Verily, the reverend
father confessors in Venice have much to answer for; I would thou
couldst find means to keep Fra Francesco from his ministrations in her
palace."
"Fra Francesco--so holy and gentle--a man to trust!"
"Ay, I have naught against him, save that he is trained in the school of
Rome, having a conscience to uphold their claims, and with no thought or
care for anything but the Church--no wisdom to discover any right of
princes. Such confessors make trouble among the people. I doubt not our
daughter trusteth the word of Fra Francesco beyond thine or mine. Do thy
possible to keep him from her; there is no knowing what Marcantonio may
do at her bidding, and in this crisis there shall be no stain upon our
house."
"Thou, then, Giustinian, speak with Marco."
"Nay, I dare not name Marina to him under such suspicion; it might be
the forcing of the very thing we fear. He hath a way with him of hearing
all and saying naught, save some gay, facile word, courteous to the
point one can find no fault; and underneath he hath perhaps some scheme,
and never can one get a promise from him.
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