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 288 DESTRUCTION OF THE GEEEK EMPIRE not merchant vessels but pirates. They had come to help the enemy and must be treated as enemies. It is difficult to decide which answer was given, but that recorded by Ducas appears more in accord with the young sultan's crafty policy. Whichever is the correct version, the Genoese had to profess their satisfaction with it. The failure to destroy the Turkish ships, the increased labour thrown on the Venetians within the city, and the doubtful conduct of the Genoese, led to ill-feeling between the citizens of the two republics which caused a disturbance amounting to a serious riot within the city itself. Jealousv The traditional jealousy between Venetians and Genoese Venetians was still formidable. In the present instance each accused Genoese other of not loyally defending Constantinople and of being ready to send away their ships whenever they could do so in safety. The Venetians replied to this accusation by pointing out that they had unshipped the rudders from many of their vessels and had deposited both them and the sails within the city. The Genoese retorted that, though they kept their rudders and sails on board ready for use at any moment, they had their wives and children in Galata and had not the slightest intention of abandoning so excellent a situation. If they had advocated peace with the Turks, it was at the desire of the emperor, with whom they had a common interest. The reply was difficult to answer, but carried no conviction to their rivals, because the Venetians believed that, in spite of it, the Genoese were acting solely to further their own interests. To the most serious charge — that of giving notice to the Turks of the attempt to burn their ships — the Genoese answered that the plan had failed through the bad management of Coco, who, with the object of gaining for himself alone the credit of having destroyed the hostile fleet, had neglected necessary precautions. Kecrimination ran high and led to blows. Phrantzes gives us a pathetic picture of the emperor appear- ing among the rioters and imploring them to make friends. War against the enemy was surely bad enough ; he begged them for the sake of God not to make war on each other.