their final union was proclaimed, he felt his heart bound with delight.  On the other hand, his more practised colleagues heard the detail of the Bravo with politic coolness.  The effect of all factitious systems is to render the feelings subservient to expediency.  Convention and fiction take place of passion and truth, and like the Mussulman with his doctrine of predestination, there is no one more acquiescent in defeat, than he who has obtained an advantage in the face of nature and justice; his resignation being, in common, as perfect as his previous arrogance was insupportable.  The two old senators perceived at once that Don Camillo and his fair companion were completely beyond the reach of their power, and they instantly admitted the wisdom of making a merit of necessity.  Having no farther occasion for Jacopo, they summoned the keepers, and dismissed him to his cell.

“It will be seemly to send letters of congratulation to the cardinal secretary, on the union of his nephew with so rich an heiress of our city,” said the Inquisitor of the Ten, as the door closed on the retiring group.  “So great an interest as that of the Neapolitan should be propitiated.”

“But should he urge the state’s resistance to his hopes?” returned the Signor Soranzo, in feeble objection to so bold a scheme.

“We will excuse it as the act of a former council.  These misconceptions are the unavoidable consequences of the caprices of liberty, Signore.  The steed that ranges the plains in the freedom of nature, cannot be held to perfect command, like the dull beast that draws the car.  This is the first of your sittings in the Three; but experience will show you that excellent as we are in system, we are not quite perfect in practice.  This is grave matter of the young Gradenigo, Signori!”

“I have long known his unworthiness,” returned his more aged colleague.  “It is a thousand pities that so honorable and so noble a patrician should have produced so ignoble a child.  But neither the state nor the city can tolerate assassination.”

“Would it were less, frequent!” exclaimed the Signore Soranzo, in perfect sincerity.

“Would it were, indeed!  There are hints in our secret information, which tend to confirm the charge of Jacopo, though long experience has taught us to put full faith in his reports.”

“How!  Is Jacopo, then, an agent of the police!”

“Of that more at our leisure, Signor Soranzo.  At present we must look to this attempt on the life of one protected by our laws.”

The Three then entered into a serious discussion of the case of the two delinquents.  Venice, like all despotic governments, had the merit of great efficiency in its criminal police, when it was disposed to exert it.  Justice was sure enough in those instances in which the interests of the government itself were not involved, or in which bribery could not well be used.  As to the latter, through the jealousy of