re. I will go with
you until within the vicinity of the convent, but not farther."

"And why not?"

"Because the door-keeper is a raging Teresiano, and would undoubtedly
close the door in your face, were I at your side."

"But did you not tell me the abbot was a Prussia, no?"

"Yes, the abbot, but the porter is not; nor are many of the monks, I am
sorry to say."

"Ah, even the monks are occupied with politics?"

"Signor," cried the host, pathetically, "every one here interests
himself in politics; and when you hear that our little children are
divided into Teresiani and Prussiani, you will credit me. There was a
slight revolution yesterday in the Riva Peschiera. It was occasioned
by a fishwoman's refusing to sell my cook some beautiful trout; she
declared God had not created fish for the Prussiani, which, in her
opinion, was another name for heathen and unbeliever. My cook insisted
on having the fish, and, as unfortunately there were many Prussiani
among the fishwomen, it soon came to hard words and still harder blows,
and was terminated by the arrest of the principal disturbers."

They were now entering the Riva di Schiavoni, and the talkative Signor
Montardo was continuing his merry tales when he was interrupted by cries
and shouts of laughter and derision, and they were almost surrounded by
a large crowd of excited men.

"We are fortunately at the end of our walk," said Signor Montardo,
"for there is the house of my worthy friend Cicernachi, dealer in fancy
goods, and it is to him we are going. Let us press forward to see what
this crowd means. I presume my friend Cicernachi has prepared another
surprise for the good people of Venice."

He made a way for himself and friend with his broad shoulders, and soon
stood in front of the shop around which the crowd was collected. A cry
of astonishment escaped the stranger, and he pointed to the entrance of
the shop. "You see there," said he, "a speaking likeness of Frederick
the Great."

There hung at the front of the store a large engraving in a rich golden
frame. It was the portrait of Prussia's hero king--of Frederick the
Great--and beneath burnt a bright lamp, its light shedding a rosy tint
over Frederick's noble countenance.

"Ah! I understand it now," whispered the host. "Cicernachi has done this
to enrage the Teresiani. To show his boundless reverence for the king,
he has placed a burning lamp beneath his picture, an honor due only in
our country to the s