"So long as we have a safe conscience, in London we are frightened at nothing, whereas here no one can say with certainty that he may not, before tomorrow morning, be lying in the dungeons of St.Mark, without the slightest idea in the world as to what his crime has been." "There, there, Francisco," Matteo said uneasily.

"Do talk about other things.

Your notions may do very well in England, but are not safe to discuss here.

Of course there are plenty here who would gladly see a change in some matters, but one cannot have everything; and, after all, when one has so much to be proud of, one need not grumble because everything is not just as one would like." "Yes, you have much to be proud of," Francis Hammond agreed.

"It is marvellous that the people of these scattered islets should be masters of the sea, that their alliance should be coveted by every power in Europe, that they should be the greatest trading community in the world.