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"You are a Genoese?" said Andrea to Filippo, speaking with the authority of one who had a right to question. "Signore, I am, at your eccellenza's orders, though in foreign service at this present moment." "In what service, friend? I am in authority, here in Elba, and ask no more than is my duty."
When the beautiful and youthful lady, your eccellenza's daughter, was called away to the company of the saints, I felt the blow as if it had been the death of my own child; and it has pleased God, as you very well know, Signore, not to leave me unacquainted with the anguish of such a loss."
She was a little fluttered by my earnest gaze, and with a pretty courtesy turned to descend the hill. I said gently: "You are going home, fauciulla mia?" The kind protecting tone in which I spoke reassured her. She answered readily: "Si signor. My mother waits for me to help her with the eccellenza's dinner." I advanced and took the little hand that held the rosary. "What!"
"Art thou resolute to do none of my biddings?" "Is it your eccellenza's pleasure that I go to the Bridge of Sighs by the footways of the streets, or by the canals?" "There may be need of a gondola thou wilt go with the oar." "A tumbler shall not have time to turn round before the answer of Jacopo shall be here."
"Could not your eccellenza set me about clipping the wings of the lion, or painting a better picture than Tiziano di Vecelli? I have a mortal dislike even to pass the mere compliments of the day with one of your cut-throats. Were any of our gondoliers to see me in discourse with the man, it might exceed your eccellenza's influence to get me a place in the regatta."
"My facts, Signor Duca, are a thousand times clearer than the sun, and they are all at your eccellenza's service. I am sure I wish I had more of them, since they give you pleasure." "Enough of this profession. Speak to the facts themselves."
He resumed his course up and down the room, while his companion stood waiting his pleasure in an attitude so calm as to be dignified. A few minutes were wasted in this abstraction. "Thou art quick of sight, Jacopo!" continued the patrician, breaking the pause "Hast thou had dealings with the man?" "Never." "Thou art certain it is " "Your eccellenza's foster-brother."
We are humble people down here at the water side, but I hope we are just as good Christians as if we lived upon the hill." "Doubt it not, worthy Bettina " "My name is Benedetta, at your eccellenza's command-Benedittina if it please the vice-governatore; but not Bettina. We think much of our names, down here at the water side, eccellenza."
Her padrone has relations at Sant' Agata, as I have told your eccellenza, and his vessel has lain on the beach near the castle many a bleak winter." "What brings him to Venice?" "That is what I would give my newest jacket of your eccellenza's colors to know, Signore.
If any one unworthy of your eccellenza's notice has dared to offend, here are Giorgio and I, ready, at any time, to show how deeply we can feel an indignity which touches our master's credit; but a hireling of two, or ten, or even of a hundred sequins!" "I thank thee for the hint, Gino. Go thou and sleep in thy gondola, and bid Giorgio come into my cabinet." "Signore!"
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