ich proclaimed the presence already of the
other part of their body in its court.

The squares of St. Mark now presented a novel picture. The quaint and
oriental church, the rows of massive and rich architecture, the giddy
pile of the Campanile, the columns of granite, the masts of triumph, and
all those peculiar and remarkable fixtures, which had witnessed so many
scenes of violence, of rejoicing, of mourning, and of gaiety, were
there, like landmarks of the earth, defying time; beautiful and
venerable in despite of all those varying exhibitions of human passions
that were daily acted around them.

"But the song, the laugh, and the jest, had ceased. The lights of the
coffee-houses had disappeared, the revellers had fled to their homes,
fearful of being confounded with those who braved the anger of the
Senate, while the grotesque, the ballad-singers, and the buffoon, had
abandoned their assumed gaiety for an appearance more in unison with the
true feelings of their hearts.

"Giustizia!--" cried a thousand deep voices, as the body of Antonio was
borne into the court--"Illustrious Doge! Giustizia. in palazzo, e pane
in piazza! Give us justice! We are beggars for justice!"

The gloomy but vast court was paved with the swarthy faces and
glittering eyes of the fishermen. The corpse was laid at the foot of the
Giant's Stairs, while the trembling halberdier at the head of the
flight, scarce commanded himself sufficiently to maintain that air of
firmness which was exacted by discipline and professional pride. But
there was no other show of military force, for the politic power which
ruled in Venice, knew too well its momentary impotency, to irritate when
it could not quell. The mob beneath was composed of nameless rioters,
whose punishment could carry no other consequences than the suppression
of immediate danger, and for that, those who ruled were not prepared.

The Council of Three had been apprised of the arrival of the excited
fishermen. When the mob entered the court, it was consulting in secret
conclave, on the probabilities of the tumult having a graver and more
determined object, than was apparent in the visible symptoms. The
routine of office had not yet dispossessed the men already presented to
the reader, of their dangerous and despotic power.

"Are the Dalmatians apprised of this movement?" asked one of the secret
tribunal, whose nerves were scarcely equal to the high functions he
discharged. "We may have occa