcing her words with a wild gesture of the hand.
"It is better, father, that she should believe me all that her fancy can imagine as monstrous," said Jacopo, in a thick voice: "she will then learn to hate my memory."
Gelsomina did not speak, but the negative gesture was repeated franticly.
"The heart of the poor child hath been sorely touched," said the Carmelite, with concern. "We must not treat so tender a flower rudely.
Hearken to me, daughter, and consult thy reason, more than thy weakness."
"Question her not, father; let her curse me, and depart."
"Carlo!" shrieked Gelsomina.
A long pause succeeded. The monk perceived that human pa.s.sion was superior to his art, and that the case must be left to time; while the prisoner maintained within himself a struggle more fierce than any which it had yet been his fate to endure. The lingering desires of the world conquered, and he broke silence.
"Father," he said, advancing to the length of his chain, and speaking both solemnly and with dignity, "I had hoped--I had prayed that this unhappy but innocent creature might have turned from her own weakness with loathing, when she came to know that the man she loved was a Bravo.
But I did injustice to the heart of woman! Tell me, Gelsomina, and as thou valuest thy salvation deceive me not--canst thou look at me without horror?"
Gelsomina trembled, but she raised her eyes, and smiled on him as the weeping infant returns the earnest and tender regard of its mother. The effect of that glance on Jacopo was so powerful that his sinewy frame shook, until the wondering Carmelite heard the clanking of his chains.
""Tis enough," he said, struggling to command himself, "Gelsomina, thou shalt hear my confession. Thou hast long been mistress of one great secret, none other shall be hid from thee."
"Antonio!" gasped the girl. "Carlo! Carlo! what had that aged fisherman done that thy hand should seek his life?"
"Antonio!" echoed the monk; "dost thou stand charged with his death, my son?"
"It is the crime for which I am condemned to die."
The Carmelite sank upon the stool of the prisoner, and sat motionless, looking with an eye of horror from the countenance of the unmoved Jacopo to that of his trembling companion. The truth began to dawn upon him, though his mind was still enveloped in the web of Venetian mystery.
"Here is some horrible mistake!" he whispered. "I will hasten to thy judges and undeceive them."
The prisoner smiled calmly, as he reached out a hand to arrest the zealous movement of the simple Carmelite.
""Twill be useless," he said; "it is the pleasure of the Three that I should suffer for old Antonio"s death."
"Then wilt thou die unjustly! I am a witness that he fell by other hands."
"Father!" shrieked Gelsomina, "oh! repeat the words; say that Carlo could not do the cruel deed!"
"Of that murder, at least, he is innocent."
"Gelsomina!" said Jacopo, struggling to stretch forth his arms towards her, and yielding to a full heart, "and of every other!"
A cry of wild delight burst from the lips of the girl, who in the next instant lay senseless on his bosom.