The rapidity of Buonaparte's return gave them no breathing-time.

They hastened to send offers of submission, and their messengers were received with anger and contempt.

"French blood has been treacherously shed," said Napoleon; "if you could offer me the treasures of Peru, if you could cover your whole dominion with gold--the atonement would be insufficient--the lion of St.Mark[17] must lick the dust." These tidings came like a sentence of death upon the devoted Senate.
Their deliberations were unceasing; their schemes innumerable; their hearts divided and unnerved.

Those secret chambers, from which that haughty oligarchy had for so many ages excluded every eye and every voice but their own, were invaded with impunity by strange-faced men, who boldly criticised their measures, and heaped new terrors on their heads, by announcing that the mass of the people had ceased to consider the endurance of their sway as synonymous with the prosperity of Venice.
Popular tumults filled the streets and canals; universal confusion prevailed.

The commanders of their troops and fleets received contradictory orders, and the city which "-- had held the gorgeous East in fee," seemed ready to yield everything to a ruthless and implacable enemy, without even striking a blow in defence.
Buonaparte appeared, while the confusion was at its height, on the opposite coast of the Lagoon.