At  the  age  of  fifteen,  when  I  served  in  Zante  in  the  company  of
the  noble  Mocenigo,  and  received  a  decoration  for  gallantry
and  a  commission  of  lieutenant,  I  killed  my  captain  for  per-
mitting himself  to  doubt  my  gentihty.  I  should  be  sorry  to
have  to  reckon  how  many  more  have  gone  his  way,  or  for
how  many  years  I  have  been  obliged  to  shed  blood  in  every
new  State  I  have  chosen  to  inhabit.  Those  days  are  past
and  over;  my  reputation  is  made;  this  order  which  I  wear
was  presented  to  me  by  the  Holy  Father,  and  is  at  once  my
patent  and  my  passport.  If  I  need  another,  it  is  here."  He
pointed  to  his  sword,  which  reposed  upon  a  narrow  ledge  of
the  chariot,  behind  my  back.
