Since the late alliance, it is our duty to consider all Frenchmen as enemies, though it by no means follows that we are to consider them as pirates." "But their corsairs seize all our craft, Signore, and treat their people as if they were no better than dogs; then, they tell me that they are not Christians--no, not even Luterani or heretics!" "That religion does not flourish among them, is true," answered Andrea, who loved so well to discourse on such subjects, that he would have stopped to reason on religion or manners with the beggar to whom he gave a pittance, did he only meet with encouragement; "but it is not as bad in France, on this important head, as it has been; and we may hope that there will be further improvement in due time." "But, Signor Vice-governatore," put in 'Maso, "these people have treated the holy father and his states in a way that one would not treat an Infidel or a Turk!" "Aye, that is it, Signori," observed Benedetta--"a poor woman cannot go to mass without having her mind disturbed by the thoughts of the wrongs done the head of the church.

Had these things come from Luterani, it might have been borne; but they say the Francese were once all good Catholics!" "So were the Luterani, bella Benedetta, to their chief schismatic and leader, the German monk himself." This piece of information caused great surprise, even the podesta himself turning an inquiring glance at his superior, as much as to acknowledge his own wonder that a Protestant should ever have been anything but a Protestant--or rather, a Lutheran anything but a Lutheran--the word Protestant being too significant to be in favor among those who deny there were any just grounds for a protest at all.

That Luther had ever been a Romanist was perfectly wonderful, even in the eyes of Vito Viti.
"Signore, you would hardly mislead these honest people, in a matter as grave as this!" exclaimed the podesta.
"I do but tell you truth; and one of these days you shall hear the whole story, neighbor Viti.

'Tis worth an hour of leisure to any man, and is very consoling and useful to a Christian.

But whom have you below, Benedetta--I hear steps on the stairs, and wish not to be seen." The widow stepped promptly forward to meet her new guests, and to show them into a commoner room, below stairs, when her movement was anticipated by the door's opening, and a man's standing on the threshold.