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diff --git a/old/brven10.txt b/old/brven10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4a55360 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/brven10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4743 @@ +The Project Gutenberg Etext The Bravo of Venice, by M. G. Lewis + + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check +the copyright laws for your country before posting these files!! + +Please take a look at the important information in this header. +We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an +electronic path open for the next readers. Do not remove this. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**Etexts Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*These Etexts Prepared By Hundreds of Volunteers and Donations* + +Information on contacting Project Gutenberg to get Etexts, and +further information is included below. We need your donations. + + +Title: The Bravo of Venice - A Romance + +Author: M. G. 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.29.93*END* + + + + + +This etext was prepared by David Price, email ccx074@coventry.ac.uk +from the 1886 Cassell & Company edition edition. + + + + + +THE BRAVO OF VENICE--A ROMANCE + +by M. G. Lewis + + + + +INTRODUCTION. + + + +Matthew Gregory Lewis, who professed to have translated this romance +out of the German, very much, I believe, as Horace Walpole professed +to have taken The Castle of Otranto from an old Italian manuscript, +was born in 1775 of a wealthy family. His father had an estate in +India and a post in a Government office. His mother was daughter to +Sir Thomas Sewell, Master of the Rolls in the reign of George III. +She was a young mother; her son Matthew was devoted to her from the +first. As a child he called her "Fanny," and as a man held firmly +by her when she was deserted by her husband. From Westminster +School, M. G. Lewis passed to Christ Church, Oxford. Already he was +busy over tales and plays, and wrote at college a farce, never +acted, a comedy, written at the age of sixteen, The East Indian, +afterwards played for Mrs. Jordan's benefit and repeated with great +success, and also a novel, never published, called The Effusions of +Sensibility, which was a burlesque upon the sentimental school. He +wrote also what he called "a romance in the style of The Castle of +Otranto," which appeared afterwards as the play of The Castle +Spectre. + +With his mind thus interested in literature of the romantic form, +young Lewis, aged seventeen, after a summer in Paris, went to +Germany, settled for a time at Weimar, and, as he told his mother, +knocked his brains against German as hard as ever he could. "I have +been introduced," he wrote, in July, 1792, "to M. de Goethe, the +celebrated author of Werter, so you must not be surprised if I +should shoot myself one of these fine mornings." In the spring of +1793 the youth returned to England, very full of German romantic +tale and song, and with more paper covered with wild fancies of his +own. After the next Christmas he returned to Oxford. There was a +visit to Lord Douglas at Bothwell Castle; there was not much +academic work done at Oxford. His father's desire was to train him +for the diplomatic service, and in the summer of 1794 he went to the +Hague as attache to the British Embassy. He had begun to write his +novel of The Monk, had flagged, but was spurred on at the Hague by a +reading of Mrs. Radcliffe's Mysteries of Udolpho, a book after his +own heart, and he wrote to his mother at this time, "You see I am +horribly bit by the rage of writing." + +The Monk was written in ten weeks, and published in the summer of +1795, before its author's age was twenty. It was praised, attacked, +said by one review to have neither originality, morals, nor +probability to recommend it, yet to have excited and to be +continuing to excite the curiosity of the public: a result set down +to the "irresistible energy of genius." Certainly, Lewis did not +trouble himself to keep probability in view; he amused himself with +wild play of a fancy that delighted in the wonderful. The +controversy over The Monk caused the young author to be known as +Monk Lewis, and the word Monk has to this day taken the place of the +words Matthew Gregory so generally, that many catalogue-makers must +innocently suppose him to have been so named at the font. The +author of The Monk came back from the Hague to be received as a +young lion in London society. When he came of age he entered +Parliament for Hindon, in Wiltshire, but seldom went to the House, +never spoke in it, and retired after a few sessions. His delight +was in the use of the pen; his father, although disappointed by his +failure as a statesman, allowed him a thousand a year, and he took a +cottage at Barnes, that he might there escape from the world to his +ink-bottle. He was a frequent visitor at Inverary Castle, and was +fascinated by his host's daughter, Lady Charlotte Campbell. Still +he wrote on. The musical drama of The Castle Spectre was produced +in the year after The Monk, and it ran sixty nights. He translated +next Schiller's Kabale und Liebe as The Minister, but it was not +acted till it appeared, with little success, some years afterwards +at Covent Garden as The Harper's Daughter. He translated from +Kotzebue, under the name of Rolla, the drama superseded by +Sheridan's version of the same work as Pizarro. Then came the +acting, in 1799, of his comedy written in boyhood, The East Indian. +Then came, in the same year, his first opera, Adelmorn the Outlaw; +then a tragedy, Alfonso, King of Castile. Of the origin of this +tragedy Lewis gave a characteristic account. "Hearing one day," he +said, "my introduction of negroes into a feudal baron's castle" (in +The Castle Spectre) "exclaimed against with as much vehemence as if +a dramatic anachronism had been an offence undeserving of benefit of +clergy, I said in a moment of petulance, that to prove of how little +consequence I esteemed such errors, I would make a play upon the +Gunpowder Plot, and make Guy Faux in love with the Emperor +Charlemagne's daughter. By some chance or other, this idea fastened +itself upon me, and by dint of turning it in my mind, I at length +formed the plot of Alfonso." + +To that time in Lewis's life belongs this book, The Bravo of Venice; +which was published in 1804, when the writer's age was twenty-nine. +It was written at Inverary Castle, dedicated to the Earl of Moira, +and received as one of the most perfect little romances of its kind, +"highly characteristic of the exquisite contrivance, bold colouring, +and profound mystery of the German school." In 1805 Lewis recast it +into a melodrama, which he called Rugantino. + +H.M. + + + +THE BRAVO OF VENICE. + + + +BOOK THE FIRST. + + + +CHAPTER I: VENICE. + + + +It was evening. Multitudes of light clouds, partially illumined by +the moonbeams, overspread the horizon, and through them floated the +full moon in tranquil majesty, while her splendour was reflected by +every wave of the Adriatic Sea. All was hushed around; gently was +the water rippled by the night wind; gently did the night wind sigh +through the Colonnades of Venice. + +It was midnight; and still sat a stranger, solitary and sad, on the +border of the great canal. Now with a glance he measured the +battlements and proud towers of the city; and now he fixed his +melancholy eyes upon the waters with a vacant stare. At length he +spoke - + +"Wretch that I am, whither shall I go? Here sit I in Venice, and +what would it avail to wander further? What will become of me? All +now slumber, save myself! the Doge rests on his couch of down; the +beggar's head presses his straw pillow; but for ME there is no bed +except the cold, damp earth! There is no gondolier so wretched but +he knows where to find work by day and shelter by night--while _I_-- +while _I_--Oh! dreadful is the destiny of which I am made the +sport!" + +He began to examine for the twentieth time the pockets of his +tattered garments. + +"No! not one paolo, by heavens!--and I hunger almost to death." + +He unsheathed his sword; he waved it in the moonshine, and sighed, +as he marked the glittering of the steel. + +"No, no, my old true companion, thou and I must never part. Mine +thou shalt remain, though I starve for it. Oh, was not that a +golden time when Valeria gave thee to me, and when she threw the +belt over my shoulder, I kissed thee and Valeria? She has deserted +us for another world, but thou and I will never part in this." + +He wiped away a drop which hung upon his eyelid. + +"Pshaw! 