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He talked of the " Merchant of Venice," of the old days of the Rialto, of the Jews and the ghetto (which led to some mention of the treatment of the Jews in Russia), all in a quiet, un rhapsodical kind of way ; until they arrived at the apocryphal palace of Desdemona. Here there were lights and evidently junkettings, and under the window was a barge crowded with minstrels, who sang the " Fin- iculi Finicula," at which Jenny and Walter were delighted, and afterwards the Ave Maria of Gounod, which came like a sudden and unexpected benediction after the (l Fin- iculi " chorus.
" The Moor has just killed his spotless bride," said Philip, " and this Ave Maria is her dirge."
And so they lingered here to listen to the music, and them moved slowly on towards the Rialto.
If Philip could have interpreted the echoes of the revelry going on in that palace under whose balcony they had passed ! It was a reception given by the Princess Radna, wife of the famous General Petronovitch, that made the Desdemona palace gay and festive on this third night of May, the first of Philip's first visit to Venice. The general and the princess were lodged here by the courtesy of an Italian noble, who had something more than his title upon which to maintain the dignity of his ancient house. Venice, and indeed Italy, was distinctly honored by the general's presence here with his lovely wife, during the festival prepared for the King and Queen. The general, it was understood, had a semi-official mission which also flattered the military and naval vanity of the nation.
A couple of Italian ironclads were slowly steaming through the lagoon to the quay, while the reception was going on to do honor to the sovereign, one of them to be at the disposal of the Russian guest, General Petronovitch, who had won a great reputation both as Governor of Vilnavitch, and as a commander in the field, having in this
