ImadeupmymindtogotoTreviso，fifteenmilesdistantfromVenice，topawntheringattheMont—de—piete，whichtherelendsmoneyuponvaluablesattherateoffivepercent。ThatusefulestablishmentdoesnotexistinVenice，wheretheJewshavealwaysmanagedtokeepthemonopolyintheirhands。
Igotupearlyonemorning，andwalkedtotheendofthecanaleregio，intendingtoengageagondolatotakemeasfarasMestra，whereIcouldtakeposthorses，reachTrevisoinlessthantwohours，pledgemydiamondring，andreturntoVenicethesameevening。
AsIpassedalongSt。Job’sQuay，Isawinatwo—oaredgondolaacountrygirlbeautifullydressed。Istoppedtolookather；thegondoliers，supposingthatIwantedanopportunityofreachingMestraatacheaprate，rowedbacktotheshore。
Observingthelovelyfaceoftheyounggirl，Idonothesitate，butjumpintothegondola，andpaydoublefare，onconditionthatnomorepassengersaretaken。Anelderlypriestwasseatedneartheyounggirl，herisestoletmetakehisplace，butIpolitelyinsistuponhiskeepingit。
CHAPTERXIX