were not so young--! Here in Venice he is rolling up influence, and the
charm of his inamorata is also a danger; and already in the Consiglio
all eyes are upon him."

"For a secretary to an ambassade is the age not set," answered the other
warily, "and the office hath space for diplomacy, which, it were better
for our privileges, were used elsewhere than in Venice. And the honor of
it would blind the eyes of his partizans--for the boy is young."

The winds, wandering through the Piazza, sometimes blew lightest
whispers from the Broglio into the Council Chambers of the Republic; and
so it was decreed that when the beautiful wedding pageant should be
over, just as the whole of Venice would have laid itself at the feet of
the charming bride--would have made the young nobles of the palazzo
Giustiniani the idols of the hour--these dangers to Venice should be
honorably removed by the appointment of Marcantonio Giustiniani, di
Maggior Consiglio, as Secretary to the Venetian Resident in Rome, with
the gracious permission of the Senate for the Lady Marina to bear him
company.

"It is well," answered Giustinian Giustiniani, as the Lady Laura made
her little moan on hearing of the appointment which the Senator reported
with such pride. "Marcantonio hath the head of a diplomat and the
bearing of a courtier. It is the way of distinction for such a man."

"That is justly spoken," said the mother; "and nobly hath our boy
fulfilled our hope. In Venice, or elsewhere, must he ever win
distinction. But to keep them in their palazzo near us--of this and of
their happiness was I thinking--the sight of it is so beautiful."