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Updated: June 20, 2025
Further, Venier ventured to suggest to Contarini that he should at once break off the marriage arranged with Beroviero, rather than expose himself to the inevitable indignity of letting the step be taken by the glass-maker, who, said Venier, would as soon think of giving his daughter to a Turk as to Jacopo, since the latter's graceless doings had been suddenly held up to the light as the laughing-stock of all Venice.
"Who are you, sir?" he inquired. "I am Giovanni Beroviero," answered Giovanni, sure that his name would inspire respect. The officer took off his cap politely and then replaced it. The two men who were looking on nudged each other. "I have a warrant to arrest a certain Zorzi," began the lieutenant. "I know! It is quite right, and he is within," answered Giovanni.
He nodded to the young man carelessly, but said nothing, and no one would have guessed how kindly he had spoken to him on the previous night. Giovanni Beroviero took ceremonious leave of his father, his cap in his hand, bending low, a lean man, twenty years older than Marietta, with an insignificant brow and clean-shaven, pointed jaw and greedy lips.
Occasionally Giovanni asked a respectful question, but neither his wife nor Marietta said much during the meal. Zorzi was not mentioned. "You are welcome at my house, my son," Beroviero said, when they had finished, "but I suppose that you will go back to your own this evening." This was of course a command, and Marietta thought it a good omen.
Beroviero groaned aloud, and his head sank as he grasped the arms of the chair. His daughter loved the man who had cheated him, betrayed him and robbed him. It was almost too much to bear. He had nothing to say, for no words could tell what he felt then, and he silently bowed his head.
"I cannot answer you." Beroviero was silent for a long time. He took the mantle from the chair, examined it and assured himself that it was Marietta's own and no other. Then he carefully folded it up and laid it on the bench. His brows were contracted as if he were in great pain, and his face was pale, but his eyes were still angry.
The meeting in the church might have been dispensed with, if the patrician had been able to answer with certainty for his wild son's conduct. Jacopo had demanded it, and his father was so anxious for the marriage that he had communicated the request to Beroviero.
At the door she turned her head, smiling. "I may be hard to please," she said quietly, and she went out into the garden. When she was gone Beroviero shut the window carefully, and though the round bull's-eye panes let in the light plentifully, they effectually prevented any one from seeing into the room. The door was already closed.
On that very morning Giovanni Beroviero made a second visit to the laboratory. He came, he said, to make sure that Zorzi was recovering from his hurt, and Zorzi knew from Nella that Giovanni had made inquiries about him. He put on an air of sympathy when he saw the crutches. "You will soon throw them aside," he said, "but I am sorry that you should have to use them at all."
"You may go," he added, speaking to the men, who were glad enough to be dismissed. Beroviero passed his son without further words and tried the door of the laboratory, but found it locked. "What is this?" he asked angrily. "Where is Zorzi? I told him not to leave you here alone." "You had great confidence in him," answered Giovanni, recovering himself a little. "He is in prison."
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