"It is beyond belief!" Giustinian Giustiniani exclaimed to the Lady
Laura, "how Spain findeth method to make traitors in Venice itself! It
is a nation treacherous to the core, and it were beyond the diplomacy of
any government,--save only ours,--to maintain relations on such a basis
of fraud."
"What is there of new to chide them for?" she asked with keen interest.
"Is not the old enough to make one wrathful! Boastful threats of arms
against the Republic if she yield not obedience to the Holy Father, with
secret promises of armed assistance to his Holiness to keep him firm in
his course, at the very moment of her cringing attempts at mediation
lest France should carry off the glory!--and because Spain hath neither
men to spare for Rome, nor courage to declare against the Republic, nor
diplomacy to bring anything to an issue!"
"Nay, now them art returned to Venice forget the disturbing ways of
Spain," the Lady Laura answered, with an attempt at conciliation. "I am
glad that thy mission in that strange land hath come to an end.
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