midnight
One or both of two reasons would explain why his choice had fallen upon Marietta . It was possible that he had seen her , and Zorzi firmly believed that no man could see her without loving her ; and Angelo Beroviero might have offered such an immense dowry for the alliance as to tempt Jacopo 's father . No one knew how rich old Angelo was since he had returned from Florence and Naples , and many said that he possessed the secret of making gold ; but Zorzi knew better than that . It was past midnight when Jacopo Contarini barred the door of his house and was alone . He took one of the candles from the inner room , put out all the others and was already in the hall , when he remembered that he had left his winnings on the table . Going back he opened the embroidered wallet he wore at his belt and swept the heap of heavy yellow coins into it . As the last disappeared into the bag and rang upon the others he distinctly heard a sound in the room .