Max Pemberton

“ I am in Venice always, and I know. My life is all rest, and I hear nothing but the bells and the sound of the waters. I have no mother, Signor.”
She spoke pathetically, looking dreamily away to the old bridge and the green garden beyond. The role of comforter is pleasing to a man; the word of sympathy is easy to be found.
“Nevertheless,” said I, “there must be many in the city to love, Bianca.”
She laughed, tossing her curls back upon her pretty shoulders.
“Indeed,” she said, “there is only my father, and he is at the Arsenal all day. You have heard of Silvestro Celsi, Signore? ”

“ It was not until the man from Rome had come to her house and was held in talk by her father that she ventured again upon the balcony, and sat by me to tell me of the day’s work. And while she talked I could see the others; the old shipbuilder, worn and anxious and heavy-eyed; the young man whom Crispi had sent, pale and nervous, and apprehensive even in the sanctuary of Silvestro’s house. Thirty years he had lived, I judged—a weak man strong in another's authority. Nor could I help but ask myself if he would ever leave Venice alive. Had not a thousand men sworn to kill him? ”

“ I had been in Venice a month, sent there by a far-seeing editor in London to describe for him the precise circumstances under which Orso Cicogna, the tool of Crispi, was to be assassinated by the workmen of the Arsenal. The errand was not a little remarkable, insomuch as Orso was still alive and very active in reforming those abuses which Rome declared were spoiling the four thousand five hundred workmen in the ship-building yards. But we knew that such a state of things could not last. Your Italian laborer accepts no mean in politics. ”

“ I am no dutiful son of the priests; but I do not forget that the Master of all workmen taught us that man shall not live by bread alone. Here, in Italy, our children would be glad enough if their bread were assured to them. We are very poor, Signore—and the end is not yet. God knows what we must suffer before the days of our prosperity return to us. If you have any message from Venice to your countrymen, let it be this—that in our poverty we do not forget England and her friendship. ”

“ We had his obituary notices ready, so to speak; and I was sent to Venice to round off the corners, being reminded by my editor that time is money.
This is a sentiment which has always seemed to me wrong to the point of exasperation. Time which is money is no time at all. Sitting upon my balcony, with Bianca's dark eyes flashing upon me ever and anon like a welcome search-light from the sea, I found it an absurd conclusion. And, after all, I could not hasten things at the Arsenal. ”

“ He is the servant of the Government and must obey. All day long he asks the men to be patient, and they listen to him. Oh, Signore, if Orso Cicogna is killed, my father will be ruined, and we shall live in Venice no more. ”

“ I know the feeling well, a gray light upon the waters and a gray light above. That is the time for dreaming of misfortunes which never happen. To-morrow when the sun shines you will forget it all. Let us talk of other things—of our friendship. ”

“ The clock struck a quarter past eight and still old Silvestro did not come. Twice I went out upon my balcony to peer into his room; but neither he nor Bianca was there. Orso, the man from Rome, appeared to be the only occupant of the chamber. He was writing at a table when first I saw him; he was still writing when the clock struck a quarter past the hour. Had he not been a stranger to me, I might have spoken a word through the window to ask of his host and of Bianca. ”

“ Perfectly possible now to write to my editor and to say, “I am sitting at the feet of Bianca hearing news of the man from Rome.” And so I listened with ready ears when Bianca spoke again.
“Why should you interest yourself in Orso Cicogna?” she asked. “Have you not heard what cruel things he has done at the Arsenal? My father cannot sleep at night for thinking of them. He fears that the workmen will lose patience and kill the man who has brought such trouble upon them. ”