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judgment upon him and his actions;--that none can injure him without
a bad intention, or a violation of all justice? In short, he dares
to arraign the decrees of Heaven itself, if it please Providence to
make him suffer in a manner which he does not himself approve.
Still I was unhappy because I could not pray; for when pride reigns
supreme, it acknowledges no other god than the self-idol it has
created. How I could have wished to recommend to the Supreme
Protector, the care of my bereaved parents, though at that unhappy
moment I felt as if I no more believed in Him.
CHAPTER LIII.
At nine in the morning Maroncelli and I were conducted into the
gondola which conveyed us into the city. We alighted at the palace
of the Doge, and proceeded to the prisons. We were placed in the
apartment which had been occupied by Signor Caporali a few days
before, but with whose fate we were not acquainted. Nine or ten
sbirri were placed over us as a guard, and walking about, we awaited
the moment of being brought into the square. There was considerable
delay. The Inquisitor did not make his appearance till noon, and
then informed us that it was time to go. The physician, also,
presented himself, and advised us to take a small glass of mint-
water, which we accepted on account of the extreme compassion which
the good old man expressed for us. It was Dr. Dosmo. The head
bailiff then advanced and fixed the hand-cuffs upon us. We followed
him, accompanied by the other bailiffs.
We next descended the magnificent staircase of the Giganti, and we
called to mind the old Doge Faliero, who was beheaded there. We
entered through the great gate which opens upon the small square
from the court-yard of the palace, and we then turned to the left,
in the direction of the lake. In the centre of the small square was
raised the scaffold which we were to ascend. From the staircase of
the Giganti, extending to the scaffold, were two lines of Austrian
soldiers, through which we passed.
After ascending the platform, we looked around us, and saw an
immense assembly of people, apparently struck with terror. In other
directions were seen bands of armed men, to awe the multitude; and
we were told that cannon were loaded in readiness to be discharged
at a moment's notice. I was now exactly in the spot where, in
September, 1820, just a month previous to my arrest, a mendicant had
observed to me, "This is a place of misfortune."
I called to mind the circumstance, and reflected that very possibly
in that immense throng of spectators the same person might be
present, and perhaps even recognise me.
The German Captain now called out to us to turn towards the palace,
and look up; we did so, and beheld, upon the lodge, a messenger of
the Council, with a letter in his hand; it was the sentence; he
began to read it in a loud voice.
It was ushered in by solemn silence, which was continued until he
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