on archivolt and parapet--the invariable official signet of
Venetian dominion--stretches between that simpler quarter and this,
which holds the great houses of Murano, whose masters, a sort of _petite
noblesse_, have made their names illustrious by marvelous inventions in
that exquisite industry in which Venice has no rival.

VI

The "Madonna del Sorriso" now lacked only the finishing touches upon the
exquisite central figure, which reached more nearly to the spiritual
ideal than anything that had ever come from the brush of the Veronese,
and already the Servite friars, in their long black robes and white
cowls, had visited the studio with suggestions many and fruitless,
serving only to arouse the artist's indignant protest and increase his
determination to image more perfectly the poetic vision that had been
vouchsafed to him.

"It hath not the beauty of the 'Venezia' in the palazzo," said one.

"And the church is dark," said another, "and the people like the red and
blue of the colors of the true Madonna."

"And a frate, of the Servi--since it hath been painted for the
convent--here--kneeling," suggested another, more timidly; for it was
known that the Veronese was not always docile in these days, since he
had become great.

"Nay, leave me," said the Veronese fiercely; "for this one thing I
_know_, and this will I paint, for the good of my soul, as mine art
shall prompt me and not otherwise. And if it please not him--Fra Paolo,
who hath given the order--I will bestow it elsewhere."

Then a friar habited like the others, who had stood apart and had not
spoken, came and threw back his cowl, dismissing the group with a
gesture. The features thus disclosed were unimportant, apart from the
domelike forehead, which might well belong to the most learned man of
his learned age; but Fra Paolo's face owed its distinction to the rare
impression it gave the beholder of invincible calm and self-mastery,
with a certain mysterious hint of power and a promise of unswervingness.
His gaze held no suggestion of concealment; yet for the deeper thoughts
that move the spirit of man, to those who knew him well his mild blue
eyes remained inscrutable, while his courtesy to all made one forget
that his words were few, and that of himself he had revealed nothing.

"It is well," he said, "to _know_ that we know. Serve faithfully the God
who gave the gift and take no counsel from men who know not."

Then he stood silent for a while