"
"Ay, but the ways of Spain do make traitors of us all!" Giustinian
exclaimed hotly. "When a senator of the Republic hath such amity for the
ambassador of his Most Catholic Majesty, forsooth, that at vespers and
at matins, in the Frari, they must use the self-same kneeling stool--a
tenderness and devotion beautiful to see in men so great; for it is aye
one, and aye the other, and never both who tell their beads at
once--that, verily, some brother of the Frari doth take cognizance of a
thing so rare and saintly and bringeth word thereof to the Serenissimo,
_with matter of much interest found within the prie-dieu_."
"Giustinian!"
"Ay, these minutes of the noble Senator, who acteth so well the spy for
favor of Spain, would do honor to a ducal secretary, for accuracy of
information concerning weighty private matters before the Council! And
due acknowledgment of so rare a courtesy doth not fail us in the very
hand of the ambassador himself, for this letter also was intercepted!
This frate who hath brought the information verily deserveth honor for
so great a service!"
"And the others?"
"Is there more than one treatment for a traitor?" Giustinian exclaimed,
with increasing temper.
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