All men who live by trade must be in favour of peace; but they must also be prepared to defend their goods, and the better able they are to do it, the more the honour to them.
"But here we are at the Piazzetta." A group of nobles were standing near the landing place, and Signor Polani at once went up to them, and introduced Francis to them as the gentleman who had done his daughter and their kinswoman such good service.

Francis was warmly thanked and congratulated by them all.
"Will you wait near the entrance ?" Signor Polani said.

"I see that my young cousin, Matteo, has accompanied his father, and you will, no doubt, find enough to say to each other while we are with the council." The gentlemen entered the palace, and Matteo, who had remained respectfully at a short distance from the seniors, at once joined his friend.
"Well, Francis, I congratulate you heartily, though I feel quite jealous of you.

It was splendid to think of your dashing up in your gondola, and carrying off my pretty cousins from the clutches of that villain, Ruggiero Mocenigo, just as he was about to lay his hands on them." "Are you sure it was Ruggiero, Matteo ?" "Oh, there can't be any doubt about it.

You know, he had asked for Maria's hand, and when Polani refused him, had gone off muttering threats.