At the decease of your late most honored and much lamented parent, the illustrious senator Tiepolo, the care of your person, lady, was committed by the Republic, your natural and careful protector, to the especial guardianship and wisdom of Signore Alessandro Gradenigo, of illustrious birth and estimable qualities." "Signore, you say true." "Though the parental love of the councils may have seemed to be dormant, it has ever been wakeful and vigilant.

Now that the years, instruction, beauty, and other excellences of their daughter, have come to so rare perfection, they wish to draw the ties that unite them nearer, by assuming their own immediate duties about her person." "By this I am to understand that I am no longer a ward of the Signor Gradenigo ?" "Lady, a ready wit has helped you to the explanation.

That illustrious patrician is released from his cherished and well acquitted duties.
To-morrow new guardians will be charged with the care of your prized person, and will continue their honorable trust, until the wisdom of the Senate shall have formed for you such an alliance, as shall not disparage a noble name and qualities that might adorn a throne." "Am I to be separated from those I love ?" demanded Violetta impetuously.
"Trust to the Senate's wisdom.

I know not its determination concerning those who have long dwelt with you, but there can be no reason to doubt its tenderness or discretion.

I have now only to add, that until those charged anew with the honorable office of your protectors shall arrive, it will be well to maintain the same modest reserve in the reception of visitors as of wont, and that your door, lady, must in propriety be closed against the Signor Gradenigo as against all others of his sex." "Shall I not even thank him for his care ?" "He is tenfold rewarded in the Senate's gratitude." "It would have been gracious to have expressed my feelings towards the Signor Gradenigo in words; but that which is refused to the tongue will be permitted to the pen." "The reserve that becomes the state of one so favored is absolute.