Montoni and his companion did not return until many hours after dawn had already spread its light over the Adriatic.
The lively crowds who had danced throughout the night beneath the arches of St. Mark’s Square had disappeared with the morning, like shadows fading away at sunrise.
But Montoni had not spent the night among those simple pleasures.
He was not a man who found happiness in ordinary amusements. His mind was attracted to stronger emotions, to struggles, conflicts, and storms. The difficulties that destroyed the peace of others only awakened his energy and gave him satisfaction.
Without some powerful purpose before him, life seemed empty and dull.
When no real goal occupied his mind, he created artificial ones until habit made them seem important.
This was how he had become attached to gambling.
At first, he had turned to it merely to escape boredom. Later, it became a passion that controlled him.
That night he had played with Cavigni and a group of young men who possessed more money than reputation, and more bad habits than either.
Montoni looked down on most of them, not because of their immoral behavior, but because he considered their intelligence inferior to his own.
He associated with them only because they could serve his plans.
Among them, however, were a few men of greater ability whom Montoni allowed into his confidence.
Even toward these men, he always maintained a proud and commanding manner.
Weak minds were forced to obey him, but stronger spirits hated him deeply.
He had many enemies, and the bitterness of their hatred only increased his pride.
To Montoni, hatred was proof of power.
Respect and affection seemed weak emotions to him. He would have despised himself if he ever felt pleased by the admiration of others.
Among the few men he truly valued were Signors Bertolini, Orsino, and Verezzi.
Bertolini was cheerful and passionate. He loved pleasure and spent money without restraint, yet he was generous, brave, and naturally trusting.
Orsino was very different.
He was quiet, proud, and reserved.
He cared more about power than showing off.
He was suspicious, cruel, and never forgot an injury.
Once offended, he waited patiently for revenge.
His mind was filled with secret plans, and he had endless patience in carrying them out.
He controlled his expressions and emotions perfectly.
Almost nothing ruled him except pride, revenge, and greed.
Few obstacles could stop him once he desired something.
Of all Montoni’s companions, Orsino was the one he favored most.
Verezzi possessed some talent and a vivid imagination, but his emotions controlled him completely.
He was lively, pleasure-loving, and daring.
However, he lacked determination and true courage.
He was selfish in nearly everything he did.
He was quick to create plans and equally quick to abandon them.
He hated being controlled by anyone, yet those who understood his changing moods could influence him as easily as a child.
These were the companions Montoni introduced to his family and invited to his table the day after arriving in Venice.
There was also a Venetian nobleman, Count Morano, and a woman named Signora Livona.
Montoni had introduced Signora Livona to his wife as a lady of exceptional qualities.
She had visited that morning to welcome Madame Montoni to Venice, and Montoni had invited her to remain for dinner.
Madame Montoni received the compliments of the gentlemen with obvious displeasure.
She disliked them because they were her husband’s friends.
She hated them because she believed they had kept Montoni away from home until the late hours of the previous morning.
She also envied them because she knew Montoni preferred their company to hers.
Only Count Morano received a warmer reception from her because of his noble title.
His rank gave him an importance that she refused to grant the others.
Madame Montoni’s cold expression and proud silence were matched by the extravagance of her clothing, for she had not yet adopted the Venetian style of dress.
Her appearance created a sharp contrast with Emily.
Emily’s beauty was gentle and natural.
Her modesty and quiet sweetness made her seem even more charming beside her aunt’s arrogance.
Emily watched the company carefully, though she felt little pleasure in doing so.
Among them all, Signora Livona attracted her attention.
The woman’s beauty and graceful manner won Emily’s admiration despite herself.
Her soft voice and kindness awakened feelings in Emily’s heart that had been sleeping for a long time.
That evening, when the heat of the day had faded, the company entered Montoni’s gondola and sailed out upon the sea.
The last red glow of sunset still rested upon the waves.
In the west, the fading light seemed slowly to disappear, while the deep blue sky above began to fill with stars.
Emily sat quietly, overwhelmed by peaceful and thoughtful emotions.
The smooth water beneath her, reflecting the sky and trembling stars, seemed like another heaven beneath the waves.
The dark shapes of towers and palaces appeared upon the surface like shadows from another world.
The silence of the evening, broken only by the gentle movement of the oars and distant music floating across the water, filled her heart with wonder.
As she listened to the steady rhythm of rowing and the faint songs carried by the breeze, her thoughts returned to her father, St. Aubert, and to Valancourt.
Tears slowly gathered in her eyes.
The moon soon rose higher, spreading silver light across her face.
A thin black veil partly covered her features, making her expression even softer.
Her face possessed the beauty of a Madonna, yet the deep emotion in her eyes reminded one of a sorrowful saint.
The tear shining upon her cheek completed the picture of quiet sadness.
At last, the distant music disappeared completely.
The gondola had traveled far from the shore, and the company decided to create music of their own.
Count Morano, who sat beside Emily and had been silently observing her for some time, suddenly picked up a lute.
His fingers touched the strings with great skill, and his beautiful tenor voice joined the melody.
He sang a romantic song filled with gentle sadness.
His voice carried such feeling that everyone listened in silence.
When the song ended, he handed the lute to Emily with a quiet sigh.
Emily immediately began to play, wishing to avoid appearing unwilling or proud.
She sang a sad little song from her own province in France.
The simple melody and honest emotion made it deeply beautiful.
But as she sang, the familiar tune reminded her so strongly of her home and the people she had loved there that her feelings overwhelmed her.
Her voice trembled.
She could no longer continue.
Her fingers struck the strings uncertainly until the music faded.
Embarrassed by the emotion she had revealed, Emily quickly changed to a lively and cheerful song.
The bright notes seemed almost to call for dancing.
“Excellent!” several voices cried at once.
Her listeners were delighted and asked her to repeat the song.
Among all the compliments she received, Count Morano’s praise was the most eager.
Before the evening ended, Emily gave the instrument to Signora Livona, whose voice filled the air with true Italian elegance.
Soon afterward, Count Morano, Emily, Cavigni, and Signora Livona sang several little songs together, accompanied by lutes and other instruments.
At times the instruments suddenly stopped, and only the voices remained, softly singing in the darkness.
Then, after a deep silence, one instrument after another returned until the full harmony rose again over the water.
While everyone enjoyed the music, Montoni grew tired of it.
He began thinking about how he could leave the group or take those who wished to gamble with him to a private casino.
During a pause in the music, he suggested returning to shore.
Orsino immediately supported the idea.
But Count Morano and the others strongly opposed it.
Montoni continued searching for an excuse to leave.
He believed he only needed to explain himself to Count Morano.
Suddenly, another empty boat returning toward Venice called out to his gondolieri.
Montoni immediately took the opportunity.
Without offering further explanation, he left with Orsino and placed the ladies under the care of the others.
For the first time, Emily felt sorry to see him leave.
She had always considered his presence a kind of protection, although she did not fully understand what danger she feared.
Montoni reached St. Mark’s Square and hurried into a casino, where he soon disappeared among the gamblers.
Meanwhile, Count Morano secretly sent a servant in Montoni’s boat to bring his own gondola and musicians.
Emily did not know what he intended.
She only heard cheerful songs approaching from another boat and saw the moonlight trembling upon the water as the oars disturbed it.
Soon music filled the night.
The two boats came together, and the gondoliers greeted one another.
Then Count Morano explained his plan.
He invited the company to move into his own gondola, which had been decorated with extraordinary elegance.
They accepted.
The evening continued with music, conversation, and growing attention from the Count toward Emily.
But his admiration was becoming impossible for her to ignore.