not know, and whose avenging hand was constantly hanging over them."

"Now, however, it seems that a visible hand, a hand of iron, is
going to strike away the invisible hands of the Three," said Count
Saurau, quickly. "Bonaparte seems to desire to force Venice, too,
into the pale of his Italian republics. The city is full of French
emissaries, who, by means of the most eloquent and insidious
appeals, try to bring about a rising of the Venetians against their
rulers, in order--but hark!" said the count, suddenly interrupting
himself. "What is that? Don't you hear the clamor in the street,
right under our window?"

He paused, and, like the minister, turned his eyes and ears toward
the window. A confused noise, loud shouts and yells, resounded
below.

The two ministers, without uttering a word, arose from their arm-
chairs and hurried to one of the windows, which looked upon the wide
street extending from the Kohlmarkt to the minister's palace. A vast
mass of heads, broad shoulders, and uplifted arms, was visible
there, and the angry roar of the excited populace was approaching
already the immediate neighborhood of the palace.

"It seems, indeed, as if these honorable representatives of the
people, intended to pay me a visit," said Thugut, with great
composure. "Just listen how the fellows are roaring my name, as if
it were the refrain of some rollicking beer-song!"

"Why, it is a regular riot!" exclaimed the police minister, angrily.
"Your excellency will permit me to withdraw--"