"
"And whither art thou bent on the morrow?"
"Nay, Messer Girolamo, that is not mine own secret. But this word would
I leave with thee; if, perchance, I return not before many days, seek me
on the border-land--at the point nearest Roman dominions." He had come
close to the old merchant, and uttered the last words in a tone very low
and full of meaning.
Girolamo started. "On the border-land of Rome!" he echoed. "This mission
of thine is then weighty; and thou fearest----"
"Nay, I fear naught," said Piero haughtily. "But the times are perilous;
and later, if thou would'st seek me, thou hast the clew. But of the
mission, to which I am sworn in secrecy, let it not be known that I have
so much as named it--it would argue ill for me and thee. And the clew is
for thy using only. Meanwhile, forget that I have spoken. The Ave Maria
will soon waken the fishers of Murano. _Addio_!"
But he still waited as if he had not uttered all his mind. Girolamo
studied his face closely.
"There is more," he said.
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