I have sometimes fancied, by thy manner of starting, and the tones of thy voice, that thou wert thyself no less than the lieutenant-general of the galleys, a little disguised." "And this with thy knowledge of men!" "If faith were always equal, where would be its merit?
Thou hast never been hotly chased by an infidel, Master Roderigo, or thou would'st know how the mind of man can change from hope to fear, from the big voice to the humble prayer! I remember once, in the confusion and hurry of baffling winds and whistling shot, having always turbans before the eye, and the bastinado in mind, to have beseeched St.Stefano in some such voice as one would use to a dog, and to have bullied the men with the whine of a young kitten.

Corpo di Bacco! One hath need of experience in these affairs, Signor Roderigo, to know even his own merits." "I believe thee.

But who is this Gino of whom thou hast spoken, and what has his occupation, as a gondolier, to do with one known in thy youth in Calabria ?" "Therein lie matters exceeding my knowledge.

His master, and I may say my master, for I was born on his estates, is the young Duca di Sant' Agata--the same that pushes his fortunes with the senate in a claim to the riches and honors of the last Monforte that sat in thy councils.

The debate hath so long endured, that the lad hath made himself a gondolier by sheer shoving an oar between his master's palace and those of the nobles he moves with interest--at least such is Gino's own history of his education." "I know the man.