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iltogiveusspiritandstrengthtointroduceandfirmlytoimplantinthiscitytheblessedstateofLiberty.'
AttheendofthesentenceAntonioSassipausedtoseetheeffectonhisauditors.
Hewenton,—
'ButastheexampleofOurMasterhasshownusthattheshepherdisnecessaryforthepreservationoftheflockandasHeseemstopointoutourguardianbythesuccesswhichHehasgrantedtohisarmsintheexterminationoftheWolf,IproposethatwesurrenderourLibertytothehandsofhimwhoisbestabletopreserveit—Checcod'Orsi.'
AcryofastonishmentburstfromtheCouncillors.WasthisAntonioSassi?TheylookedatChecco,buthewasimpassivenoteventheshadowofathoughtcouldbereadonhisface.Theyaskedthemselveswhetherthiswaspre-arranged,whetherCheccohadboughthisenemy,orwhetheritwasasuddendeviceofAntoniotomakehispeacewiththevictor.Onecouldseetheagitationoftheirminds.Theyweretortured:theydidnotknowwhatCheccothought.Shouldtheyspeakorbesilent?Therewasalookofsupplicationintheirfaceswhichwasquitepitiful.Finally,oneofthemmadeuphismind,androsetosecondAntonioSassi'smotion.ThenotherstooktheircourageinbothhandsandmadespeechesfullofpraiseforChecco,begginghimtoacceptthesovereignty.
AgravesmileappearedonChecco'sface,butitdisappearedatonce.Whenhethoughttherehadbeensufficienttalkingherosetohisfeet,and,afterthankinghispredecessorsfortheireulogies,said,—
'Itistruethatwehaveconqueredthecityattheriskofourlivesbutitwasforthecity,notforourselves....Nothoughtofourownprofitenteredou
