hest attainment in this exquisite
Venetian industry, which the Government held in such esteem that for a
century past one of the chiefs of the Council of Ten had been appointed
as inspector and supervisor of the manufactories. For further security
the Senate had declared severest penalties against any betrayal of the
secrets of the trade--a form of protection not quite needless, since the
Ambassador of His Most Christian Majesty had formed a species of secret
police with no other object than to bribe the glass-makers and extract
from them the lucrative secret which formed no part of the courtesies
that were interchanged between France and the Republic.

The large, low table, black and polished like teak-wood, upon which they
had been examining the vizier's design, was lighted by a lamp of wrought
iron swinging low by fanciful chains from the high ceiling, making a
centre of dense yellow flame from which the shadows rayed off into the
gloom of the farther portions of the room, and a charming picture of
father and daughter was outlined against the vague darkness. Another
lamp, fixed against a plate of burnished brass, cast a reflection that
was almost brilliant upon the glory of this chamber--a high, central
cabinet of the same dark, carved framework, with a back of those
wonderful mirror plates so recently brought to perfection by another
stabilimento of which the good Girolamo was almost jealous, although
against this luminous background the exquisite fabrications of the house
of Magagnati reflected their wonderful shapes and colors in increased
beauty.

Not yet had any plates of clear glass fine enough for the display of
such a cabinet been realized, though it sometimes seemed to Girolamo
that such a time was very near; but the solid doors of wood, with
ponderous brass locks and hinges, stood open, and the inner silk curtain
which protected these treasures from dust was always drawn aside by
Marina's own hand when these evening lamps were lighted; they were so
beautiful to see, if they but raised their eyes; the very consciousness
of their gleaming was sometimes an inspiration to Girolamo, and at this
hour they were quite safe, for the working day was over, and no one
entered this sanctum save by invitation.

Girolamo Magagnati prided himself on being a Venetian of the people, and
it was true that no member of his family had ever sat in the Consiglio;
but in few of the patrician homes of Venice could more of what was