'twas not a tear; the night wind is sharp and bitter, and +makes the eyes water; but as for TEARS--Absurd! my weeping days are +over." + +And as he spoke, the unfortunate (for such by his discourse and +situation he appeared to be) dashed his forehead against the earth, +and his lips were already unclosed to curse the hour which gave him +being, when he seemed suddenly to recollect himself. He rested his +head on his elbow, and sang mournfully the burthen of a song which +had often delighted his childhood in the castle of his ancestors. + +"Right," he said to himself; "were I to sink under the weight of my +destiny, I should be myself no longer." + +At that moment he heard a rustling at no great distance. He looked +around, and in an adjacent street, which the moon faintly +enlightened, he perceived a tall figure, wrapped in a cloak, pacing +slowly backwards and forwards. + +"'Tis the hand of God which hath guided him hither--yes--I'll--I'll +BEG--better to play the beggar in Venice than the villain in Naples; +for the beggar's heart may beat nobly, though covered with rags." + +He then sprang from the ground, and hastened towards the adjoining +street. Just as he entered it at one end, he perceived another +person advancing through the other, of whose approach the first was +no sooner aware than he hastily retired into the shadow of a piazza, +anxious to conceal himself. + +"What can this mean?" thought our mendicant. "Is yon eavesdropper +one of death's unlicensed ministers? Has he received the retaining +fee of some impatient heir, who pants to possess the wealth of the +unlucky knave who comes strolling along yonder, so careless and +unconscious? Be not so confident, honest friend! I'm at your +elbow." + +He retired further into the shade, and silently and slowly drew near +the lurker, who stirred not from his place. The stranger had +already passed them by, when the concealed villain sprang suddenly +upon him, raised his right hand in which a poniard was gleaming, and +before he could give the blow, was felled to the earth by the arm of +the mendicant. + +The stranger turned hastily towards them; the bravo started up and +fled; the beggar smiled. + +"How now?" cried the stranger; "what does all this mean?" + +"Oh, 'tis a mere jest, signor, which has only preserved your life." + +"What? my life? How so?" + +"The honest gentleman who has just taken to his heels stole behind +you with true cat-like caution, and had already raised his dagger, +when I saw him. You owe your life to me, and the service is richly +worth one little piece of money! Give me some alms, signor, for on +my soul I am hungry, thirsty, cold." + +"Hence, scurvy companion! I know you and your tricks too well. +This is all a concerted scheme between you, a design upon my purse, +an attempt to procure both money and thanks, and under the lame +pretence of having saved me from an assassin. Go, fellow, go! +practise these dainty devices on the Doge's credulity if you will; +but with Buonarotti you stand no chance, believe me." + +The wretched starving beggar stood like one petrified, and gazed on +the taunting stranger. + +"No, as I have a soul to save, signor, 'tis no lie I tell you!--'tis +the plain truth; have compassion, or I die this night of hunger." + +"Begone this instant, I say, or by Heaven--" + +The unfeeling man here drew out a concealed pistol, and pointed it +at his preserver. + +"Merciful Heaven! and is it thus that services are acknowledged in +Venice?" + +"The watch is at no great distance, I need only raise my voice and-- +" + +"Hell and confusion! do you take me for a robber, then?" + +"Make no noise, I tell you. Be quiet--you had better." + +"Hark you, signor. Buonarotti is your name, I think? I will write +it down as belonging to the second scoundrel with whom I have met in +Venice." + +He paused for a moment, then continuing in a dreadful voice, "And +when," said he, "thou, Buonarotti, shalt hereafter hear the name of +ABELLINO--TREMBLE!" + +Abellino turned away, and left the hard-hearted Venetian. + + + +CHAPTER II: THE BANDITTI. + + + +And now rushed the unfortunate wildly through the streets of Venice. +He railed at fortune; he laughed and cursed by turns; yet sometimes +he suddenly stood still, seemed as pondering on some great and +wondrous enterprise, and then again rushed onwards, as if hastening +to its execution. + +Propped against a column of the Signoria, he counted over the whole +sum of his misfortunes. His wandering eyeballs appeared to seek +comfort, but they found it not. + +"Fate," he at length exclaimed in a paroxysm of despair, "Fate has +condemned me to be either the wildest of adventurers, or one at the +relation of whose crimes the world must shudder. To astonish is my +destiny. Rosalvo can know no medium; Rosalvo can never act like +common men. Is it not the hand of fate which has led me hither? +Who could ever have dreamt that the son of the richest lord in +Naples should have depended for a beggar's alms on Venetian charity? +I--I, who feel myself possessed of strength of body and energy of +soul fit for executing the most daring deeds, behold me creeping in +rags through the streets of this inhospitable city, and torturing my +wits in vain to discover some means by which I may rescue life from +the jaws of famine! Those men whom my munificence nourished, who at +my table bathed their worthless souls in the choicest wines of +Cyprus, and glutted themselves with every delicacy which the globe's +four quarters could supply, these very men now deny to my necessity +even a miserable crust of mouldy bread. Oh, that is dreadful, +cruel--cruel of men--cruel of Heaven!" + +He paused, folded his arms, and sighed. + +"Yet will I bear it--I will submit to my destiny. I will traverse +every path and go through every degree of human wretchedness; and +whate'er may be my fate, I will still be myself; and whate'er may be +my fate, I will still act greatly! Away, then, with the Count +Rosalvo, whom all Naples idolised; now--now, I am the beggar +Abellino. A beggar--that name stands last in the scale of worldly +rank, but first in the list of the famishing, the outcast, and the +unworthy." + +Something rustled near him. Abellino gazed around. He was aware of +the bravo, whom he struck to the ground that night, and whom two +companions of a similar stamp had now joined. As they advanced, +they cast inquiring glances around them. They were in search of +some one. + +"It is of me that they are in search," said Abellino; then advanced +a few steps, and whistled. + +The ruffians stood still; they whispered together, and seemed to be +undecided. + +Abellino whistled a second time. + +"'Tis he," he could hear one of them say distinctly, and in a moment +after they advanced slowly towards him. + +Abellino kept his place, but unsheathed his sword. The three +unknown (they were masked) stopped a few paces from him. + +"How now, fellow!" quoth one of them; "what is the matter? Why +stand you on your guard?" + +Abellino.--It is as well that you should be made to keep your +distance, for I know you; you are certain honest gentlemen, who live +by taking away the lives of others. + +The First Ruffian.--Was not your whistling addressed to us? + +Abellino.--It was. + +A Ruffian.--And what would you with us? + +Abellino.--Hear me! I am a miserable wretch, and starving; give me +an alms out of your booty! + +A Ruffian.--An alms? Ha! ha! ha! By my soul that is whimsical!-- +Alms from us, indeed!--Oh, by all means! No doubt, you shall have +alms in plenty. + +Abellino.--Or else give me fifty sequins, and I'll bind myself to +your service till I shall have worked out my debt. + +A Ruffian.--Aye? and pray, then, who may you be? + +Abellino.--A starving wretch, the Republic holds none more +miserable. Such am I at present; but hereafter--I have powers, +knaves. This arm could pierce a heart, though guarded by three +breastplates; this eye, though surrounded by Egyptian darkness, +could still see to stab sure. + +A Ruffian.--Why, then, did you strike me down, even now? + +Abellino.--In the hope of being paid for it; but though I saved his +life, the scoundrel gave me not a single ducat. + +A Ruffian.--No? So much the better. But hark ye, comrade, are you +sincere? + +Abellino.--Despair never lies. + +A Ruffian.--Slave, shouldst thou be a traitor - + +Abellino.--My heart would be within reach of your hands, and your +daggers would be as sharp as now. + +The three dangerous companions again whispered among themselves for +a few moments, after which they returned their daggers into the +sheath. + +"Come on, then," said one of them, "follow us to our home. It were +unwise to talk over certain matters in the open streets." + +"I follow you," was Abellino's answer, "but tremble should any one +of you dare to treat me as a foe. Comrade, forgive me that I gave +your ribs somewhat too hard a squeeze just now; I will be your sworn +brother in recompense." + +"We are on honour," cried the banditti with one voice; "no harm +shall happen to you. He who does you an injury shall be to us as a +foe. A fellow of your humour suits us well; follow us, and fear +not." + +And on they went, Abellino marching between two of them. Frequent +were the looks of suspicion which he cast around him; but no ill +design was perceptible in the banditti. They guided him onwards, +till they reached a canal, loosened a gondola, placed themselves in +it, and rowed till they had gained the most remote quarter of +Venice. They landed, threaded several by-streets, and at length +knocked at the door of a house of inviting appearance. It was +opened by a young woman, who conducted them into a plain but +comfortable chamber. Many were the looks of surprise and inquiry +which she cast on the bewildered, half-pleased, half-anxious +Abellino, who knew not whither he had been conveyed, and still +thought it unsafe to confide entirely in the promises of the +banditti. + + + +CHAPTER III: THE TRIAL OF STRENGTH. + + + +Scarcely were the bravoes seated, when Cinthia (for that was the +young woman's name) was again summoned to the door; and the company +was now increased by two new-comers, who examined their