Hey, the answer to the question would be "subordinate conjunction"
When joining two independent clauses with a comma, a subordinate conjunction needs to accompany the comma.
Answer: The narrator is not entirely truthful.
In this excerpt, the narrator is describing the reasons why he has decided to stay in Venice longer. He explains how he persuaded his friends, and almost persuaded himself, that the reason for his long stay was the deisre to study Venetian culture. However, he implies that there are hidden motives for it, indicating that the author is not being entirely truthful.
