"I know what that means in this world." As soon as there was no question of opposing his despotic will, his kindly nature asserted itself, for he was a man subject to quick changes of humour, but in reality affectionate.
"I am going to trust you much more than hitherto," he continued.

"My sons are grown men, independent of me, but willing to get from me all they can.

If they were true artists, if I could trust their taste, they should have had my secrets long ago.

But they are mere money-makers, and it is better that they should enrich themselves with the tasteless rubbish they make in their furnaces, than degrade our art by cheapening what should be rare and costly.

Am I right ?" "Indeed you are!" Zorzi now spoke in a tone of real conviction.
"If I thought you were really capable of making coloured drinking-cups like that abominable object you made this morning, with the idea that they could ever be used, you should not stay on Venetian soil a day," resumed the old man energetically.