He was unwise in selling the beaker to Giovanni. But what is
that, after all?"
"Promise me then," said Marietta, laying her hand upon her father's arm,
"promise me that if Zorzi comes back, he shall be safe, and that you
will trust him as you always have."
"Though he dares to be in love with you?"
"Though I dare to love him--or apart from that. Say that if it were not
for that, you would treat him just as before you went away."
"Yes, I would," answered Beroviero thoughtfully.
"The book is there," said Marietta.
She pointed to the big earthen jar that contained the broken glass, and
her father's eyes followed her land.
"It is for Zorzi's sake that I tell you," she continued. "The book is
buried deep down amongst the broken bits. It will take a long time to
get it out. Shall I call Pasquale to help us?"
"No," answered her father.
He went to the other end of the room and brought back the crowbar. Then
he placed himself in a good position for striking, and raised the iron
high in air with both his hands.
"Stand back!" he cried as Marietta came nearer.
The first blow knocked a large piece of earthenware from the side of the
strong jar, and a quantity of broken red glass poured out, as red as
blood from a wound, and fell with little crashes upon the stone floor.
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