e senators--all meanwhile keeping their
seats that no moment might be lost in resuming the important interrupted
debate.

The strain had been so great, both during the discussion and the visit
of the Lady Marina, that there was a willingness among the senators to
unbend, to throw aside serious impressions and make light of all dread,
as womanish and weak, accepting the Doge's words as leaders. For in
those days the faith of many of the gravest walked only a little way
from the borderland of superstition; and it was long since any of their
princes had held so great a reputation for judgment and diplomacy as
Leonardo Donato.

"The Senate now being complete," the Doge solemnly announced,
immediately upon the return of the three senators, "the interrupted
speech will be concluded, and before the final vote is taken there will
be presented once more before this august body that argument of our most
learned and venerated Counsellor, Padre Maestro Paolo, upon which the
decision of the Ten hath been based, and upon which the College, the
Senate, and the Great Council will presently be called to vote."

This marshaling of the entire ruling body of the Republic could not fail
to exercise a steadying power, and neither fear nor irresolution were
revealed to the impressive, penetrating, and commanding gaze of
Leonardo, when the Senator Contarini resumed the speech which had been
so strangely interrupted. The enthusiasm and determination of the
morning had returned; the words fell upon a receptive and positive
atmosphere. The opinions of the distinguished Senator carried great
weight, so loyal and catholic was he known to be; and above the portal
of the Contarini many times the Lion of St. Mark had proudly rested.

"We are loyal sons of the Church," he said, "but no highest
ecclesiastical court--though with authority from Rome itself--may rule
that any decree of this imperial Senate of Venice, bearing upon Church
and State alike, can be set aside by Church alone."

"We have not subjected ourselves to being put out of the body of this
Church, which we revere, by any failure of duty on our part--duty being
a rendering of that which is owed.

"As citizens of this Republic, our duty in things temporal is owed to
our Prince--by right divine; as men, our duty to our Church, by right
divine, is in things spiritual alone--which we render; but in things
temporal God gave not the Church rule over us. If, at any point, these
two dominio