For he was not very strong of limb, though he was quick with his hands and of a very tenacious nature, able to endure pain as well as weariness when he was determined to finish what he had begun.

But while Marietta was in the laboratory, nothing could tire him nor hurt him, nor make him wish that the hours were less long.

He thought therefore of what must happen to him if Jacopo Contarini took Marietta away from Murano to live in a palace in Venice, and he determined at least to find out what sort of man this might be who was to receive for his own the only woman in the world for whose sake it would be perfect happiness to be burned with slow fire.

He did not mean to do Contarini any harm.

Perhaps Marietta already loved the man, and was glad she was to marry him.