CHAPTER ELEVEN
In the meantime, Adelaide, still not daring to return to Saxony where her love and her duty called her, thought that she should at least amuse herself in this city which seemed to offer all the necessary things to calm the nerves. Bianchi took her to all the best houses and introduced her under her pseudonym as she wished.
In a society where men were so galant, it was natural that she should attract much attention with such a beautiful face and such a striking figure.
It is a fairly well known fact that Venice kept up her rank as one of the outstanding cities of olden times by the severity and mysterious nature of her government. Secrecy was the soul of government in those days and even when a state was just about to fall, it never appeared likely to outsiders.
Venice in the eleventh century was still in its infancy, but this principle of government was already an integral part of its success. It had already got the reputation for uncovering the many plots which were hatched there and of punishing the offenders without mercy. In those days society was divided into two parts, those supporting the government and those against it. It was not possible to go from one group to the other.
Adelaide had heard about this custom, and since she did not wish to associate with any of her countrymen, she soon became linked with one of the two factions. Since it was Bianchi who was introducing her to society, she naturally fell into his group. She was taken by Bianchi to the house of Senator Anthony Contarino, a nephew of the doge who was at that time reigning in the Republic of Venice.
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