"Oh, they don't do such things in Venice, I know," answered Edith; "and besides, we might take a guide along with us. There must be many who speak English, and who would be glad to show us the city sights for the sake of earning some Italian lire." "Where should we look to find some one to speak English?" asked her mother. As if in answer to her words there came the sound of boys' voices from a corner of the square, where the Merceria, with its shops, leads to the Rialto bridge. Edith and her mother looked up and saw a group of boys gathered around the pedestal of the lion farthest from the great church. English words floated across to the American people, although the voice which spoke them was an Italian one. "Signor Rafael Valla will now present his troupe of trained tops," said the voice. The American girl watched the group eagerly. Rafael--the boy of the boat and the serenade--knelt in the center, with a collection of tops on the pavement beside him. The tops were of many different makes and colors. There were the light, agile ones from Japan, that spin only a moment. There were the big German tops that spin with a great humming sound, but are not at all graceful. There were the solid, business-like English tops that do their work and then go off at the close of the performance with a bow and an off-hand dash, as if to make room for the next on the program. At last Rafael took up one which was wrapped in gold-foil, and which seemed to be both graceful and business-like, and wonderfully accomplished. It hung balanced between two outer circles of steel, and spun in every possible position--on the pavement, on the top of a post, and at right angles to it--all at one spinning. "It is my golden spinner," said the boy, in Italian. "It has travelled among all the great cities of the world, and never failed to keep an engagement." The boys laughed, and Edith joined in the laughter, although she did not know the meaning of the words. Rafael looked up into her face and smiled. It was the opportunity which she had hoped for. She had noticed his unusual appearance, and that he was dressed with care. "Speak to him, Mother," she urged, in English. "Perhaps he will tell us where we may go to see the sights." The boy rose and took off his cap. "I speak English, Signora," he said. "There are truly many things to see in Venice, if you wish to see them." CHAPTER IV STREETS OF VENICE Mrs. Sprague looked from one child to the other. The girl was eager, the boy expectant. "He is no older than you are, Edith," she said at last. "It isn't possible that he can be a good guide. There will be three lost, instead of two as there were yesterday, if he tries to pilot us through these crooked lanes."