THE PIRATES OF SEGNA. 423 



able to restrain his indignation, and starting to his 

 feet as he spoke. There was a momentary pause, 

 during which the pirates gazed at the noble Venetian, 

 seemingly struck dumb with surprise at his temerity. 

 Then, however, a dozen sinewy arms Avere extended 

 to seize him, and a dozen daggers menaced his life. 

 Dignified and immovable, the high - souled senator 

 offered no resistance, but inwardly ejaculating a short 

 prayer, awaited the death-stroke. It came not, how- 

 ever. Although some of the Uzcoques, in their fury 

 and intoxication, would have immolated their valu- 

 able hostage, others, who had drunk less deeply, pro- 

 tested against the madness of such an act, and rushed 

 forward to protect him. Their interference was re- 

 sented, and a violent quarrel ensued. Knives were 

 drawn, benches overturned, chairs broken up and 

 converted into weapons ; on all sides bare steel was 

 flashing, deep oaths resounding, and missiles of 

 various kinds flying across the tables. It would be 

 impossible to say how long this scene of drunken 

 violence would have lasted, or how long the Prove- 

 ditore and his son would have remained unscathed 

 amidst the storm, had not the advent of a fresh actor 

 upon the scene stilled the tumult in a manner so 

 sudden as to appear almost miraculous. 



The new-comer was no other than the ghastly old 

 woman who has been seen to play such an important 

 part in this history, and who now entered the ban- 

 queting-hall with hasty step and impatient gesture. 



VOL. iv. 2 E 



