Her estates lying without our limits greatly facilitate the treaty, which hath only been withheld from your knowledge by the consideration, that of late we have rather too much overloaded thee with affairs." Again the Signor Gradenigo bowed submissively, and with apparent joy.

He saw that his secret designs had been penetrated, notwithstanding all his practised duplicity and specious candor; and he submitted with that species of desperate resignation, which becomes a habit, if not a virtue, in men long accustomed to be governed despotically.

When this delicate subject, which required the utmost finesse of Venetian policy, since it involved the interests of one who happened, at that moment, to be in the dreaded council itself, was disposed of, the three turned their attention to other matters, with that semblance of indifference to personal feeling, which practice in tortuous paths of state-intrigue enabled men to assume.
"Since we are so happily of opinion concerning the disposition of the Donna Violetta," coolly observed the oldest senator, a rare specimen of hackneyed and worldly morality, "we may look into our list of daily duties--what say the lions' mouths to-night ?" "A few of the ordinary and unmeaning accusations that spring from personal hatred," returned another.

"One chargeth his neighbor with oversight in religious duties, and with some carelessness of the fasts of Holy Church--a.

foolish scandal, fitted for the ears of a curate." "Is there naught else ?" "Another complaineth of neglect in a husband.