t apparently so guiltless of
intentional rudeness that it ceased to be an impertinence, and amused
the young Venetian by its unconventionality. "Is there anything it would
please Fra Paolo to ask of me?" he inquired affably.

"If there are children--" the friar pursued quite simply.

"Our little son was baptized in Saint Peter's in Rome; he had sponsors
among the cardinals and a private audience and benediction from his
Holiness, Pope Clement," the young nobleman replied, trying to repress a
pleasurable sense of importance. "It was a pleasure to the Lady
Marina--she is devoted to the Church, and his Holiness was always most
gracious to her."

"As was fitting for the lady of a Venetian representative, and due to
Venice," the elder Giustinian hastened to explain, "his late Holiness
was ever courtly and a gracious diplomat."

He had been aware from his little distance how the talk had turned, and
he was alert to give it the coloring he liked best. For while the young
people were still in Rome, Signor Agostino Nani, watchful as an
ambassador well might be of the interests of so princely a house, had
confided to the "Illustrissimo Giustiniani," in a private and friendly
letter, that courtesies so unusual had been extended to this noble
young Venetian lady--so devoted to the Church, so gentle and
unsuspicious, so incapable of counter-plotting--that it would be wise to
guard against undue influence by a too prolonged stay at the Roman
court; and the honorable recall of the Secretary Giustiniani had soon
thereafter been managed.

The friar's face had grown stern, but he did not resume the conversation
until the elder Giustinian had strolled away with his host. Then he
turned to Marcantonio, speaking earnestly. "Simplicity is no match for
subtlety," he said, "and much favor hath been shown to her. You will
pardon me, Signore, not because you are young and I am old, but because
the face of your lady hath moved me with a rare sense of unworldliness.
There should be no flattery in an act our Lord himself hath taught by
his example, and an old man like Pope Clement might well bestow his
blessing on your little child. But the times are not free from danger;
the home is best for the little ones--do not send him from his mother to
the schools."

"He is but learning to speak," the young man answered, smiling at the
friar's earnestness; "only his baby word for his mother's name."

"There are schools for the sons of noblemen in wh