Chapter 13

"Oh! the days that we have seen."
SHELTON.

A pause like that which accompanies self-contemplation, and perhaps
conscious distrust of purpose, succeeded. Then the Three arose together,
and began to lay aside the instruments of their disguise. When the masks
were removed, they exposed the grave visages of men in the decline of
life, athwart which worldly cares and worldly passions had drawn those
deep lines, which no subsequent ease or resignation can erase. During
the process of unrobing neither spoke, for the affair on which they had
just been employed, caused novel and disagreeable sensations to them
all. When they were delivered from their superfluous garments and their
masks, however, they drew near the table, and each sought that relief
for his limbs and person which was natural to the long restraint he had
undergone.

"There are letters from the French king intercepted," said one, after
time had permitted them to rally their thoughts;--"it would appear they
treat of the new intentions of the emperor."

"Have they been restored to the ambassador? or are the originals to go
before the senate?" demanded another.

"On that we must take counsel at our leisure. I have naught else to
communicate, except that the order given to intercept the messenger of
the Holy See hath failed of its object."

"Of this the secretaries advertised me. We must look into the negligence
of the agents, for there is good reason to believe much useful
knowledge would have come from that seizure."

"As the attempt is already known and much spoken of, care must be had to
issue orders for the arrest of the robbers, else may the Republic fall
into disrepute with its friends. There are names on our list which might
be readily marked for punishment, for that quarter of our patrimony is
never in want of proscribed to conceal an accident of this nature."

"Good heed will be had to this, since, as you say, the affair is
weighty. The government or the individual that is negligent of
reputation, cannot expect long to retain the respect of its equals."

"The ambition of the House of Hapsburgh robs me of my sleep!" exclaimed
the other, throwing aside some papers, over which his eye had glanced in
disgust. "Holy St. Theodore! what a scourge to the race is the desire to
augment territories and to extend an unjust rule, beyond the bounds of
reason and nature! Here have we, in Venice, been in undisputed
possession of provinces that are adapted to our institutions, convenient
to our wants, and agreeable to our desires, for ages; provinces that
were gallantly won by our ancestors, and which cling to us as habits
linger in