ies which would make the day of the
departure of the Daughter of the Republic among the most splendid in the
annals of Venice. A crowd of citizens who had not been advised by
special invitation of the various banquetings and happenings, came and
went about the grotesque figure with much lively comment of delighted
anticipation, intermingled with benedictions upon San Marco that it was
not long to wait, since to-morrow would be there after the next Ave
Maria! For whatever of revelry was prepared for the nobles, brought
always in Venice a corresponding pageant to delight the eyes of the
people.

Here and there some gondolier from the islands, sheepishly conscious of
the brilliant _fazzoletto_, or the string of beads he had just bought in
the tempting booths of the old, wooden Rialto, hung on the outskirts of
the crowd before Ser Gobbo, to catch from the gossip of the more
lettered ones about him the details of the morrow's _festa_ which he
might not read for himself; for the knowledge would make him the oracle
of his little circle in Burano--or at least with Giovanna, when he
should bestow his silken trifle for the morrow's splendor. For, of
course all Venice would be there to see the queen set forth.

"Santa Maria!--the Serenissimo himself upon the Bucentoro will escort
the Regina. Heard one ever such splendor!"

"And at the Lido--hast heard, Tonio?--by favor of San Marco and San
Nicolo, the gondolieri with their barchette may float in line to make
our part of the _festa_. Oh, the beautiful day!"

"And the Signoria, and all the nobili! and the court of the young
Regina--and all the banners and the _barca_--most beautiful to
behold--one might die of the splendor of it, Santissima Maria!"

"Aye, Giuseppe, and the music of all the fleets!--it will be like
heaven, if Messer San Marco doth but send the sunshine and the breeze."

"Nay, he could not fail his Venice for a _festa_ that doth him such
honor; _Messer San Marco e galant uomo!_ But how then, Tonio, thou hast
a _sposalizio_ of thine own--with thy string of coral and thy
_fazzoletto_ fit for a Signorina: the bells will be chiming for thee
to-morrow?"

"_Basta, basta!_" Tonio responded with commendable gruffness,
considering his contentment at heart, as he hastily retreated to his
gondola under the Rialto for needed shelter from the banter which
followed him, until some other unwary victim became the centre of the
well-meant pleasantry.

"Wait then for a day, T