Part 12 (1/2)

”And for my father--we must have courage!”

XI

The summons from the Ten had been presented with ceremony on the night of the fete at Ca' Giustiniani, and Marcantonio was grateful for the strong support of Paolo Cagliari's friendly presence, as they went together to the Sala di Collegio in the Ducal Palace; for this seemed to the young n.o.ble an opportunity, that might never come again, of presenting his pet.i.tion to ears not all unfavorable; and there was a thrill of triumph in the thought that his maiden speech before this august body should be his plea for Marina's admission to the favor of the Signoria. Already fortune had been kind to him beyond his hopes, and, with the daring of youth, he was resolved to claim the possible.

The Veronese alone knew of his intention, and as to his father--he could only put him out of his thoughts. If the Senate listened to his pet.i.tion there would be no difficulties, but he would not weaken his courage by any previous contest, unavailing as it must be.

Meanwhile there was the remembrance of the roses of the Lady Laura--fragrant with her great renunciation.

The honor of this summons was reflected in the increased dignity of the elder Giustinian, and in a tinge of urbanity new to him, as he parted from Paolo Caghari and Marcantonio, who remained standing on the floor of the hall, to take his seat among the senators in the seats running around the chamber, as on the previous day, instead of the one rightfully his own among the higher Council who were to p.r.o.nounce the laudatory words.

The industries of Murano had always been dear to the senatorial heart, but of late years the fostering care of the Republic had been increased to an unprecedented degree, and the stimulus thus given to the workmen of Murano had been evidenced in a series of brilliant discoveries, so that the marvel of their fabrics had become as much a source of jealousy to other nations as of revenue and pride to the Republic.

Thus the affair of this gift-piece of crystal was deemed of quite sufficient importance to occupy the attention of the senators, who prepared themselves to listen with every symptom of interest to this report of the exhibit of Murano, which had been read on the previous day before the Ten.

It had chanced before that these reports had been followed by words of commendation, but it had rarely happened that a young n.o.ble had been summoned before the Collegio to receive such a testimonial, and the occasion lost none of its interest from the fact that many of those present had witnessed the presentation of the summons in the banquet hall of the palazzo Giustiniani.

The famous goblet, by order of the Senate, was also present, as a proof that the laudatory words p.r.o.nounced by the Secretary of the Ten at the close of the report were well deserved.

It was not often that a member won distinction on the day of his entrance to the Gran' Consiglio; the favor shown by the Senate was great; the position of the Ca' Giustiniani among the proud Venetian n.o.bility was beyond question; and some of the fathers of the young and n.o.ble ladies who had graced the banquet watched the young Giustinian with a quite personal interest.

”It was time,” they said, ”that the handsome young patrician should choose a bride.”

”And once before, in the history of the Republic, as now,” suggested another, ”there was but one of the Ca' Giustiniani.”

There was a sympathetic and ominous shaking of heads, for the story was well known.

”But to none of those golden-haired maidens who danced at his fete would he show favor, though upon his birthnight. And when the Lady Beata had asked him shyly why he wore a white rose in his doublet, he had told her saucily, 'The meaning of the flower is _silence_.'”

These and other trifles bearing upon the ceremony of the morning were discussed in pleasant asides, while the report had been read and the note of approval had been proclaimed to Marcantonio, who dropped the arm of his friend and came forward to receive it.

”My Lords of the Senate, the Collegio and most Ill.u.s.trious Ten!” he responded, with a courtly movement of deference which included them all, ”I thank you! In that it graciously pleaseth you to bestow upon me your favor for a trifle of designing which was the pastime of an hour, and made for the pleasure of the giving in homage to the n.o.ble Lady Laura Giustiniani. But the praise of it should not be mine; it is rather to the stabilimento which hath shown perfection in its workmans.h.i.+p. But first to him, the master, who hath given it its crowning grace. I pray you, let me share the unmerited honor of this commendation with Paolo Cagliari, _detto Veronese_, without whom my little had been nothing!”

The chivalry and grace of the young n.o.ble elicited a murmur of approbation, as he courteously indicated his friend.

The Veronese, to whom this _denouement_ was unexpected, and who had long since been crowned with highest honors by the Republic, did not move forward, but, acknowledging the tribute of his pupil with a genial smile, he stood with folded arms, unembarra.s.sed and commanding, scanning the faces of the a.s.sembly, well pleased with the effect produced by the words of Marcantonio, whom, at all hazards, he intended to befriend. He realized that the atmosphere might never be so favorable.

”The crowning grace of that goblet, my Lords of Venice,” he said boldly, ”is lent it by the face of the most beautiful maiden it hath ever been my fortune to paint--than whom Venice hath none more charming.”

There was a murmur of surprise from the younger n.o.bles, who were standing in groups about the hall of the Gran' Consiglio; they had supposed the face to be merely a dainty conceit of the artist's fancy, and those nearest gathered about the case with sudden interest.

But the face of Marcantonio betrayed him, while he stood unabashed in the circle of the senators, though with mounting color, his hand, under shelter of his cloak, resting upon the jeweled hilt of the sword upon which he had sworn his first knightly vow.

Giustinian Giustiniani rose to his feet. ”Her name, Messer Paolo Cagliari!” he thundered.

But it was the young Giustinian who answered to the challenge--”Marina Magagnati!” with an unconscious reverence, as he confessed his lady's name.

”Is no face found fair enough among all the palaces on the Ca.n.a.l Grande to charm thy fastidious fancy?” cried the angry father, losing all self-control. ”It were fitter that the name of thine inamorata were first declared elsewhere than in this presence!”

”Not so, my father,” Marcantonio replied, undaunted. ”For I first would ask a grace of our most ill.u.s.trious Signoria,--the which may it indeed please them to grant,--or never shall I bring a bride to the Ca'