"To the Most Reverend the Patriarchs, Archbishops, and Bishops of our
Venetian Dominions," said this "Protest," "and to the Vicars, Abbots,
Priors, Rectors of Parochial Churches, and other Ecclesiastical
Prelates, greeting:" forthwith proceeding to declare that "the Interdict
which his Holiness was 'said' to have published was null and void, and
forbidden to be observed--not having been incurred by any fault of
Venice."
But even those who could not read soon recognized the features of that
message, which met them everywhere, hiding the scars of other messages
which they must not see.
"No, no," they said, with laughing thanks to some friendly interpreter
who stood near; "it is enough; _va bene_--we know it like our Ave
Maria!"
But sometimes a family group came back for a word, when the others had
scattered.
"Thou, Gigio, tell the good padre!" says the bright-eyed young
contadina, pulling the gray sleeve of her fisherman who stands stolidly
beside her.
"_Si, si_," he answers indifferently, shrugging his shoulders and
relapsing into silence, as he pushes his wife and mother before him for
a refuge; for the men of the islands were less at home in argument with
the priests than were the women of their households.
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