"Enrico, a gondolier of Fusina. I come to try my oar with the braggarts of the canals."
"In whom is thy trust?"
"Sant' Antonio di Padua?"
"Thou wilt need his aid, though we commend thy spirit. Enter, and take place."—"And who art thou?" he continued, to another, when the second had imitated the easy skill of the first.
"I am called Gino of Calabria, a gondolier in private service."
"What noble retaineth thee?"
"The illustrious and most excellent Don Camillo Monforte, Duca and Lord of Sant' Agata in Napoli, and of right a senator in Venice."
"Thou should'st have come of Padua, friend, by thy knowledge of the laws! Dost thou trust in him thou servest for the victory?"
There was a movement among the senators at the answer of Gino; and the half-terrified varlet thought he perceived frowns gathering on more than one brow. He looked around in quest of him whose greatness he had vaunted, as if he sought succor.
"Wilt thou name thy support in this great trial of force?" resumed the herald.