in favor of the petition which hath this day been presented before this Council by the noble Marcantonio, of the ancient and princely house of Giustinian.  Since in this sixteenth century our Republic, by grace of God and favor of her Rulers, is not less enlightened than in those earlier days to perceive when graciousness may promote her welfare, in granting favor to a noble house which hath ever shown to Venice its valor, its discretion, its unfailing loyalty.”

A cry of exaltation rang through the house like an electric thrill; the senators started to their feet.

“My life, my faith, my strength—­the might of all my house for Venice!” shouted the young Giustinian, with his sword held high above his head, like an inspired leader.

XII

The permission of the Maggior Consiglio, under favor of this imperious government, was equivalent to a command and a public betrothal, and for a few ecstatic days the heir of the Ca’ Giustiniani went about in a state of exaltation too great to be aware of any home shadows—­the slumbering anger of the Capo of the Ten and an inharmonious atmosphere wherein each was intensely conscious of an individual estimate of the great event which touched them all so nearly.

For suddenly the betrothal of this only son of an old patrician family had assumed almost the proportions of a State marriage; and a young fellow for whom time-honored observances of the realm could be set aside, and who had won so extreme a proof of favor by his own wit and grace, was surely a figure that might well occupy public attention.

But the decree would soon be a state paper; it was already an accepted fact in the halls of the Council and in the salons of the nobility, and the disappointed great ladies from the neighboring palaces were calling, with curious questions decorously dressed in congratulatory form.

“When should they have the pleasure of welcoming the new Lady of the Giustiniani?”

“Was it not true that the Lady Marina—­that was to be,” there was always some little stinging emphasis in the gracious speech, “had given a votive offering to the convent of the Servi?  She was a devote then—­quite unworldly—­this beautiful maiden of Murano?”

“What a joy for the Lady Laura that so soon there would be a bride in the Ca’ Giustiniani!”

“The Lady Laura had never been more stately,” they told each other when they entered their gondolas again, “nor more undisturbed.  There were no signs of displeasure; it must be that the lowly maid was very beautiful.”

“Was it a thing to make one sad, to have a son who could twist the rulers round his little finger, and break the very laws of the Republic?  Nay, but cause for much stateliness!” said a matron with two sons in the Consiglio.

“The bridal must be soon,” said the Lady Laura to herself, as she sat alone in her boudoir, “for the ceasing of this endless gossip.”  And, because she could think of nothing else, she was already weary with the planning of a pageant which made her heart sick.