ission in that strange land hath come to an end."

"Ay, but the ways of Spain do make traitors of us all!" Giustinian
exclaimed hotly. "When a senator of the Republic hath such amity for the
ambassador of his Most Catholic Majesty, forsooth, that at vespers and
at matins, in the Frari, they must use the self-same kneeling stool--a
tenderness and devotion beautiful to see in men so great; for it is aye
one, and aye the other, and never both who tell their beads at
once--that, verily, some brother of the Frari doth take cognizance of a
thing so rare and saintly and bringeth word thereof to the Serenissimo,
_with matter of much interest found within the prie-dieu_."

"Giustinian!"

"Ay, these minutes of the noble Senator, who acteth so well the spy for
favor of Spain, would do honor to a ducal secretary, for accuracy of
information concerning weighty private matters before the Council! And
due acknowledgment of so rare a courtesy doth not fail us in the very
hand of the ambassador himself, for this letter also was intercepted!
This frate who hath brought the information verily deserveth honor for
so great a service!"

"And the others?"

"Is there more than one treatment for a traitor?" Giustinian exclaimed,
with increasing temper. "And for the ambassador--it hath already been
courteously signified to him that the air of Venice agreeth not well
with one of his devotional tendencies."

"Tell me the name of the traitor," the Lady Laura urged, coming close
and laying her hand upon his shoulder.

"Nay," said her husband, shaking off her touch impatiently, "my anger
doth unlock my speech to a point I had not dreamed, for the matter may
be held before the Inquisition! But it is a name unknown to thee, and
new to this dignity, which he weareth like a clown! The freedom is still
too great for this entry to the Senate; the serrata hath done its work
too lightly if it leave space for one parvenu! To-morrow, when thou
takest the air in thy gondola, my Lady Laura, thou shalt look between
the columns of the Ducal Palace and know whatever the State will declare
to thee of that which concerneth the government alone! The times are
perilous."

"They will be better when the interdict is removed----"

"Ay--no--one knows not; it is a matter too grave for women and too
little for the Republic to grieve about. His Holiness would have us on
our knees, weeping like naughty infants, and abjectly craving his pardon
for daring to make our