No, no, Messer Francisco.

In these eastern waters one must always act as if the republic were at war.

Why, did not Antonio Doria, in a time of profound peace, attack and seize eight Venetian ships laden with goods, killing two of the merchants on board, and putting the ships at a ransom?
As to single vessels missing, and never heard of, their number is innumerable.
"It is all put down to pirates; but trust me, the Genoese are often at the bottom of it.

They are robbers, the Genoese.

In fair trade we can always beat them, and they know it, and so they are always seeking a pretext for a quarrel with us." Francis smiled quietly at the bigoted hatred which the captain bore the Genoese, but thought it useless to argue with him.