With him and his mates they quarrelled about
their fare and threw them into the canal in front of the ambassador's
house, just because they drew a knife or two. A woman I know told me of
it. He's a great villain, this Giuseppe, who would do anything for ten
pieces, also revengeful and a hater of cold water."
"Send for him, Nicholas, or send this woman to him--that may be safer.
Ten pieces! I'll pay him fifty."
"Ay, lord, but the Englishman may not give him a chance. Only fools
would go out walking in Venice along after dark if they should happen
to have enemies here, and the house is watched by the Doge's Guards.
Yet one can try. Fortune loves the brave, and Englishmen are very great
fools. They might stroll abroad to see the moon rise over the Adriatic."
"Try, Nicholas, try as you never tried before. Succeed, too, lest you
and I should part company and you never be named abbot after all."
The afternoon of the day of their reception by the Doge was well filled
for Hugh and Dick. Scarcely had they eaten with their host when the
Marshal and his officers arrived with the articles of the Morrow's
combat very fully drawn up, each of which must be considered with the
help of Sir Geoffrey Carleon, lest they should hide some trick,
before they confirmed them with their signatures. Not that Hugh was
over-anxious about the details. As he said to Sir Geoffrey, all he
sought was to come face to face with his enemy, even if he had but a
club for a weapon.
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