flashing upon him with irrepressible anger, which was the more impressive
because the Cavaliere had just returned from a visit to the Doge, and was
richly attired in the imposing patrician costume of the period. Around his
neck was the golden chain hung there by the imperial hands of Rodolph the
Second, and he wore the richly enameled barret, and lofty heron's plume,
which the same picture-loving emperor had placed upon his head when he
knighted him as a reward for the noble pictures he had painted in Germany.
There was a true and fine air of nobility in his lofty form and
well-marked features--a character of matured thought and intellectual
power in the expansive brow, and in the firm gaze of his large dark eyes,
as yet undimmed by age--with evidence of decision and self-respect, and
habitual composure in the finely formed mouth and chin. Thus splendidly
arrayed, and thus dignified in form, features, and expression, this
distinguished man recalled so powerfully to the memory of his imaginative
pupil the high-minded doges of the heroic period of Venice, and the
imposing portraits of Titian's senators, that, with a deep sense of his
own moral inferiority, he obeyed in silence, and with starting tears
removed the offending sketch. Then placing before him a small picture of a
weeping and lovely Magdalen by Contarini, which he had undertaken to copy,
he began the sketch, patiently awaiting a voluntary explanation of this
unwonted vehemence in his beloved teacher, who, seated in his armchair,
leaned his head upon his hand and seemed lost in thought.

And now again for some time was the deep stillness of the studio
interrupted only by the strokes of Antonio's charcoal, which, unlike his
rapid and feverish efforts when sketching the old woman, were now subdued
and tranquil. As he gazed into the upraised and pleading eyes of the
beautiful Magdalen, his excitement gradually yielded to the pacifying
influence of her mute and eloquent sorrow. This salutary change escaped
not the observation of Contarini, whose benevolent features softened as he