Year: 1864

GCSarO was once very great name III
/ Venice. There was in former times. a Don
/ PcsarO, and ambassadors to foreign courts
! belonging to the house. In the old church
of the Frairo, upon the further side of the
Grand Canal, is a painting of Titian's in
which family of the Pesaro appears knccl-
ing before the blessed Virgin gorge
ousIy scuIptured palace between the riato
and the Golden House is still known as the
Pesaro Palace but the family which built
it, and the family which dwelt there has long
since lost all claims to its cherubs and grif-
fins only the crumbling mansion where
lives the old Count and his daughter, now
boasts any living holders of the Pesaro
name.


These keep mostly upon the topmost floor
Of the house, where a little sunshine finds
its way, and plays Hospitality around the
flower pots which the daughter had arrang-
ed upon the ledge of a window Below
as had thought-the rooms were dark and
dismal. The rich furniture which belonged
to them is gone-only a painting or two,
by famous Venetian artists, now hung upon
the wall They are portraits of near rcla-
tions, and the old gentleman, they say, lin
gers for hours about them in gloomy 81
lence


SO long ago as the middle of the last cen
tury the family had become small and re-
duccd in wealth. The head of the family.
however, was an important member of the
State, and was expected (such things were
never known in Venice to have a voice in
the terrible Council Of Three


This man, the Count Giovanno Pesaro.
whose manner was stern, and whose af1cc-
tions seemed all Of them to have been alb
sOrbcd III the mysteries Of the State was, a
Widowcr. There were stories that even the
Countess had fallen under the suspicious Of
the Council Of the inquisition, and that the
silent husband could not or would not guard
her from the cruel watch which destroyed
her happiness and shortened her days


She left two sons, Antonio and Enrco-
BY a rule Of the Venetian State, not more
than one son Of noble family should marry
except his fortune was great enough to
maintain the dignity of divided house
hold. The loss Of Gambia and the gaming
tables of Ridotto together had so far di-
minished the wealth Of the Count Pcsaro
that Antonio alone was privileged to choose
a bride, and under the advice of State,
which exercised a more than fatherly in
terest in the matters, he was very early be-
trothed to a daughter of the Cantarini.


But Antonio wore a carcles and dissolute
habit Of life he indulged freely in the H.
centous intrigues Of Venice, and showed
little respect for the ties which bound him
to a noble maiden whom he had scarcely
seen.


Enrico, the younger son, destined for the
Church, had more caution, but far less gen
erosity in his nature, and covered his disso
luteness under the garb of sanctity, he
chaied into bitter jealousy Of his brother,
whose privilege 50 far exceeded his own.-.
Fra Paola, his priestly tutor and companion
was a monk Of the order of Franciscans
who, like many of the oligarchy, paid little
attention to his vows, and used the stolen
mask to conceal the appetite Of a debascd
nature. With his assistance Enrico took
delight in plotting the discontinue of the
secret intrigues of his brother and in bring
ing to the ears of the Cantarini the scandal
attaching to the aflianccd lover of their no.
bic daughter.


Affairs stood in this wise in the ancient
house Of Pesaro when (it was in the latter
part of the eighteenth century, one of the
last royal ambassadors Of France cstab-
lished himself in palace near the church
San Zaccaria, and separated only by mar
row canal from that occupied by the Count
Pcsaro


The life of foreign ambassadors, and dmost
Of all, those accredited from France, was
always jealously watched in Venice, and
many a householder, who was so unfortun-
ate as to live in the neighborhood of an am