ns may seem to touch and intersect it is our Prince who
disentangles, by his decree, the twisted thread. For he is Lord over us,
who are Venetians and not Romans."

The words had a ring of victory; enthusiasm spread from face to face,
and the house rose in a tumult of approval to express its loyalty,
unchecked by any sign of dissent from the dais at a demonstration so
unusual.

But the Contarini saw his advantage and broke in upon the wave of
feeling, while an imperative motion from the Chief Counsellor restored
order for the hearing of an important legal point upon which it was
desired that action should be based.

"These laws--whose abrogation the Holy Father doth demand--are ancient
rights of Venice, acknowledged by many previous popes, and reaffirmed,
in these our own days, after wise and learned scrutiny of our
chancellors, in the light of modern, civic requirements, as needful to
the healthful administration of this realm; as binding upon our Prince,
who hath ever in mind the welfare of Venice; and to be upheld by our
people who believe in the divine right of princes. They are by these
reverend Councillors also declared non-prejudicial to the spiritual
authority of our Most Holy Church, which this Serene Republic of Venice
doth ever reverently acknowledge. The question is of civil and not of
spiritual rights."

An enthusiastic senator made a motion for the casting of the final vote,
as an expression of the sense of the chamber. The speech of the
Contarini and the manner of its reception gave pleasing assurance of the
general temper of the Senate; the faces of the Doge and of his Savii
recorded the sense of security with which it was needful to impress the
assembly, and wore, if possible, a more dignified calm. Nevertheless
Leonardo, with his statesman's eye, detected here and there a face that
was set in an opposite opinion or likely to yield from fear, and his
pride decreed that the vote, when cast, should be unanimous.

Again the Doge consulted his Councillors.

"The nations will owe us much," he said, "if our unanimous vote shall
record the sentiments expressed in this speech of the noble Senator
Contarini as the faith and will of this Republic. Never hath there been
a greater opportunity to win a triumph for the liberty of princes.

"Therefore, because the question is weighty, we will request our most
learned Counsellor and Theologian to the Republic to give us an
exposition of the law as it doth appea