noble ladies who had graced the banquet watched the young Giustinian
with a quite personal interest.

"It was time," they said, "that the handsome young patrician should
choose a bride."

"And once before, in the history of the Republic, as now," suggested
another, "there was but one of the Ca' Giustiniani."

There was a sympathetic and ominous shaking of heads, for the story was
well known.

"But to none of those golden-haired maidens who danced at his fête would
he show favor, though upon his birthnight. And when the Lady Beata had
asked him shyly why he wore a white rose in his doublet, he had told her
saucily, 'The meaning of the flower is _silence_.'"

These and other trifles bearing upon the ceremony of the morning were
discussed in pleasant asides, while the report had been read and the
note of approval had been proclaimed to Marcantonio, who dropped the arm
of his friend and came forward to receive it.

"My Lords of the Senate, the Collegio and most Illustrious Ten!" he
responded, with a courtly movement of deference which included them all,
"I thank you! In that it graciously pleaseth you to bestow upon me your
favor for a trifle of designing which was the pastime of an hour, and
made for the pleasure of the giving in homage to the noble Lady Laura
Giustiniani. But the praise of it should not be mine; it is rather to
the stabilimento which hath shown perfection in its workmanship. But
first to him, the master, who hath given it its crowning grace. I pray