"
"Sudden to rise and easy to be appeased. Let the neighborhood quiet the
household by its sneers.--What next?"
"A suitor in the courts maketh complaint of the tardiness of the
judges."
"This toucheth the reputation of St. Mark; it must be looked to!"
"Hold!" interrupted the Signor Gradenigo. "The tribunal acted
advisedly--'tis in the matter of a Hebrew, who is thought to have
secrets of importance. The affair hath need of deliberation, I do assure
you."
"Destroy the charge.--Have we more?"
"Nothing of note. The usual number of pleasantries and hobbling verses
which tend to nothing. If we get some useful gleanings by these secret
accusations, we gain much nonsense. I would whip a youngster of ten who
could not mould our soft Italian into better rhyme than this?"
"'Tis the wantonness of security. Let it pass, for all that serveth to
amuse suppresseth turbulent thoughts. Shall we now see his highness,
Signori?"
"You forget the fisherman," gravely observed the Signor Gradenigo.
"Your honor sayeth true. What a head for business hath he! Nothing that
is useful escapeth his ready mind."
The old senator, while he was too experienced to be cajoled by such
language, saw the necessity of appearing flattered. Again he bowed, and
protested aloud and frequently against the justice of compliments that
he so little merited. When this little byplay was over, they proceeded
gravely to consider the matter before them.
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