The monk ejaculated a thanksgiving, for it was not always easy, in that city of mystery, to bring truth to the ears of the great.  When men live under a system of duplicity, more or less of the quality gets interwoven with the habits of the most ingenuous, although they may remain themselves unconscious of the taint.  Thus Father Anselmo, as he proceeded with the desired explanation, touched more tenderly on the practices of the state, and used more of reserve in alluding to those usages and opinions, which one of his holy calling and honest nature, under other circumstances, would have fearlessly condemned.

“It may not be known to one of your high condition, sovereign prince,” resumed the Carmelite, “that an humble but laborious mechanic of this city, a certain Francesco Frontoni, was long since condemned for frauds against the Republic’s revenue.  This is a crime St. Mark never fails to visit with his heavy displeasure, for when men place the goods of the world before all other considerations, they mistake the objects which have brought them together in social union.”

“Father, thou wert speaking of a certain Francesco Frontoni?”

“Highness, such was his name.  The unhappy man had taken into his confidence and friendship, one who, pretending to his daughter’s love, might appear to be the master of his secrets.  When this false suitor stood on the verge of detection, for offences against the customs, he laid a snare of deception, which, while he was permitted to escape, drew the anger of the state on his too confiding friend.  Francesco was condemned to the cells, until he might reveal facts which never had an existence.”

“This is a hard fate, reverend friar, could it be but proved!”

“’Tis the evil of secresy and intrigue, great Doge, in managing the common interests!—­”

“Hast thou more of this Francesco, monk?”

“His history is short, Signore; for at the age when most men are active in looking to their welfare, he was pining in a prison.”

“I remember to have heard of some such accusation; but it occurred in the reign of the last Doge, did it not, father?”

“And he has endured to near the close of the reign of this, Highness!”

“How?  The Senate, when apprised of the error of its judgment, was not slow to repair the wrong!”

The monk regarded the prince earnestly, as if he would make certain whether the surprise he witnessed was not a piece of consummate acting.  He felt convinced that the affair was one of that class of acts, which, however oppressive, unjust, and destructive of personal happiness, had not sufficient importance to come before them, who govern under systems which care more for their own preservation than for the good of the ruled.  “Signor Doge,” he said, “the state is discreet in matters that touch its own reputation.  There are reasons that I shall not presume to examine, why the cell of poor Francesco was kept closed, long after the death and confession of his accuser left his innocence beyond dispute.”