I had not thought him great, nor a leader
of men. Are there no statesmen in Venice who might better fit the
dignity of so great an office?"
"Think not to teach subtlety to the Signoria, my Lady Laura! Is not
every noble a statesman trained, and every one at the service of the
Republic? But there is no greater theologian at the Court of Paul V, nor
any ecclesiastic among them all more familiar with the writings of their
authorities; and he hath a memory so astounding that he beareth the
meaning of all their codes on the end of his tongue wherewith to confute
the fallacious arguments of Rome."
"Giustinian!"
"It is like a woman to ask a thing and cry out if the answer be not
smothered in sweets!" the old Senator retorted irritably, resenting her
accent of reproof. "It is small marvel if the Consultore seemeth not
great to thee; the power of the man is in the clarity of his vision and
the brevity of his speech."
"Who named him to the Signoria?"
"Donato knew him well, and Morosini and all our ablest men; and his
knowledge of the ways of Rome, where he hath been much in legislation at
the Vatican, is a power in the Senate--which hath no mind to be taken in
argument, nor to fail in courtesy, nor to show ignorance in its demands.
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