Zoë and the astrologer sat in the covered balcony in full view of the secretary, who remained near the door, straining his sharp ears in vain to catch some words of the whispered conversation. The maids had been dismissed. From time to time Gorlias spoke aloud, pointing with his compass to different parts of the figure, but what he said only made it more impossible to guess at what he whispered. Zoë sat almost motionless, but she had opened the folds of her veil so as to uncover her mouth, and after her companion had been speaking some time she bent down and answered in his ear, pretending, however, to point to the figures on the paper, as if she were asking questions. The substance of what Gorlias told her was that he and his friends were interested in a mighty enterprise, and had often tried to sound Carlo Zeno with regard to helping them to carry it out, but they had met with no success, for he either did not understand, or he would not. Messer Sebastian Polo, whose house he frequented, was a timid man, and was not to be trusted with such a secret; moreover, he was so extremely anxious to make Zeno marry his daughter, that he would certainly never allow him to run any risks. All this he put very clearly, and Omobono might have been surprised to learn that he had not used any password. Then Zoë bent down to his ear. 'What is the name of Sebastian Polo's daughter?' she asked. 'Giustina,' whispered the astrologer. 'The sun near to mid-heaven,' he continued aloud, 'and in trine aspect to Mars, signifies fine horses and a retinue of servants.' He dropped his voice again. 'She is thirty, and has had the smallpox,' he whispered. 'The master has only been here once since I came,' said Zoë, bending to his ear again. 'I have no influence with him.' Gorlias turned his face towards her in slow surprise. 'Had he not seen you before he bought you, Kokóna Arethusa?' he enquired. 'Yes, indeed!' 'Oh! I thought that you also might have had the smallpox,' was the whispered answer. Zoë could not help laughing a little. The pretty notes, muffled by the veil, seemed to come from far away. It was the first time she had laughed naturally since many weeks. The astrologer bent nearer to her when she was silent again, and spoke aloud, pointing to his figure. 'Venus is in the Seventh House in benign aspect to the Moon,' he said aloud. 'You will be fortunate in love.' Then he whispered again, 'I will give you a philtre that has never failed. The next time he comes----' Zoë shook her head decidedly, with something that looked like indignation. 'It is for a good matter, Kokóna,' Gorlias answered. 'If you will help us, you shall have pearls and diamonds, and gold and liberty.' 'Liberty? How?' Gorlias thought that he had tempted her with that, at least. 'If you will promise your help with Messer Carlo, I will tell you.' 'How can I promise what is not mine to give?' asked the girl.