Not even the smallest affair was settled without their intervention, on account of the duties demanded by the Republic.

The Fondaco was the name of the great exchange established by the Republic itself for the German trade.] The musician, who had as a student dwelt in Venice, hit on the fancy that he would give his daughter-in-law a home in Nuremberg like her father's house, which stood on one of the canals in Venice; so he found a house with windows looking to the river, and which he therefore deemed fit to ease her homesickness.

And verily the Venetian lady was pleased with the placing of her house, and yet more with the old man's loving care for her; although the house was over tall, and so narrow that there were but two windows on each floor.

Thus there was no manner of going to and fro in the Spiesz's house, but only up and down.

Notwithstanding, the Venetian lady loved it, and I have heard her say that there was no spot so sweet in all Nuremberg as the window seat on the second story of her house.