"The charge?" he asked again. And when he had patiently learned the
details of which Fra Giulio's long and faithful service gave little
hint, he gathered evidence wherewith to refute them, and journeyed
swiftly back to Rome, returning, triumphant, to reinstate the good old
friar with honor in the home and offices he loved--the manner of his
return making amends to Fra Giulio for the pain he had suffered, so
sweet it seemed to him to owe to this son of his affections all the
gladness of his later days.



VIII

While the little Zuane was failing, Marcantonio, seeing Marina but
seldom, solaced himself in preparing a royal gift to offer to his mother
on the occasion of his own birthday fête. The idea had come to him that
night after the Veronese had touched his own faulty sketch into such
rounded life; besides, he had thought but one beautiful thought since he
had, as it were, been unconsciously brought to confession by that scene
in the studio. And Paolo Cagliari had been most kind in accepting his
commission with an enthusiasm which promised wonderful results. Great as
was his fame in those days,--and the Veronese never lived beyond his
fame,--still, as in his earlier years, he was eager for any new method
of proving the genius in which his own faith was as unbounded as his
capacity to achieve was vigorous and tireless. And the young noble's
unique fancy for a superb goblet of crystal _da Beroviero_, with a
miniature of Marina of Murano enlaced in exquisite gold borders and set
round with costly pearls--a trifle fit to offer to a princess--not only
pleased the artist's well-known taste for luxury, but seemed to him an
object worthy of his skill. In the kindness of his heart he would make