and for the better keeping of all my vows.

"If perchance, at the feet of the Holy Father, my prayers and penances
might, by miracle, avail to turn his wrath from Venice--it could not
hurt thee!

"Yet because of this wish, which only holdeth life in me,--so sore is my
heart at leaving Venice and thee and our dear home of the Servi,--well I
know that never more mine eyes shall see these places of my love--and
thee, my friend!

"If we learn by the way of pain, after this life God will forgive our
errors!

"FRANCESCO, thy brother of the Servi."

XXIII

As the cry of the populace rang down the Canal Grande, following the
retreating ranks of the Jesuits, who, bound by their greater vows to
Rome, had remained steadfast and refused obedience to the Senate's
mandate, the Lady Marina, roused by the excitement which they dreaded,
had started to her feet with a marvelous return of her former mental
power and a fullness of comprehension which sought for no explanations.
She stood for a moment panting with hot, unspoken speech, turning from
one to another, and then, with a sudden, great effort, repressed the
words she would have spoken, asking quietly, after a pause in which no
reference had been made to the expulsion of the confraternities:

"Which of the orders have gone? What more hath happened that I know
not?"

"Nay, the orders of the monks and of the friars have chiefly been
faithful to Venice," they told her, "and all is well. This society,
which for long hath been cause of much disorder in our Republic, it is
well that it leave Venice in peace."

She answered nothing, weighing their words silently. "Is it because they
are faithful to their vows, and to their Church?" she asked at length,
in quiet irony.

"Nay, but because they teach disobedience to princes and would thus
undermine the law of the land," Marcantonio hastened to explain,
grateful that she could at length discuss the question.
"Carina,--blessed be San Marco,--thou art like thyself! We will talk
together; we will make all clear to thee; thou shalt grieve no more,
carinissima!"

She put up her hand and touched his cheek with an answering caress--the
first through all these weary days. "I shall get well, Marco mio," she
said, with a sudden conviction that surprised them; but still there was
no smile in her eyes, and their hearts were sad, though the change that
had come over her was so extraordinary that they hoped much from the
explanation whi