l stand firm on the issue, and not
one of the Ca' Giustiniani shall flinch."

"Is there no possible doubt of the ending?" the Lady Laura questioned,
after a little troubled silence. Her heart was very sore for Marina, who
slept but little, and was constantly fasting.

"Only of that which lieth between; the end is triumph for Venice,"
Giustinian declared. "Tell that to Marina, and calm her fears. Also, let
it not be known that she is so weak in courage; it would be held against
Marcantonio, to whom the suspicion of being wife-ridden would do an
infinite injustice. And bid Marcantonio himself tell her of the vote
that hath passed the Senate, without dissent of a single voice, for
letters to be sent to the imperious Paul to make an end of his demands,
declaring that Venice recognizeth for the temporal government of her
states no superior, save God alone."

Meanwhile in Rome, to the Ambassador Agostino Nani, Paul had already
superbly made answer, "We are above all men, and God hath given us power
over all men; we can depose kings and do yet more than that. Especially
our power is 'quae tendunt ad finem supranaturalem.' (Over those things
which tend to a supernatural end.)"

All thoughts of festivity in the City of the Sea were over; the strength
of her patricians--men and women--was concentrated on this momentous
quarrel with the Holy See, which they would indeed have put off were it
possible, but which, having come upon them, they would bear with
conquering pride. All through those dark December days the pressure
tightened; there were mutterings of the coming storm, against which the
rulers of Venice were planning defense; there was an oppression, like a
sense of mental sirocco, in the air--a vague terror of the unknown among
the people, gathering like the blighting breath which precedes some
fierce tornado--while in the palace of San Marco, the Doge, Marino
Grimani, Chief of the Republic in revolt against the Holy See, lay
dying!

The Lady Marina Giustiniani had forgotten how to smile. When her little
one lifted his rosy baby face to hers she smothered him in caresses,
that he might not see her tears; and her husband failed to note the
change, for the Senate sat in unbroken session and the permitted
absences from the Council Chambers of the Republic barely sufficed for
sleep. Daily in the oratory of her palace Mass was said, and Marina
passed long hours there on her knees alone, tracing the coming horror to
its most