unknown +guest from head to foot. + +"Now, then," cried one of these, who had conducted Abellino to this +respectable society, "let us see what you are like." + +As he said this he raised a burning lamp from the table, and the +light of its flame was thrown full upon Abellino's countenance. + +"Lord, forgive me my sins!" screamed Cinthia; "out upon him! what an +ugly hound it is!" + +She turned hastily round, and hid her face with her hands. Dreadful +was the look with which Abellino repaid her compliment. + +"Knave," said one of the banditti, "Nature's own hand has marked you +out for an assassin--come, prithee be frank, and tell us how thou +hast contrived so long to escape the gibbet? In what gaol didst +thou leave thy last fetters? Or from what galley hast thou taken +thy departure, without staying to say adieu?" + +Abellino, folding his arms--"If I be such as you describe," said he, +with an air of authority, and in a voice which made his hearers +tremble, "'tis for me all the better. Whate'er may be my future +mode of life, Heaven can have no right to find fault with it, since +it was for that it formed and fitted me." + +The five bravoes stepped aside, and consulted together. The subject +of their conference is easy to be divined. In the meanwhile +Abellino remained quiet and indifferent to what was passing. + +After a few minutes they again approached him. One, whose +countenance was the most ferocious, and whose form exhibited the +greatest marks of muscular strength, advanced a few paces before the +rest, and addressed Abellino as follows:- + +"Hear me, comrade. In Venice there exist but five banditti; you see +them before you; wilt thou be the sixth? Doubt not thou wilt find +sufficient employment. My name is Matteo, and I am the father of +the band: that sturdy fellow with the red locks is called Baluzzo; +he, whose eyes twinkle like a cat's, is Thomaso, an arch-knave, I +promise you; 'twas Pietrino whose bones you handled so roughly to- +night; and yon thick-lipped Colossus, who stands next to Cinthia, is +named Stuzza. Now, then, you know us all--and since you are a +penniless devil, we are willing to incorporate you in our society; +but we must first be assured that you mean honestly by us." + +Abellino smiled, or rather grinned, and murmured hoarsely--"I am +starving." + +"Answer, fellow! Dost thou mean honestly by us?" + +"That must the event decide." + +"Mark me, knave; the first suspicion of treachery costs you your +life. Take shelter in the Doge's palace, and girdle yourself round +with all the power of the Republic--though clasped in the Doge's +arms, and protected by a hundred cannons, still would we murder you! +Fly to the high altar; press the crucifix to your bosom, and even at +mid-day, still would we murder you. Think on this well, fellow, and +forget not we are banditti!" + +"You need not tell me that. But give me some food, and then I'll +prate with you as long as you please. At present I am starving. +Four-and-twenty hours have elapsed since I last tasted nourishment." + +Cinthia now covered a small table with her best provisions, and +filled several silver goblets with delicious wine. + +"If one could but look at him without disgust," murmured Cinthia; +"if he had but the appearance of something human! Satan must +certainly have appeared to his mother, and thence came her child +into the world with such a frightful countenance. Ugh! it's an +absolute mask, only that I never saw a mask so hideous." + +Abellino heeded her not; he placed himself at the table, and ate and +drank as if he would have satisfied himself for the next six months. +The banditti eyed him with looks of satisfaction, and congratulated +each other on such a valuable acquisition. + +If the reader is curious to know what this same Abellino was like, +he must picture to himself a young, stout fellow, whose limbs +perhaps might have been thought not ill-formed, had not the most +horrible countenance that ever was invented by a caricaturist, or +that Milton could have adapted to the ugliest of his fallen angels, +entirely marred the advantages of his person. Black and shining, +but long and straight, his hair flew wildly about his brown neck and +yellow face. His mouth so wide, that his gums and discoloured teeth +were visible, and a kind of convulsive twist, which scarcely ever +was at rest, had formed its expression into an internal grin. His +eye, for he had but one, was sunk deep into his head, and little +more than the white of it was visible, and even that little was +overshadowed by the protrusion of his dark and bushy eyebrow. In +the union of his features were found collected in one hideous +assemblage all the most coarse and uncouth traits which had ever +been exhibited singly in wooden cuts, and the observer was left in +doubt whether this repulsive physiognomy expressed stupidity of +intellect, or maliciousness of heart, or whether it implied them +both together. + +"Now, then, I am satisfied," roared Abellino, and dashed the still +full goblet upon the ground. "Speak! what would you know of me? I +am ready to give you answers." + +"The first thing," replied Matteo, "the first thing necessary is to +give us a proof of your strength, for this is of material importance +in our undertakings. Are you good at wrestling?" + +"I know not; try me." + +Cinthia removed the table. + +"Now, then, Abellino, which of us will you undertake? Whom among us +dost thou think that thou canst knock down as easily as yon poor +dabbler in the art, Pietrino?" + +The banditti burst into a loud fit of laughter. + +"Now, then," cried Abellino, fiercely; "now, then, for the trial. +Why come you not on?" + +"Fellow," replied Matteo, "take my advice; try first what you can do +with me alone, and learn what sort of men you have to manage. Think +you, we are marrowless boys, or delicate signors?" + +Abellino answered him by a scornful laugh. Matteo became furious. +His companions shouted aloud, and clapped their hands. + +"To business!" said Abellino; "I'm now in a right humour for sport! +Look to yourselves, my lads." And in the same instant he collected +his forces together, threw the gigantic Matteo over his head as had +he been an infant, knocked Struzza down on the right hand, and +Pietrino on the left, tumbled Thomaso to the end of the room head +over heels, and stretched Baluzzo without animation upon the +neighbouring benches. + +Three minutes elapsed ere the subdued bravoes could recover +themselves. Loudly shouted Abellino, while the astonished Cinthia +gazed and trembled at the terrible exhibition. + +"By the blood of St. Januarius!" cried Matteo at length, rubbing his +battered joints, "the fellow is our master! Cinthia, take care to +give him our best chamber." + +"He must have made a compact with the devil!" grumbled Thomaso, and +forced his dislocated wrist back into its socket. + +No one seemed inclined to hazard a second trial of strength. The +night was far advanced, or rather the grey morning already was +visible over the sea. The banditti separated, and each retired to +his chamber. + + + +CHAPTER IV: THE DAGGERS. + + + +Abellino, this Italian Hercules, all terrible as he appeared to be, +was not long a member of this society before his companions felt +towards him sentiments of the most unbounded esteem. All loved, all +valued him, for his extraordinary talents for a bravo's trade, to +which he seemed peculiarly adapted, not only by his wonderful +strength of body, but by the readiness of his wit, and his never- +failing presence of mind. Even Cinthia was inclined to feel some +little affection for him, but--he really was too ugly. + +Matteo, as Abellino was soon given to understand, was the captain of +this dangerous troop. He was one who carried villainy to the +highest pitch of refinement, incapable of fear, quick and crafty, +and troubled with less conscience than a French financier. The +booty and price of blood, which his associates brought in daily, +were always delivered up to him: he gave each man his share, and +retained no larger portion for himself than was allotted to the +others. The catalogue of those whom he had despatched into the +other world was already too long for him to have repeated it: many +names had slipped his memory, but his greatest pleasure in his hour +of relaxation was to relate such of these murderous anecdotes as he +still remembered, in the benevolent intention of inspiring his +hearers with a desire to follow his example. His weapons were kept +separate from the rest, and occupied a whole apartment. Here were +to be found daggers of a thousand different fashions, WITH guards +and WITHOUT them; two, three, and four-edged. Here were stored air- +guns, pistols, and blunderbusses; poisons of various kinds and +operating in various ways; garments fit for every possible disguise, +whether to personate the monk, the Jew, or the mendicant; the +soldier, the sailor, or the gondolier. + +One day he summoned Abellino to attend him in his armoury. + +"Mark me," said he, "thou wilt turn out a brave fellow, that I can +see already. It is now time that you should earn that bread for +yourself which hitherto you have owed to our bounty. Look! Here +thou hast a dagger of the finest steel; you must charge for its use +by the inch. If you plunge it only one inch deep into the bosom of +his foe, your employer must reward you with only one sequin: if two +inches, with ten sequins; if three, with twenty; if the whole +dagger, you may then name your own price. Here is next a glass +poniard; whomsoever this pierces, that man's death is certain. As +soon as the blow is given, you must break the dagger in the wound. +The flesh will close over the point which has been broken off, and +which will keep its quarters till the day of resurrection! Lastly, +observe this metallic dagger; its cavity conceals a subtle poison, +which, whenever you touch this spring, will immediately infuse death +into the veins of him whom the weapon's point hath wounded. Take +these daggers. In giving them I present you with a capital capable +of bringing home to you most heavy and most precious interest." + +Abellino received the instruments of death, but his hand shook as it +grasped them. + +"Possessed of such unfailing weapons, of what immense sums must your +robberies have made you master!" + +"Scoundrel!" interrupted Matteo, frowning and offended, "amongst us +robbery is unknown. What? Dost take us for common plunderers, for +mere thieves, cut-purses, housebreakers, and villains of that low, +miserable stamp?" + +"Perhaps what you wish me to take you for is something worse; for, +to speak openly, Matteo, villains of that stamp are contented within +plundering a purse or a casket, which can easily be filled again; +but that which we take from others is a jewel which a man never has +but once, and which stolen can never be replaced. Are we not, then, +a thousand times more atrocious plunderers?" + +"By the house at Loretto, I think you have a mind to moralise, +Abellino?" + +"Hark ye, Matteo, only one question. At the Day of Judgment, which +think you will hold his head highest, the thief or the assassin?" + +"Ha! ha! ha!" + +"Think not that Abellino speaks thus from want of resolution. Speak +but the word, and I murder half the senators of Venice; but still--" + +"Fool! know, the bravo must be above crediting the nurse's +antiquated tales of vice and virtue. What is virtue? What is vice? +Nothing but such things as forms of government, custom, manners, and +education have made sacred: and that which men are able to make +honourable at one time, it is in their power to make dishonourable +at another, whenever the humour takes them; had not the senate +forbidden us to give opinions freely respecting the politics of +Venice, there would have been nothing wrong in giving such opinions; +and were the senate to declare that it is right to give such +opinions, that which to-day is thought a crime would be thought +meritorious to-morrow. Then, prithee, let us have no more of such +doubts as these. We are men, as much as the Doge and his senators, +and have reasons as much as THEY have to lay down the law of right +and wrong, and to alter the law of right and wrong, and to decree +what shall be vice, and what shall be virtue." + +Abellino laughed. Matteo proceeded with increased animation - + +"Perhaps you will tell me that your trade is DISHONOURABLE! And +what, then, is the thing called HONOUR! 'Tis a word, an empty +sound, a mere fantastic creature of the imagination! Ask, as you +traverse some frequented street, in what honour consists? The +usurer will answer--'To be honourable is to be rich, and he has most +honour who can heap up the greatest quantity of sequins.' 'By no +means,' cries the voluptuary; 'honour consists in being beloved by a +very handsome woman, and finding no virtue proof against your +attacks.' 'How mistaken!' interrupts the general; 'to conquer whole +cities, to destroy whole armies, to ruin all provinces, THAT indeed +brings REAL honour.' The man of learning places his renown in the +number of pages which he has either written or read; the tinker, in +the number of pots and kettles which he has made or mended; the nun, +in the number of GOOD things which she has done, or BAD things which +she has resisted; the coquette, in the list of her admirers; the +Republic, in the extent of her provinces; and thus, my friend, every +one thinks that honour consists in something different from the +rest. And why, then, should not the bravo think that honour +consists in reaching the perfection of his trade, and in guiding a +dagger to the heart of an enemy with unerring aim?" + +"By my life, 'tis a pity, Matteo, that you should be a bravo; the +schools have lost an excellent teacher of philosophy." + +"Do you think so? Why, the fact is thus, Abellino. I was educated +in a monastery; my father was a dignified prelate in Lucca, and my +mother a nun of the Ursuline order, greatly respected for her +chastity and devotion. Now, Signor, it was thought fitting that I +should apply closely to my studies; my father, good man, would fain +have made me a light of the Church; but I soon found that I was +better qualified for an incendiary's torch. I followed the bent of +my genius, yet count I not my studies thrown away, since they taught +me more philosophy than to tremble at phantoms created by my own +imagination. Follow my example, friend, and so farewell." + + + +CHAPTER V: SOLITUDE. + + + +Abellino had already passed six weeks in Venice, and yet, either +from want of opportunity, or of inclination, he had suffered his +daggers to remain idle in their sheaths. This proceeded partly from +his not being as yet sufficiently acquainted with the windings and +turnings, the bye-lanes and private alleys of the town, and partly +because he had hitherto found no customers, whose murderous designs +stood in need of his helping hand. + +This want of occupation was irksome to him in the extreme; he panted +for action, and was condemned to indolence. + +With a melancholy heart did he roam through Venice, and number every +step with a sigh. He frequented the public places, the taverns, the +gardens, and every scene which was dedicated to amusement. But +nowhere could he find what ho sought--tranquillity. + +One evening he had loitered beyond the other visitants in a public +garden, situated on one of the most beautiful of the Venetian +islands. He strolled from arbour to arbour, threw himself down on +the sea-shore, and watched the play of the waves as they sparkled in +the moonshine. + +"Four years ago," said he, with a sigh, "just such a heavenly +evening was it, that I stole from Valeria's lips the first kiss, and +heard from Valeria's lips for the first time the avowal that she +loved me." + +He was silent, and abandoned himself to the melancholy recollections +which thronged before his mind's eye. + +Everything around him was so calm, so silent! Not a single zephyr +sighed among the blades of grass; but a storm raged in the bosom of +Abellino. + +"Four years ago could I have believed that a time would come when I +should play the part of a bravo in Venice! Oh, where are they +flown, the golden hopes and plans of glory which smiled upon me in +the happy days of my youth? I am a bravo: to be a beggar were to +be something better." + +"When my good old father, in the enthusiasm of paternal vanity, so +oft threw his arms around my neck, and cried, 'My boy, thou wilt +render the name of Rosalvo glorious!' God, as I listened, how was +my blood on fire? What thought I not, what that was good and great +did I not promise myself to do! The father is dead, and the son is +a Venetian bravo! When my preceptors praised and admired me, and, +carried away by the warmth of their feelings, clapped my shoulder, +and exclaimed, 'Count, thou wilt immortalise the ancient race of +Rosalvo!' Ha, in those blessed moments of sweet delirium, how +bright and beauteous stood futurity before me! When, happy in the +performance of some good deed, I returned home, and saw Valeria +hasten to receive me with open arms, and when, while she clasped me +to her bosom I heard her whisper 'Oh, who could forbear to love the +great Rosalvo?' God! oh, God! Away, away, glorious visions of the +past. To look on you drives me mad!" + +He was again silent; he bit his lips in fury, raised one emaciated +hand to heaven, and struck his forehead violently with the other. + +"An assassin, the slave of cowards and rascals, the ally of the +greatest villains that the Venetian sun ever shines upon, such is +now the great Rosalvo. Fie, ah, fie on't; and yet to this wretched +lot hath fatality condemned me." + +Suddenly he sprang from the ground after a long silence; his eyes +sparkled, his countenance was changed; he drew his breath easier. + +"Yes, by Heaven, yes. Great as Count Rosalvo, that can I be no +longer; but from being great as a Venetian bravo, what prevents me? +Souls in bliss," he exclaimed, and sank on his knee, while he raised +his folded hands to heaven, as if about to pronounce the most awful +oath, "Spirit of my father; spirit of Valeria, I will not become +unworthy of you. Hear me, if your ghosts are permitted to wander +near me, hear me swear that the bravo shall not disgrace the origin, +nor render vain the hopes which soothed you in the bitterness of +death. No, sure as I live, I will be the only dealer in this +miserable trade, and posterity shall be compelled to honour that +name, which my actions shall render illustrious." + +He bowed his forehead till it touched the earth, and his tears +flowed plenteously. Vast conceptions swelled his soul; he dwelt on +wondrous views, till their extent bewildered his brain; yet another +hour elapsed, and he sprang from the earth to realise them. + +"I will