o affronted by this offer, that, in
a fury of rage, he leaned forward and struck Corbaro a heavy blow with
his fist, and then raising his voice shouted to those about him:

"Let none who wish me well say, 'Viva Pisani!' but, 'Viva San Marco!'"

And the populace then shouted, "Viva San Marco and our Father Pisani!"

No sooner had Pisani reached his house than the news was bruited about,
that the admiral had been merely appointed governor of Lido, and that
Giustiniani remained in command of the navy. The people were furious;
and a deputation of 600 waited upon Pisani and said:

"We are yours. Command us as you will."

Pisani told them that it was for the republic, and not for him, to
command their services. The deputation then went to the council, and
declared, in the name of fifty thousand Venetians, that not a man would
embark on the galleys until Pisani received his command, as captain
general of all the forces of the republic, by land and sea. The Council
of Ten, finding it impossible to resist the popular demand, and
terrified at the idea of the tumult that a refusal would arouse, at
last agreed to their request.

Fortunately for the republic, the four days which elapsed between the
fall of Chioggia, and the appointment of Pisani to the supreme command,
had not been utilized by the enemy. Carrara and Doria had always been
at variance as to their plans of operations, and, as usual, they
differed now. The Lord of Padua urged the necessity for following up
their success by an instant attack upon Venice, while Doria insisted
upon carrying out his original plan, and trusting as much to starvation
as to military operations. He, however, gradually pushed forward two
outposts, at Poreja and Malamocco, and on the latter island, at a
distance of three miles from Venice, he erected a battery, many of
whose shot fell at San Spirito.

Francis had borne his share in the events which had led to the
installation of Pisani in the supreme command. He had at first
instigated the sailors of Polani to raise a cry in the streets for the
restoration of the admiral, and had gone about with two or three of his
friends, mingling with knots of persons, and urging that the only hope
of the republic lay in the energy and talent of Pisani. Even Matteo had
joined him, although Taddeo Giustiniani was his own uncle. But, as the
lad said, "what matters it about relationship now? What will become of
relationship, if the Genoese and Paduans land