h a plea which invariably won him, "tell me about this
question of Vicenza which occupies them all so much--I could not
understand. Who is this Abbott of Nervessa?"

At her first words he had folded her caressing hand in his, but he
dropped it in immediate displeasure and walked quickly away from her,
speaking indignantly. "They talked of this in thy presence?"

"They said an abbe was imprisoned in the Piombi; they said it was
against the law to imprison ecclesiastics except by the authority of the
Pope. Oh, Marco mio, I am afraid he will be very angry!"

"What else did they tell thee?" he questioned doggedly.

"They said there was a Canon Saraceni also--both imprisoned in Venice.
Marco mio, it is an insult to our Holy Father!"

"What else?"

"Nothing more--but only about some law of Venice that I did not
understand; I wished to ask thee."

"And Fra Francesco was here and heard them talk?"

"Nay, Fra Francesco stays never long; and this was but a few moments
before thy coming. I left the Sala Tiziana to see if all were going well
in this little salon, and they were speaking of Vicenza, and I asked
them. Wherefore art thou angry, Marco? What kept thee so late to-night?"

She had never seen him in such a mood; he had persistently refused to
meet her beseeching glance; but now he drew a quick breath of relief,
and came back to her side.

"It was this miserable matter of Vicenza that detained the Council in
such lengthy session," he said, "and it was not fit to have been
mentioned in thy presence, my sweet wife; I might well be angry. But
since thou wert not there, I can pardon them."

"Yes, it was I who questioned them," she repeated eagerly, anxious to
shield her guests from her husband's indignation, though she did not
understand it. "They were talking of the Abbot of Nervessa and of his
Holiness, and when I came they rose to do me honor; and I also, to be
not lacking in courtesy, said, 'Le prego, Signori--I beg of you,' and
bade them continue the talk in which they had seemed full of interest.
Marco, in the Senate--do they know that the Pope is angry about the
Abbot of Nervessa?"

Her eyes were full of the eagerness of her question. If they but knew
all would be well, she thought; she had so wished for Marco to be there
and hear them talk!

"Marina, this whole matter is a question for the government to decide;
it is not for ecclesiastics to discuss--they know nothing of any laws
but their own. This is a