enter into no compact against human nature with five +miserable cut-throats. ALONE will I make the Republic tremble, and +before eight days are flown, these murderous knaves shall swing upon +a gibbet. Venice shall no longer harbour FIVE banditti; ONE and ONE +only shall inhabit here, and that one shall beard the Doge himself, +shall watch over right and wrong, and according as he judges, shall +reward and punish. Before eight days are flown, the State shall be +purified from the presence of these outcasts of humanity, and then +shall I stand here alone. Then must every villain in Venice, who +hitherto has kept the daggers of my companions in employment, have +recourse to me; then shall I know the names and persons of all those +cowardly murderers, of all those illustrious profligates, with whom +Matteo and his companions carry on the trade of blood. And then-- +Abellino! Abellino, that is the name. Hear it, Venice, hear it, +and tremble." + +Intoxicated with the wildness of his hopes, he rushed out of the +garden. He summoned a gondolier, threw himself into the boat, and +hastened to the dwelling of Cinthia, where the inhabitants already +were folded in the arms of sleep. + + + +CHAPTER VI: ROSABELLA, THE DOGE'S LOVELY NIECE. + + + +"Hark, comrade," said Matteo the next morning to Abellino; "to-day +thou shalt make thy first step in our profession." + +"To-day!" hoarsely murmured Abellino; "and on whom am I to show my +skill?" + +"Nay, to say truth, 'tis but a woman; but one must not give too +difficult a task to a young beginner. I will myself accompany you, +and see how you conduct yourself in the first trial." + +"Hum!" said Abellino, and measured Matteo with his eye from head to +foot. + +"To-day, about four o'clock, thou shalt follow me to Dolabella's +gardens, which are situated on the south side of Venice. We must +both be disguised, you understand. In these gardens are excellent +baths; and after using the baths, the Doge's niece, the lovely +Rosabella of Corfu, frequently walks without attendants. And then-- +you conceive me?" + +"And you will accompany me?" + +"I will be a spectator of your first adventure; 'tis thus I deal by +every one." + +"And how many inches deep must I plunge my dagger?" + +"To the hilt, boy, to the very hilt! Her death is required, and the +payment will be princely; Rosabella in the grave, we are rich for +life." + +Every other point was soon adjusted. Noon was now past, the clock +in the neighbouring church of the Benedictines struck four, and +Mattes and Abellino were already forth. They arrived at the gardens +of Dolabella, which that day were unusually crowded. Every shady +avenue was thronged with people of both sexes; every arbour was +occupied by persons most distinguished in Venice. In every corner +sighed lovesick couples, as they waited for the wished approach of +twilight; and on every side did strains of vocal and instrumental +music pour their harmony on the enchanted ear. + +Abellino mingled with the crowd. A most respectable looking peruke +concealed the repulsive ugliness of his features; he imitated the +walk and manners of a gouty old man, and supported himself by a +crutch, as he walked slowly through the assembly. His habit, richly +embroidered, procured for him universally a good reception, and no +one scrupled to enter into conversation with him respecting the +weather, the commerce of the Republic, or the designs of its +enemies; and on none of these subjects was Abellino found incapable +of sustaining the discourse. + +By these means he soon contrived to gain intelligence that Rosabella +was certainly in the gardens, how she was habited, and in what +quarter he was most likely to find her. + +Thither he immediately bent his course; and hard at his heels +followed Matteo. + +Alone, and in the most retired arbour, sat Rosabella of Corfu, the +fairest maid in Venice. + +Abellino drew near the arbour; he tottered, as he passed its +entrance, like one oppressed with sudden faintness, and attracted +Rosabella's attention. + +"Alas, alas!" cried he, "is there no one at hand who will take +compassion on the infirmity of a poor old man?" + +The Doge's fair niece quitted the arbour hastily, and flew to give +assistance to the sufferer. + +"What ails you, my good father?" she inquired in a melodious voice, +and with a look of benevolent anxiety. + +Abellino pointed towards the arbour; Rosabella led him in, and +placed him on a seat of turf. + +"God reward you, lady," stammered Abellino, faintly. He raised his +eyes; they met Rosabella's, and a blush crimsoned her pale cheeks. + +Rosabella stood in silence before the disguised assassin, and +trembled with tender concern for the old man's illness; and oh, that +expression of interest ever makes a lovely women look so much more +lovely! She bent her delicate form over the man who was bribed to +murder her, and after a while asked him, in gentlest tone, "Are you +not better?" + +"Better?" stammered the deceiver, with a feeble voice, "better--oh, +yes, yes, yes. You--you are the Doge's niece--the noble Rosabella +of Corfu?" + +"The same, my good old man." + +"Oh, lady, I have somewhat to tell you. Be on your guard, Start +not! What I would say is of the utmost consequence, and demands the +utmost prudence. Ah, God, that there should live men so cruel! +Lady, your life is in danger." + +The maiden started back; the colour fled from her cheeks. + +"Do you wish to behold your assassin? You shall not die, but if you +value your life, be silent." + +Rosabella knew not what to think; the presence of the old man +terrified her. + +"Fear nothing, lady, fear nothing; you have nothing to fear, while I +am with you. Before you quit this arbour you shall see the assassin +expire at your feet." + +Rosabella made a movement as if she would have fled; but suddenly +the person who sat beside her was no longer an infirm old man. He +who a minute before had scarcely strength to mutter out a few +sentences, and reclined against the arbour trembling like an aspen, +sprang up with the force of a giant, and drew her back with one arm. + +"For the love of heaven!" she cried, "release me. Let me fly!" + +"Lady, fear nothing; _I_ protect you." This said, Abellino placed a +whistle at his lips, and blew it shrilly. + +Instantly sprang Matteo from his concealment in a neighbouring clump +of trees, and rushed into the arbour. Abellino threw Rosabella on +the bank of turf, advanced a few steps to meet Matteo, and plunged +his dagger in his heart. + +Without uttering a single cry, sank the banditti captain at the feet +of Abellino: the death-rattle was heard in his throat, and after a +few horrible convulsions all was over. + +Now did Matteo's murderer look again towards the arbour, and beheld +Rosabella half senseless, as she lay on the bank of turf. + +"Your life is safe, beautiful Rosabella," said he; "there lies the +villain bleeding, who conducted me hither to murder you. Recover +yourself; return to your uncle, the Doge, and tell him that you owe +your life to Abellino." + +Rosabella could not speak. Trembling, she stretched her arms +towards him, grasped his hand, and pressed it to her lips in silent +gratitude. + +Abellino gazed with delight and wonder on the lovely sufferer; and +in such a situation, who could have beheld her without emotion? +Rosabella had scarcely numbered seventeen summers; her light and +delicate limbs, enveloped in a thin white garment, which fell around +her in a thousand folds; her blue and melting eyes, whence beamed +the expression of purest innocence; her forehead, white as ivory, +overshadowed the ringlets of her bright dark hair; cheeks, whence +terror had now stolen the roses; such was Rosabella, a creature in +whose formation partial Nature seemed to have omitted nothing which +might constitute the perfection of female loveliness--such was she; +and being such, the wretched Abellino may be forgiven if for some +few minutes he stood like one enchanted, and bartered for those few +minutes the tranquillity of his heart for ever. + +"By Him who made me," cried he at length, "oh! thou art fair, +Rosabella; Valeria was not fairer." + +He bowed himself down to her, and imprinted a burning kiss on the +pale cheeks of the beauty. + +"Leave me, thou dreadful man," she stammered in terror; "oh, leave +me." + +"Ah, Rosabella, why art thou so beauteous, and why am I--Knowest +thou who kissed thy cheek, Rosabella? Go, tell thy uncle, the proud +Doge--'TWAS THE BRAVO, ABELLINO," he said, and rushed out of the +arbour. + + + +CHAPTER VII: THE BRAVO'S BRIDE. + + + +It was not without good reason that Abellino took his departure in +such haste. He had quitted the spot but a few minutes, when a large +party accidentally strolled that way, and discovered with +astonishment the corpse of Matteo, and Rosabella pale and trembling +in the arbour. + +A crowd immediately collected itself round them. It increased with +every moment, and Rosabella was necessitated to repeat what had +happened to her for the satisfaction of every newcomer. + +In the meanwhile some of the Doge's courtiers, who happened to be +among the crowd, hastened to call her attendants together; her +gondola was already waiting for her, and the terrified girl soon +reached her uncle's palace in safety. + +In vain was an embargo laid upon every other gondola; in vain did +they examine every person who was in the gardens of Dolabella