ies shall
show the way and remain to see that every aid is bestowed."

The secretary whom the Doge had designated by a glance had approached
and received a rapid order, spoken in an undertone; Marina had fallen,
almost fainting, upon her husband's arm, as he reached her after the
permission so intolerably delayed, yet he dared not move in that
imperious presence without further bidding. His hand stole over hers to
comfort her. She had suffered so much that he could not be angry.

Leonardo Donato's eyes quickly scanned the faces of the senators,
seeking the two least sympathetic.

"The Senators Morosini and Sagredo will escort them," he said, "and will
return in haste with the Senator Giustiniani to do their duty to the
Republic."

At the door Marina turned again, rallying her failing strength with a
last desperate effort, but the words came in a broken, agonized whisper:
"O Santissima Maria Vergine! Mater Dolorosa! because thou art the
special guardian of this Virgin City--and here, in her councils, none of
thy reverend fathers may plead for thee--be merciful, Madre Beatissima!
Save us from our doom!"

XIX

As the door closed upon the retreating cortege the attitude of the Doge
grew stern. He turned as if about to address the still standing Senate,
when, remembering that he had already assumed the initiative to an
unusual degree, and having so recent a recollection of that formidable
coronation oath whose slightest infraction would be visited upon his
nearest of kin, he mounted in silence to his seat and consulted with his
Councillors until the senators were in their places. Then, in a tone of
authority, he proclaimed:

"That which hath just occurred within this hall of the Senate shall be
for those who have witnessed it as if it had not been, and the
secretaries of the day shall not transcribe it upon their records, since
it hath already more than sufficiently consumed our time. This vision of
the lady was doubtless wrought by unwise tampering, being a vision of a
nature that may gain credence with women--dependent and timid and
unversed in law--but with which men and rulers have nothing to do."

An expression of relief slowly grew upon the faces before him while the
Doge was speaking; noting which his words were allowed to produce their
full effect during the few moments of relaxation and informal talk,
which, as was immediately announced by a secretary, would occupy the
time until the return of the thre