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Updated: May 27, 2025
"I will tell you the beginning." said Cicernachi, "I do not recollect all. It sounded thus: 'You have long known that Frederick, margrave of Brandenburg, in contempt for the authority of the Church, took to himself the name and insignia of king, a profane and unheard of act among Christians.
It will not punish neither the Prussiani nor the Teresiani; only warns us not to carry our zeal too far, and reminds us that it is against the law to carry a dagger or a knife in the streets. But now let us enter the shop, and I will introduce you to Cicernachi." He took the stranger's arm, and entered the shop, where a tall, slim man met him.
"We are fortunately at the end of our walk," said Signor Montardo, "for there is the house of my worthy friend Cicernachi, dealer in fancy goods, and it is to him we are going. Let us press forward to see what this crowd means. I presume my friend Cicernachi has prepared another surprise for the good people of Venice."
"I give twice that," said Cicernachi, quickly. The stranger started up hastily, blushing with annoyance. "Sir," said he, "I take from no one a higher price than I gave." "Ah, signor, signor," cried Montardo, "you have again forgotten that you are but a merchant. No merchant sells his goods for what he gave for them. Remember that." "I will make a good business with these fans," said Cicernachi.
"You will be charmed with them, Cicernachi; it will be another opportunity to annoy the Teresiani. Look at this merchant's fans." The stranger opened several fans. Cicernachi's eyes sparkled with delight at the sight of the painting. "How many have you, signor?" said he. "Twelve." "I take them all, and regret you have not more." "But Cicernachi, where has all your wisdom gone to?" cried Montardo.
"As you are Prussiano, these neat little coins and medals, with pretty caricatures of the enemies of the king on them, will no doubt please you." "Ah, let us see them," cried both Italians. They examined with eagerness the medals upon which the enemies of Frederick were represented in various laughable situations and positions. "I take them all!" cried Cicernachi, enraptured.
It was the portrait of Prussia's hero king of Frederick the Great and beneath burnt a bright lamp, its light shedding a rosy tint over Frederick's noble countenance. "Ah! I understand it now," whispered the host. "Cicernachi has done this to enrage the Teresiani.
"You have not even asked the price; or do you, perhaps, think the stranger gives them to you for nothing?" "No, no; I forgot it," said Cicernachi, gazing with delight at the fans which the stranger was spreading out before him. "What is their price, signor?" The stranger was silent for a moment, and then said, in a hesitating manner: "I paid ten francs for each fan in Geneva."
"You are right, signor," said the stranger, advancing to Cicernachi and shaking hands with him. "Permit me to thank you in the name of my great and noble king whom you have this day defended in so original a manner from the malicious charges of his enemies. I give you my word of honor that the king shall hear of it through me; I know it will rejoice him."
"Do you know why I have done it?" said Cicernachi, "yesterday the Teresiani placed before their restaurants the bull of Pope Clement XI., which has just been confirmed and renewed by Clement XIII. It was printed on white satin, and enclosed in a beautiful gilt frame, and underneath it burnt a sacred lamp." "What are the contents of this bull?" said Montardo.
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