at the +time, when the murdered assassin was first discovered. No traces +could be found of Abellino. + +The report of this strange adventure spread like wildfire through +Venice. Abellino, for Rosabella had preserved but too well in her +memory that dreadful name, and by the relation of her danger had +given it universal publicity, Abellino was the object of general +wonder and curiosity. Every one pitied the poor Rosabella for what +she had suffered, execrated the villain who had bribed Matteo to +murder her, and endeavoured to connect the different circumstances +together by the help of one hypothesis or other, among which it +would have been difficult to decide which was the most improbable. + +Every one who heard the adventure, told it again, and every one who +told it, added something of his own, till at length it was made into +a complete romantic novel, which might have been entitled with great +propriety, "The Power of Beauty;" for the Venetian gentlemen and +ladies had settled the point among themselves completely to their +own satisfaction, that Abellino would undoubtedly have assassinated +Rosabella, had he not been prevented by her uncommon beauty. But +though Abellino's interference had preserved her life, it was +doubted much whether this adventure would be at all relished by her +destined bridegroom, the Prince of Monaldeschi, a Neapolitan of the +first rank, possessed of immense wealth and extensive influence. +The Doge had for some time been secretly engaged in negotiating a +match between his niece and this powerful nobleman, who was soon +expected to make his appearance at Venice. The motive of his +journey, in spite of all the Doge's precautions, had been divulged, +and it was no longer a secret to any but Rosabella, who had never +seen the prince, and could not imagine why his expected visit should +excite such general curiosity. + +Thus far the story had been told much to Rosabella's credit; but at +length the women began to envy her for her share in the adventure. +The kiss which she had received from the bravo afforded them an +excellent opportunity for throwing out a few malicious insinuations. +"She received a great service," said one, "and there's no saying how +far the fair Rosabella in the warmth of gratitude may have been +carried in rewarding her preserver." "Very true," observed another, +"and for my part, I think it not very likely that the fellow, being +alone with a pretty girl, whose life he had just saved, should have +gone away contented with a single kiss." "Come, come," interrupted +a third, "do not let us judge uncharitably; the fact may be exactly +as the lady relates it, though I MUST say, that gentlemen of +Abellino's profession are not usually so pretty-behaved, and that +this is the first time I ever heard of a bravo in the Platonics." + +In short, Rosabella and the horrible Abellino furnished the indolent +and gossiping Venetians with conversation so long, that at length +the Doge's niece was universally known by the honourable appellation +of the "Bravo's Bride." + +But no one gave himself more trouble about this affair than the +Doge, the good but proud Andreas. He immediately issued orders that +every person of suspicious appearance should be watched more closely +than ever, the night patrols were doubled, and spies were employed +daily in procuring intelligence of Abellino; and yet all was in +vain. Abellino's retreat was inscrutable. + + + +CHAPTER VIII: THE CONSPIRACY. + + + +"Confusion!" exclaimed Parozzi, a Venetian nobleman of the first +rank, as he paced his chamber with a disordered air on the morning +after Matteo's murder; "now all curses light upon the villain's +awkwardness; yet it seems inconceivable to me how all this should +have fallen out so untowardly. Has any one discovered my designs? +I know well that Verrino loves Rosabella. Was it he who opposed +this confounded Abellino to Matteo, and charged him to mar my plans +against her? That seems likely; and now, when the Doge inquires who +it was that employed assassins to murder his niece, what other will +be suspected than Parozzi, the discontented lover, to whom Rosabella +refused her hand, and whom Andreas hates past hope of +reconciliation? And now, having once found the scent--Parozzi! +Parozzi! should the crafty Andreas get an insight into your plans, +should he learn that you have placed yourself at the head of a troop +of hare-brained youths--hare-brained may I well call children--who, +in order to avoid the rod, set fire to their paternal mansions. +Parozzi, should all this be revealed to Andreas--?" + +Here his reflections were interrupted. Memmo, Falieri, and +Contarino entered the room, three young Venetians of the highest +rank, Parozzi's inseparable companions, men depraved both in mind +and body, spendthrifts, voluptuaries, well known to every usurer in +Venice, and owing more than their paternal inheritance would ever +admit of their paying. + +"Why, how is this, Parozzi?" cried Memmo as he entered, a wretch +whose every feature exhibited marks of that libertinism to which his +life had been dedicated; "I can scarce recover myself from my +astonishment. For Heaven's sake, is this report true? Did you +really hire Matteo to murder the Doge's niece?" + +"I?" exclaimed Parozzi, and hastily turned away to hide the deadly +paleness which overspread his countenance; "why should you suppose +that any such designs--surely, Memmo, you are distracted." + +Memmo.--By my soul, I speak but the plain matter of fact. Nay, only +ask Falieri; he can tell you more. + +Falieri.--Faith, it is certain, Parozzi, that Lomellino has declared +to the Doge as a truth beyond doubting that you, and none but you, +were the person who instigated Matteo to attempt Rosabella's life. + +Parozzi.--And I tell you again that Lomellino knows not what he +says. + +Contarino.--Well, well, only be upon your guard. Andreas is a +terrible fellow to deal with. + +Falieri.--HE terrible. I tell you he is the most contemptible +blockhead that the universe can furnish! Courage perhaps he +possesses, but of brains not an atom. + +Contarino.--And _I_ tell you that Andreas is as brave as a lion, and +as crafty as a fox. + +Falieri.--Pshaw! pshaw! Everything would go to rack and ruin were +it not for the wiser heads of this triumvirate of counsellors, whom +Heaven confound! Deprive him of Paolo Manfrone, Conari, and +Lomellino, and the Doge would stand there looking as foolish as a +schoolboy who was going to be examined and had forgotten his lesson. + +Parozzi.--Falieri is in the right. + +Memmo.--Quite, quite. + +Falieri.--And then Andreas is as proud as a beggar grown rich and +dressed in his first suit of embroidery. By St. Anthony, he is +become quite insupportable. Do you not observe how he increases the +number of his attendants daily? + +Memmo.--Nay, that is an undoubted fact. + +Contarino.--And then, to what an unbounded extent has he carried his +influence. The Signoria, the Quaranti, the Procurators of St. Mark, +the Avocatori, all think and act exactly as it suits the Doge's +pleasure and convenience! Every soul of them depends as much on +that one man's honour and caprices as puppets do who nod or shake +their wooden heads just as the fellow behind the curtain thinks +proper to move the wires. + +Parozzi.--And yet the populace idolises this Andreas. + +Memmo.--Ay, that is the worst part of the story. + +Falieri.--But never credit me again if he does not experience a +reverse of fortune speedily. + +Contarino.--That might happen would we but set our shoulders to the +wheel stoutly. But what do we do? We pass our time in taverns; +drink and game, and throw ourselves headlong into such an ocean of +debts, that the best swimmer must sink at last. Let us resolve to +make the attempt. Let us seek recruits on all sides; let us labour +with all our might and main. Things must change, or if they do not, +take my word for it, my friends, this world is no longer a world for +us. + +Memmo.--Nay, it's a melancholy truth, that during the last half-year +my creditors have been ready to beat my door down with knocking. I +am awakened out of my sleep in the morning, and lulled to rest again +at night with no other music than their eternal clamour. + + Parozzi.--Ha! ha! ha! As for me, I need not tell you how I am +suited. + +Falieri.--Had we been less extravagant, we might at this moment have +been sitting quietly in our palaces; but as things stand now - + +Parozzi.--Well, as things stand now--I verily believe that Falieri +is going to moralise. + +Contarino.--That is ever the way with old sinners when they have +lost the power to sin any longer. Then they are ready enough to +weep over their past life, and talk loudly about repentance and +reformation. Now, for my own part, I am perfectly well satisfied +with my wanderings from the common beaten paths of morality and +prudence. They serve to convince me that I am not one of your +every-day men, who sit cramped up in the chimney-corner, lifeless, +phlegmatic, and shudder when they hear of any extraordinary +occurrence. Nature evidently has intended me to be a libertine, and +I am determined to fulfil my destination. Why, if spirits like ours +were not produced every now and then, the world would absolutely go +fast asleep, but we rouse it by deranging the old order of things, +force mankind to quicken their snail's pace, furnish a million of +idlers with riddles which they puzzle their brains about without +being able to comprehend, infuse some hundreds of new ideas into the +heads of the great multitude, and, in short, are as useful to the +world as tempests are, which dissipate those exhalations with which +Nature otherwise would poison herself. + +Falieri.