"If there are children--" the friar pursued quite simply.
"Our little son was baptized in Saint Peter's in Rome; he had sponsors
among the cardinals and a private audience and benediction from his
Holiness, Pope Clement," the young nobleman replied, trying to repress a
pleasurable sense of importance. "It was a pleasure to the Lady
Marina--she is devoted to the Church, and his Holiness was always most
gracious to her."
"As was fitting for the lady of a Venetian representative, and due to
Venice," the elder Giustinian hastened to explain, "his late Holiness
was ever courtly and a gracious diplomat."
He had been aware from his little distance how the talk had turned, and
he was alert to give it the coloring he liked best. For while the young
people were still in Rome, Signor Agostino Nani, watchful as an
ambassador well might be of the interests of so princely a house, had
confided to the "Illustrissimo Giustiniani," in a private and friendly
letter, that courtesies so unusual had been extended to this noble
young Venetian lady--so devoted to the Church, so gentle and
unsuspicious, so incapable of counter-plotting--that it would be wise to
guard against undue influence by a too prolonged stay at the Roman
court; and the honorable recall of the Secretary Giustiniani had soon
thereafter been managed.
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