with it across the face, saying:

"Let your lips kiss what your fingers are too fine to touch."

With an oath Cattrina drew his sword and out flashed Hugh's in answer,
as he cried:

"Ay, here and now if you will! Here and now!"

Then the Guard rushed in and forced them apart.

"Is this a place for brawling?" cried Dandolo in wrath, adding: "Yet
I cannot blame the Englishmen overmuch, seeing that they were sore
affronted, as I saw with my eyes and heard with my ears. Be silent,
my lord of Cattrina. After your fashion you make trouble at my Court.
And--hearken all--blood so hot had best be quickly cooled lest one or
other of these knights should take a fever. Moreover, the noble Cattrina
has but to-day asked my leave to ride from Venice to-morrow, having
urgent business at Avignon at the Court of Pope Clement. So I decree
that this combat _a outrance_ shall take place in our presence on the
Campo del Marte to-morrow, three hours before noon, ere the sun grows
too hot. To all the details of the combat our heralds will attend
forthwith. Officer, take soldiers and escort the Ambassador and the
Champion of his Grace of England, together with this Captain of Archers,
back to their own door. Set guards there and see that none molest them
by word or deed under pain of fine and strait imprisonment. Sir Geoffrey
Carleon, your requests are granted; be pleased to write it to the most
puissant Edward, whom you serve, and for this time fare you well.
Why, what is it, Captain Ambrosio?" he added irritably, addressing a
raw-boned, lantern-jawed giant of a man clad in the splendid uniform of
the Guard who stepped before his throne and saluted.

"Most Illustrious," said Ambrosio, in bad, guttural Italian, "my mother
was a Swiss."

"Then congratulations to the Swiss, Ambrosio, but what of it?"

"Very Illustrious," replied the captain in his hollow voice, "the Swiss
are brave and do not swallow insults. That lad whom the Englishman
kicked, or smote, or tossed like a bull," and he pointed to the poor
page, who, still senseless, was being carried from the hall, "is my
youngest brother, who resembles our Venetian father somewhat more than I
do."

"We see it, we see it. Indeed are you sure that the father was----" and
the Doge checked himself. "The point, captain; we would dine."

"Illustrious, I would avenge my brother and myself on the Englishman,
whom I will beat to a jelly," said the giant. "I crave leave to fight
him to-morrow