And why? Let the sequel of his history rehearse. Thousands flocked to this magnificent Hall--citizens, strangers, travellers; many drank, gambled, revelled--were ruined. Few left it but were blasted wrecks, both in health and fortune. Thousands left it, tottering from their madness, cursing the brilliant revel that lighted them to doom. Millions rolled into the coffers of Incholese; he seemed a way-mark for fortune--a moving monument of luck. Hundreds of his emissaries went out in different directions, and through different kingdoms, supplied with gold, for the purpose of winning more for their wealthy master. The four cardinals of the compass with all the intermediate points became his avenues of wealth. "Wealth is power"--Archimedes knew it when he experienced the want of means to make a lever long enough to reach beyond the power of this little world's attraction; and the ingenious Tippet often felt the inconvenience and uncomfortableness of the want of it in executing his admirable plans for perpetual motion. Incholese had wealth--he had power--_c'est un dit-on_. The Venetian Senate resolved on a loan from his ample store, and bowed obsequious, did every member, to the nod of the patron of the State. The Spanish minister forgot to consult as his only guide the _Squittinio della Liberta Veneta_ and was seen whispering with Incholese; and instead of the Marquis of Bedmar, first minister to Flanders, the _primum mobile_ received in mistake from Rome the hat of the cardinal. The fingers of a man of wealth turn every thing they touch to gold. We have said Incholese was a foreigner--so was the Spanish minister, and they whispered about more than State affairs and gold, though the gambler had gone deep into the pockets of the friend of his Catholic majesty. The Doge, Antonio Priuli, had a daughter, adopted or otherwise, who was considered by the most popular _amateurs_ the perfection of beauty. She had more admirers than all the beauties of the Republic put together; but the scornful Glorianna looked with disdain upon them all. She curled her lip most contumeliously at the crowd of waiting votaries humiliated at her feet. Pride was her prevailing, her only passion; love and affection were strangers to her haughty nature. She reigned and ruled, the absolute queen, in thought, word and deed of the vast throng that followed in her footsteps, and fain would revel in her smile. Incholese attended in her train, and swore by the pontiff's mace, that he would give his right ear for a kiss from her sweet lips; he worried the saints with prayers and the priests with {368} bribes, to bring the haughty fair one to his arms, but prayers and bribes proved fruitless--the daughter of the Doge was above them all, and only smiled to drive her victim mad.