o had
never been able to disregard Marina's will, often as he had chafed under
the necessity of yielding to it; and now, since she was Lady of the
Giustiniani, it had not been otherwise in the rare instances when it had
pleased her to require anything of him. Yet it would have been
incongruous to charge Piero with over-sensitiveness on the side of
chivalry, though Marina's power over him was still as great as in those
old days when, being unable to shake himself free from her influence, he
had wished to marry her to make it less.

Piero was not introspective, but he doubtless knew that his ruling
passion was to achieve whatever purpose he might choose to set himself.
The Nicolotti knew it well when, a few months before, they had
unanimously elected him to rule over them--as their chief officers had
realized it when they had nominated him, without a dissenting voice, to
this position of gastaldo grande--a position of great honor fully
recognized by the government. So the rival faction of the Castellani
bore marvelous testimony to his mastery when they went over in
surprising numbers from along the _Giudecca_, and underwent the strange
ceremonial of baptism into the opposition party.

Yet when the rival factions of the people had thus conspired to make him
their chief it was Marina who had alone induced him to accept the honor.
To all his objections her answer had been ready:

"Nay, Piero, it is meet for thee; they need one strong and brave, of
whom they stand in dread, who knoweth their ways--"

"As much bad as good," Piero had interposed frankly, and not without
asseverations well known to gondoliers.

"It is well said," she had answered, with the comprehension born of her
intimate knowledge of the class; "and to keep them in order--verily,
none but thou canst do it."

Piero gave an expressive shrug, having had enough of compliment. "_En
avanti--c'e altro_!" he said, laughing. "The taxes are heavy, and their
Excellencies the tax-gatherers have less patience than the poor
gondoliers bring of _zecchini_ to the purse of the Nicolotti. But the
gastaldo hath as little liberty of delay, as their Excellencies leave
him to decline the burden--I might better make shipwreck in the Canale
Orfano."

It was in this canal that the victims of the Inquisition mysteriously
disappeared, and Marina had repressed a shudder while she answered,
"Thou wilt come to me, Piero, if the purse of the Nicolotti weighs
little; thou shalt not