ier or battleaxe."

"I fear, sir," Francis said modestly, "that I have given up more time
to the study of arms than befits the son of a sober trader."

"Not at all," the Venetian replied. "We traders have to defend our
rights and our liberties, our goods and our ships, just as much as the
nobles have to defend their privileges and their castles. Here in
Venice there are no such distinctions of rank as there are elsewhere.
Certain families, distinguished among the rest by their long standing,
wealth, influence, or the services they have rendered to the state, are
of senatorial rank, and constitute our nobility; but there are no
titles among us. We are all citizens of the republic, with our rights
and privileges, which cannot be infringed even by the most powerful;
and the poorest citizen has an equal right to make himself as
proficient in the arms, which he may be called upon to wield in defence
of the state, as the Doge himself. In your country also, I believe, all
men are obliged to learn the use of arms, to practise shooting at the
butts, and to make themselves efficient, if called upon to take part in
the wars of the country. And I have heard that at the jousts, the
champions of the city of London have ere now held their own against
those of the court."

"They have done so," Francis said; "and yet, I know not why, it is
considered unseemly for the sons of well-to-do citizens to be too fond
of military exercises."

"The idea is a foolish one," the Venetian said hotly. "I myself have, a
score of times, defended my ships against corsairs and pirates,
Genoese, and other enemies. I have fought against the Greeks, and been
forced to busy myself in more than one serious fray in the streets of
Constantinople, Alexandria, and other ports, and have served in the
galleys of the state. All men who live by trade must be in favour of
peace; but they must also be prepared to defend their goods, and the
better able they are to do it, the more the honour to them.

"But here we are at the Piazzetta."

A group of nobles were standing near the landing place, and Signor
Polani at once went up to them, and introduced Francis to them as the
gentleman who had done his daughter and their kinswoman such good
service. Francis was warmly thanked and congratulated by them all.

"Will you wait near the entrance?" Signor Polani said. "I see that my
young cousin, Matteo, has accompanied his father, and you will, no
doubt, find enough to say