Thou shalt tell the bancali that I sent thee; thou shalt
tell them there are affairs of moment for the Nicolotti which shall go
hard for the traghetti if I be not there to work them--Art listening,
Antonio?" he questioned feverishly.
Antonio's eyes were fastened upon his. "Padrone, yes!" he answered
breathlessly.
"With my token thou canst command the loyalty of every Nicolotto--is it
thine oar that made that rustle?--and perchance, if there were a rising
of the traghetti to demand aught of the Signoria--come nearer,
Antonio!--the Castellani also, if they willed to join with their
traghetti in asking for justice--would not serve under my token the less
heartily for the word, confided low to their bancali--dost
understand?--_that if their taxes and their fines oppress them_, these
also, I being free, will pay this year to the maledetto Avvogadoro del
Commun."
Antonio gravely bowed his head in assent.
"This at thy discretion--thou understandest, Antonio--and so that no
violence come from the massing of the people, but only the proof of its
will and of the numbers who make the demand.
Pages:
443
444
445
446
447
448
449
450
451
452
453
454
455
456
457
458
459
460
461
462
463
464
465
466
467