fail, for this, of wearing the honor of gastaldo
grande.

"Nay," she had added, quickly disposing of his awkward attempts at
thanks, "think not of it again; it is for my pleasure to see thee great
among the people, for I also and my father are of them. It is this that
I have always wished for thee."

So, chiefly because it had been Marina's will, Piero had waived his
unwillingness and become the central figure in the imposing ceremony of
the election of the gastaldo grande of the Nicolotti, who were, indeed,
almost nobles by antiquity and prestige, not only claiming among
themselves the coveted title of _nobili_, but, under the sanction of the
government, electing their gastaldo with a degree of ceremonial granted
only to high officials, and prescribed in very ancient books of the laws
of the traghetti. One of the ducal secretaries, having received official
notice of the vacancy of the office carried in person before the Senate
by the oldest man of the Nicolotti, came, in purple state, to preside
over the election when the bell of San Nicolo had tolled forth the
call--taking his seat among the twelve electoral presidents who, already
chosen by the people, awaited him, having sworn the inevitable oath of
impartiality and fealty to the Republic; they sat behind locked doors
until the election was brought to a close--in that solemn semblance of a
ducal election which could not fail to impress the people--with
complicated, time-using ballotings, and comings and goings of candidates
from adjoining chambers to express their views of the responsibilities
of the office, or to defend themselves against the freely invited
attacks of opponents or malcontents.

And for once Piero had uttered opinions, however clumsily, upon
"government" and "reform" from the pulpit of San Nicolo, in the
dignified and interested presence of a ducal secretary, the bancali, and
the disconcerting throng of gondoliers who were intolerant of speeches
and impatient for their vote; and he had retired shamefacedly, like an
awkward boy, while his jejune remarks were elaborately discussed by the
judges. And because his views--if he had any--had not been
over-luminously set forth in this his maiden oration, a party of zealous
advocates had nearly caused an uproar by their irrepressible shout of
"Non c'e da parlar', ma da fare!" which was, in truth, too sure an
indication of the temper of the people to be ignored. "We do not want
talking--but doing!"

And