--Excellent sophistry, by my honour. Why, Contarino, +ancient Rome has had an irreparable loss in not having numbered you +among her orators. It is a pity, though, that there should be so +little that's solid wrapped up in so many fine-sounding words. Now +learn that while you, with this rare talent of eloquence, have been +most unmercifully wearing out the patience of your good-natured +hearers, Falieri has been in ACTION. The Cardinal Gonzaga is +discontented with the government--Heaven knows what Andreas has done +to make him so vehemently his enemy--but, in short, Gonzaga now +belongs to our party. + +Parozzi (with astonishment and delight).--Falieri, are you in your +senses? The Cardinal Gonzaga--? + +Falieri.--Is ours, and ours both body and soul. I confess I was +first obliged to rhodomontade a good deal to him about our +patriotism, our glorious designs, our love for freedom, and so +forth; in short, Gonzaga is a hypocrite, and therefore is Gonzaga +the fitter for us. + +Contarino (clasping Falieri's hand).--Bravo, my friend! Venice +shall see a second edition of Catiline's conspiracy. Now, then, it +is MY turn to speak, for I have not been idle since we parted. In +truth, I have as yet CAUGHT nothing, but I have made myself master +of an all-powerful net, with which I doubt not to capture the best +half of Venice. You all know the Marchioness Olympia? + +Parozzi.--Does not each of us keep a list of the handsomest women in +the Republic, and can we have forgotten number one? + +Falieri.--Olympia and Rosabella are the goddesses of Venice; our +youths burn incense on no other altars. + +Contarino.--Olympia is my own. + +Falieri.--How? + +Parozzi.--Olympia? + +Contarino.--Why, how now? Why stare ye as had I prophesied to you +that the skies were going to fall? I tell you Olympia's heart is +mine, and that I possess her entire and most intimate confidence. +Our connection must remain a profound secret, but depend on it, +whatever _I_ wish SHE wishes also; and you know she can make half +the nobility in Venice dance to the sound of her pipe, let her play +what tune she pleases. + +Parozzi.--Contarino, you are our master. + +Contarino.--And you had not the least suspicion how powerful an ally +I was labouring to procure for you? + +Parozzi.--I must blush for myself while I listen to you, since as +yet I have done nothing. Yet this I must say in my excuse: Had +Matteo, bribed by my gold, accomplished Rosabella's murder, the Doge +would have been robbed of that chain with which he holds the chief +men in Venice attached to his government. Andreas would have no +merit, were Rosabella once removed. The most illustrious families +would care no longer for his friendship with their hopes of a +connection with him by means of his niece buried in her grave. +Rosabella will one day be the Doge's heiress. + +Memmo.--All that I can do for you in this business is to provide you +with pecuniary supplies. My old miserable uncle, whose whole +property becomes mine at his death, has brimful coffers, and the old +miser dies whenever I say the word. + + Falieri.--You have suffered him to live too long already. + +Memmo.--Why, I never have been able to make up my mind entirely to-- +You would scarcely believe it, friends, but at times I am so +hypochondriac, that I could almost fancy I feel twinges of +conscience. + +Contarino.--Indeed. Then take my advice, go into a monastery. + +Memmo.--Our care first must be to find out our old acquaintances, +Matteo's companions: yet, having hitherto always transacted +business with them through their captain, I know not where they are +to be met with. + +Parozzi.--As soon as they are found, their first employment must be +the removal of the Doge's trio of advisers. + +Contarino.--That were an excellent idea, if it were as easily done +as said. Well, then, my friends, this principal point at least is +decided. Either we will bury our debts under the ruins of the +existing constitution of the Republic, or make Andreas a gift of our +heads towards strengthening the walls of the building. In either +case, we shall at least obtain quiet. Necessity, with her whip of +serpents, has driven us to the very highest point of her rock, +whence we must save ourselves by some act of extraordinary daring, +or be precipitated on the opposite side into the abyss of shame and +eternal oblivion. The next point to be considered is, how we may +best obtain supplies for our necessary expenses, and induce others +to join with us in our plans. For this purpose we must use every +artifice to secure in our interests the courtesans of the greatest +celebrity in Venice. What WE should be unable to effect by every +power of persuasion, banditti by their daggers, and princes by their +treasuries, can one of those Phrynes accomplish with a single look. +Where the terrors of the scaffold are without effect, and the +exhortations of the priests are heard with coldness, a wanton look +and a tender promise often perform wonders. The bell which sounded +the hour of assignation has often rang the knell of the most sacred +principles and most steadfast resolutions. But should you either +fail to gain the mastery over the minds of these women, or fear to +be yourselves entangled in the nets which you wish to spread for +others, in these cases you must have recourse to the holy father +confessors. Flatter the pride of these insolent friars; paint for +them upon the blank leaf of futurity bishops' mitres, patriarchal +missions, the hats of cardinals, and the keys of St. Peter; my life +upon it, they will spring at the bait, and you will have them +completely at your disposal. These hypocrites who govern the +consciences of the bigoted Venetians, hold man and woman, the noble +and the mendicant, the Doge and the gondolier, bound fast in the +chains of superstition, by which they can head them wheresoever it +best suits their pleasure. It will save us tons of gold in gaining +over proselytes, and keeping their consciences quiet when gained, if +we can but obtain the assistance of the confessors, whose blessings +and curses pass with the multitude for current coin. Now, then, to +work, comrades, and so farewell. + + + +CHAPTER IX: CINTHIA'S DWELLING. + + + +Scarcely had Abellino achieved the bloody deed which employed every +tongue in Venice, when he changed his dress and whole appearance +with so much expedition and success as to prevent the slightest +suspicion of his being Matteo's murderer. He quitted the gardens +unquestioned, nor left the least trace which could lead to a +discovery. + +He arrived at Cinthia's dwelling. It was already evening. Cinthia +opened the door, and Abellino entered the common apartment. + +"Where are the rest?" said he in a savage tone of voice whose sound +made Cinthia tremble. + +"They have been asleep," she answered, "since mid-day. Probably +they mean to go out on some pursuit to-night." Abellino threw +himself into a chair, and seemed to be lost in thought. + +"But why are you always so gloomy, Abellino?" said Cinthia, drawing +near him; "it's that which makes you so ugly. Prithee away with +those frowns; they make your countenance look worse than nature made +it?" + +Abellino gave no answer. + +"Really, you are enough to frighten a body! Come, now, let us be +friends, Abellino; I begin not to dislike you, and to endure your +appearance; and I don't know but--" + +"Go, wake the sleepers!" roared the bravo. + + "The sleepers? Pshaw, let them sleep on, the stupid rogues. Sure +you are not afraid to be alone with me? Mercy on me, one would +think I looked as terrible as yourself? Do I? Nay, look on me, +Abellino." + +Cinthia, to say the truth, was by no means an ill-looking girl; her +eyes were bright and expressive; the hair fell in shining ringlets +over her bosom; her lips were red and full, and she bowed them +towards Abellino's. But Abellino's were still sacred by the touch +of Rosabella's cheek. He started from his seat, and removed, yet +gently, Cinthia's hand, which rested on his shoulder. + +"Wake the sleepers, my good girl," said he, "I must speak with them +this moment." + +Cinthia hesitated. + +"Nay, go," said he, in a fierce voice. + +Cinthia retired in silence; yet as she crossed the threshold, she +stopped for an instant and menaced him with her finger. + +Abellino strode through the chamber with hasty steps, his head +reclining on his shoulder, his arms folded over his breast. + +"The first step is taken," said he to himself. "There is one moral +monster the less on earth. I have committed no sin by this murder; +I have but performed a sacred duty. Aid me, thou Great and Good, +for arduous is the task before me. Ah, should that task be gone +through with success, and Rosabella be the reward of my labours-- +Rosabella? What, shall the Doge's niece bestow on the outcast +Abellino? Oh, madman that I am to hope it, never can I reach the +goal of my wishes! No, never was there frenzy to equal mine. To +attach myself at first sight to--Yet Rosabella alone is capable of +thus enchanting at first sight--Rosabella and Valeria? To be +beloved by two such women--Yet, though 'tis impossible to attain, +the striving to attain such an end is glorious. Illusions so +delightful will at least make me happy for a moment, and alas, the +wretched Abellino needs so many illusions that for a moment will +make him happy! Oh, surely, knew the world what I gladly would +accomplish, the world would both love and pity me." + +Cinthia returned; the four bravoes followed her, yawning, grumbling, +and still half asleep. + +"Come, come!" said Abellino, "rouse yourselves, lads. Before I say +anything, be convinced that you are wide awake, for what I am going +to tell you is so strange that you would scarce believe it in a +dream." + +They listened to him with an air of indifference and impatience. + +"Why, what's the matter now?" said Thomaso, while he stretched +himself. + +"Neither more nor less than that our honest, hearty, brave Matteo is +murdered." + +"What, murdered!" every one exclaimed, and gazed with looks of +terror on the bearer of this unwelcome news; while Cinthia gave a +loud scream, and, clasping her hands together, sank almost +breathless into a chair. + +A general silence prevailed for some time. + +"Murdered"' at length repeated Thomaso, "and by whom?" + +Baluzzo.