The two old senators perceived at once that Don Camillo
and his fair companion were completely beyond the reach of their power,
and they instantly admitted the wisdom of making a merit of necessity.
Having no farther occasion for Jacopo, they summoned the keepers, and
dismissed him to his cell.
"It will be seemly to send letters of congratulation to the cardinal
secretary, on the union of his nephew with so rich an heiress of our
city," said the Inquisitor of the Ten, as the door closed on the
retiring group. "So great an interest as that of the Neapolitan should
be propitiated."
"But should he urge the state's resistance to his hopes?" returned the
Signor Soranzo, in feeble objection to so bold a scheme.
"We will excuse it as the act of a former council. These misconceptions
are the unavoidable consequences of the caprices of liberty, Signore.
The steed that ranges the plains in the freedom of nature, cannot be
held to perfect command, like the dull beast that draws the car. This is
the first of your sittings in the Three; but experience will show you
that excellent as we are in system, we are not quite perfect in
practice. This is grave matter of the young Gradenigo, Signori!"
"I have long known his unworthiness," returned his more aged colleague.
"It is a thousand pities that so honorable and so noble a patrician
should have produced so ignoble a child. But neither the state nor the
city can tolerate assassination.
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