“Nay, Marina, thou dost not understand,” he answered deprecatingly, softening at the sight of her trouble.  “I have but one vote; it is as nothing in the Senate—­it would but draw indignation against our house.  It is not possible to fail in loyalty to the Republic on this first occasion of moment.”

“Thy father might be won, if thou hast but courage.  Thou art a Giustinian; it is thy duty to speak in time of peril, and thy words would make others brave to follow thee.  Thus shalt thou save Venice.”

“If thou didst but know, carina, how the Senate and the Ten are set against this wish of thine!  I should not speak of this matter to thee, for it is secret—­but to calm thee and help thee understand.”

“How shall it calm me to know that the people and the city are rushing under the ban?  If this terrible resolution passes, if our child—­our tender child—­were to die to-morrow he would go without burial—­a little wandering soul!  Marco, thou lovest our child?”

Her pauses and her desperate struggle for control were full of inexpressible horror.

“Calm thyself, my darling; it shall not be,” he answered, reassuringly.

“Oh, Marco mio!  And thou wilt give thy vote against it?  And thou wilt use thine influence in the Council?  Promise me!”

She clung to him, sobbing and exhausted.

He soothed her for a moment silently; should he leave her under such a misunderstanding?  It would be easier for them both, but he had intended no untruth.  How was it possible to make such a woman understand?  She was quiet now, and he was stealing away from her with a kiss on her forehead.

“Promise me!” she insisted, following him and clasping his arm with sudden strength.

“Marina, they are very set; and the Ten—­thou dost not know their power.”

“And shall all Venice brave the wrath of our most Holy Church because the Senate is afraid of the Ten?  Are the Ten more powerful than the Holy Father and all the priesthood and sacraments of the Church?  Marco, my beloved, how shall I save thee?” “Carina, these things are not coming upon Venice; thou dost not understand the law of Church and State.”

“No, Marco,” she answered boldly, “it is rather thou who dost not understand.  There will be no services, no marriage for our people, no burial, no consolations of our holy religion, no sacraments—­if this excommunication should come upon us.”

“If we had sinned, Marina, and laid ourselves open to interdict, then these things should come—­not otherwise.”

“Ay, but we have sinned—­by rebellion against the Holy Church.  Marco, it is not easy for men to submit; but Father Francesco says the women shall save Venice.”

“The women of Venice are priest-ridden!” the young Senator cried angrily, breaking away from her.  “If there is trouble, it is the priests who have brought it.  They cannot be a separate power within Venice!”