"
In vain the Senate pleaded that on such a point there might be differing
views, and that men should be known for Christians by their faithfulness
in duty, by their practice of almsgiving and of the sacraments and of
all other good and Christian works; but the answer came swiftly, "Naught
else availeth."
It was a relief to the stately and grim Giustinian to lose his temper in
the sanctity of his home, since that freedom was beneath the dignity of
a Venetian ruler in the company of others who were chafing like himself
from insults they would have rejoiced to hurl back in the face of the
speaker; and he was the less inclined to view favorably the efforts
toward conciliation of the embassy to the Holy See, because it would
have pleased him to have been named among those six of this Ambassade
Extraordinary, on a mission so important, as an honor due to his ancient
house.
"It is repetition _ad nauseam_," he insisted hotly, "of demands for
abrogation of those laws, for yielding up of those two reverend
criminals to the ecclesiastical courts, of Nani's soft replies to the
quick speeches of his Holiness--an unending farce!"
"Giustinian," said the Lady Laura quietly, "the difficulties are great.
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