of the one go in gondolas with nets, and the men of the other are in
the galleys of the state. Why should brothers seek each other's blood?"

The movement among the judges was more manifest than ever. They
whispered together, and a paper containing a few lines rapidly written
in pencil, was put into the hands of the examining secretary.

"Thou didst address thy fellows, and spoke openly of thy fancied wrongs;
thou didst comment on the laws which require the services of the
citizens, when the Republic is compelled to send forth a fleet against
its enemies."

"It is not easy to be silent, Signore, when the heart is full."

"And there was a consultation among thee of coming to the palace in a
body, and of asking the discharge of thy grandson from the Doge, in the
name of the rabble of the Lido."

"Signore, there were some generous enough to make the offer, but others
were of advice it would be well to reflect before they took so bold a
measure."

"And thou--what was thine own counsel on that point?"

"Eccellenza, I am old, and though unused to be thus questioned by
illustrious senators, I had seen enough of the manner in which St. Mark
governs, to believe a few unarmed fishermen and gondoliers would not be
listened to with--"

"Ha! Did the gondoliers become of thy party? I should have believed
them jealous, and displeased with the triumph of one who was not of
their body."

"A gondolier is a man, and though they had the feelings of human nature
on being beaten, they had also the feelings of human nature when they
heard that a father was robbed of his son--Signore," continued Antonio,
with great earnestness and a singular simplicity, "there will be great
discontent on the canals, if the galleys sail with the boy aboard them!"

"Such is thy opinion; were the gondoliers on the Lido numerous?"

"When the sports ended, eccellenza, they came over by hundreds, and I
will do the generous fellows the justice to say, that they had forgotten
their want of luck in the love of justice. Diamine! these gondoliers are
not so bad a class as some pretend, but they are men like ourselves, and
can feel for a Christian as well as another."

The secretary paused, for his task was done; and a deep silence pervaded
the gloomy apartment. After a short pause one of the three resumed--

"Antonio Vecchio," he said, "thou hast served thyself in these said
galleys, to which thou now seemest so averse--and served bravely, as I
learn?"