erful 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!"

"Not a separate power, Marco, only the representative of the Church,
which is the supreme power."

"These things are not for women to discuss," he exclaimed in
astonishment that she should attempt to reason on such a subject.

"Not for women, and not for men," she answered quietly. "The power of
the Holy Father is by _divine_ right."

"Marina, if thou canst say so much, thou _shalt_ understand the rest!"
he cried desperately. "So also is the power of temporal princes by
divine right--if not even more, as some of the authorities would have
it. But the temporal prince hath right only to that within his own
jurisdiction. Granting the divine right to the spiritual prince, it
lieth only within his own province. Paul V hath exceeded his rights.
Leonardo Donato, Serenissimo of the Republic, is not guilty in
self-defense."

She quivered as if a knife had been thrust through her; then,
controlling herself by force, she dipped her fingers in the basin of
holy water that stood upon the little altar. "It is sacrilegious to
speak against the Holy Father," she said in a low, grieved tone, as she
made the sign of the cross upon his breast. "May God forgive thee, my
dear one--it is not thy fault. But in the Senate they are misleading
thee!"

"My sweet wife," he answered, much troubled, and folding her closely.
"Do not grieve. All will be well for Venice. We shall not bring harm
upon her."

But she detected no yielding in his tone. She lifted her head from his
breast, and moved sligh