"I also," said the little Contarini, timidly, for she was proud of the favor of the Queen whom she devotedly loved: "It was most beautiful; and the Serenissima la Regina held it long, as if she could not put it away."
But a hand was raised to hush the topic:
"Speak no more thereof; for word hath come but now that the request of her Majesty hath been denied."
There was a chorus of indignant protest:
"It could not be, when she so grieveth! They have no hearts—those frati of Santa Soffia!"
"The Queen will not endure this refusal without reason!"
"There was no reason that should be told," their informer whispered low to one of them. "For love of the Queen, hush the topic."
But an elderly member of the Queen's Council who had been passing through the great Hall and had paused near them, taking no part in the conversation, now came forward, after a moment's hesitation.
"I speak that you may forget it," he said: "for it seemeth to be a pleasing theme of discussion among you—yet should be so no more—a mere extravaganza of fancy that our girl-queen might wisely abandon."
"Signore!" exclaimed the Lady of the Bernardini, rising indignantly, "I maintain the dignity of our Sovereign Lady's Court, while she perforce, from sore affliction, must be absent. All speech must be as in her presence."