"It is the first time I have the honor of conducting his Excellency; he
is perhaps of the Provveditori al Comun?" These officials collected the
government taxes and were viewed with jealous eyes by the gondoliers.
"Nay; I am Paolo Cagliari; I belong to a better craft. But please
thyself, for there is much talk of this matter."
"Signore, one must live!" the young fellow exclaimed, with a friendly
shrug of his shoulders and a gleam of his white teeth; for it was easy
to make friends with the genial artist. "And between the governors and
the _provveditori_ one may scarce draw breath! One's bread and onions--"
he added, with a dramatic gesture of self-pity. "It is not much to ask!"
"_Altro_! Nonsense!" the Veronese exclaimed, laughing, for the gondolier
looked little like one who was suffering from hunger, as he stood
swaying in keen enjoyment of the motion which showed his prowess, of the
wind as it swept his bronzed cheek, of the talk which permitted him to
exploit his grievances.
"There is the High Mass, twice in the month; there is the Low
Mass--every Monday, if you will believe me! There are the priests, _for
nothing_--Santa Maria, they are not few! The first fare in the
day?--always for the Madonna of the traghetto.
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