--Where? + +Pietrino.--What? this forenoon? + +Abellino.--In the gardens of Dolabella, where he was found bleeding +at the feet of the Doge's niece. Whether he fell by her hand, or by +that of one of her admirers, I cannot say. + +Cinthia (weeping).--Poor dear Matteo. + +Abellino.--About this time to-morrow you will see his corpse +exhibited on the gibbet. + +Pietrino.--What! Did any one recognise him? + +Abellino.--Yes, yes! there's no doubt about his trade, you may +depend on't. + +Cinthia.--The gibbet! Poor dear Matteo! + +Thomaso.--This is a fine piece of work. + +Baluzzo.--Confound the fellow, who would have thought of anything +happening so unlucky? + +Abellino.--Why, how now? You seem to be overcome. + +Struzza.--I cannot recover myself; surprise and terror have almost +stupefied me. + +Abellino.--Indeed! By my life, when I heard the news I burst into +laughter. "Signor Matteo," said I, "I wish your worship joy of your +safe arrival." + +Thomaso.--What? + +Struzza.--You laughed? Hang me if I can see what there is to laugh +at. + +Abellino.--Why, surely you are not afraid of receiving what you are +so ready to bestow on others? What is your object? What can we +expect as our reward at the end of our labours except the gibbet or +the rock? What memorials of our actions shall we leave behind us, +except our skeletons dancing in the air, and the chains which rattle +round them? He who chooses to play the bravo's part on the great +theatre of the world must not be afraid of death, whether it comes +at the hands of the physician or the executioner. Come, come, pluck +up your spirits, comrades. + +Thomaso.--That's easy to say, but quite out of my power. + +Pietrino.--Mercy on me, how my teeth chatter. + +Baluzzo.--Prithee, Abellino, be composed for a moment or two, your +gaiety at a time like this is quite horrible. + +Cinthia.--Oh, me! oh, me! Poor murdered Matteo. + +Abellino.--Hey-day. Why, what is all this! Cinthia, my life, are +you not ashamed of being such a child? Come, let you and I renew +that conversation which my sending you to wake these gentlemen +interrupted. Sit down by me, sweetheart, and give me a kiss. + +Cinthia.--Out upon you, monster. + +Abellino.--What, have you altered your mind, my pretty dear? Well, +well, with all my heart, when YOU are in the humour, perhaps _I_ may +not have the inclination. + +Baluzzo.--Death and the devil, Abellino, is this a time for talking +nonsense? Prithee keep such trash for a fitter occasion, and let us +consider what we are to do just now. + +Pietrino.--Nay, this is no season for trifling. + +Struzza.--Tell us, Abellino; you are a clever fellow; what course is +it best for us to take? + +Abellino (after a pause).--Nothing must be done, or a great deal. +One of two things we must choose. Either we must remain WHERE we +are, and WHAT we are, murder honest men to please any rascal who +will give us gold and fair words, and make up our minds to be hung, +broken on the wheel, condemned to the galleys, burnt alive, +crucified, or beheaded, at the long run, just as it may seem best to +the supreme authority; or else - + +Thomaso.--Or else? Well? + +Abellino.--Or else we must divide the spoils which are already in +our possession, quit the Republic, begin a new and better life, and +endeavour to make our peace with Heaven. We have already wealth +enough to make it unnecessary for us to ask how shall we get our +bread? You may either buy an estate in some foreign country, or +keep Osteria, or engage in commerce, or set up some trade, or, in +short, do whatever you like best, so that you do but abandon the +profession of an assassin. Then we may look out for a wife among +the pretty girls of our own rank in life, become the happy fathers +of sons and daughters may eat and drink in peace and security, and +make amends by the honesty of our future lives for the offences of +our past. + +Thomaso.--Ha! ha! ha! + +Abellino.--What YOU do, that will _I_ do too; I will either hang or +be broken on the wheel along with you, or become an honest man, just +as you please. Now, then, what is your decision? + +Thomaso.--Was there ever such a stupid counsellor. + +Pietrino.--Our decision? Nay, the point's not very difficult to +decide. + +Abellino.--I should have thought it HAD been. + +Thomaso.--Without more words, then, I vote for our remaining as we +are, and carrying on our old trade; that will bring us plenty of +gold, and enable us to lead a jolly life. + +Pietrino.--Right, lad, you speak my thoughts exactly. + +Thomaso.--We are bravoes, it's true; but what then? We are honest +fellows, and the devil take him who dares to say we are not. +However, at any rate, we must keep within doors for a few days, lest +we should be discovered; for I warrant you the Doge's spies are +abroad in search of us by this. But as soon as the pursuit is over, +be it our first business to find out Matteo's murderer, and throttle +him out of hand as a warning to all others. + +All.--Bravo, bravissimo. + +Pietrino.--And from this day forth I vote that Thomaso should be our +captain. + +Struzza.--Aye, in Matteo's stead. + +All.--Right, right. + +Abellino.--To which I say amen with all my heart. Now, then, all is +decided. + + + + +BOOK THE SECOND. + + + + +CHAPTER I: THE BIRTHDAY. + + + +In solitude and anxiety, with barred windows and bolted doors, did +the banditti pass the day immediately succeeding Matteo's murder; +every murmur in the street appeared to them a cause of apprehension; +every footstep which approached their doors made them tremble till +it had passed them. + +In the meanwhile the ducal palace blazed with splendour and +resounded with mirth. The Doge celebrated the birthday of his fair +niece, Rosabella; and the feast was honoured by the presence of the +chief persons of the city, of the foreign ambassadors, and of many +illustrious strangers who were at that time resident in Venice. + +On this occasion no expense had been spared, no source of pleasure +had been neglected. The arts contended with each other for +superiority; the best poets in Venice celebrated this day with +powers excelling anything which they had before exhibited, for the +subject of their verses was Rosabella; the musicians and virtuosi +surpassed all their former triumphs, for their object was to obtain +the suffrage of Rosabella. The singular union of all kinds of +pleasure intoxicated the imagination of every guest; and the genius +of delight extended his influence over the whole assembly, over the +old man and the youth, over the matron and the virgin. + +The venerable Andreas had seldom been in such high spirits as on +this occasion. He was all life; smiles of satisfaction played round +his lips; gracious and condescending to every one, he made it his +chief care to prevent his rank from being felt. Sometimes he +trifled with the ladies, whose beauty formed the greatest ornament +of this entertainment; sometimes he mingled among the masks, whose +fantastic appearance and gaiety of conversation enlivened the ball- +room by their variety; at other times he played chess with the +generals and admirals of the Republic; and frequently he forsook +everything to gaze with delight on Rosabella's dancing, or listen in +silent rapture to Rosabella's music. + +Lomellino, Conari, and Paolo Manfrone, the Doge's three confidential +friends and counsellors, in defiance of their grey hairs, mingled in +the throng of youthful beauties, flirted first with one and then +with another, and the arrows of raillery were darted and received on +both sides with spirit and good humour. + +"Now, Lomellino," said Andreas to his friend, who entered the saloon +in which the Doge was at that time accidentally alone with his +niece, "you seem in gayer spirits this evening than when we were +lying before Scardona, and had so hard a game to play against the +Turks." + +Lomellino.--I shall not take upon me to deny that, signor. I still +think with a mixture of terror and satisfaction on the night when we +took Scardona, and carried the half-moon before the city walls. By +my soul, our Venetians fought like lions. + +Andreas.--Fill this goblet to their memory, my old soldier; you have +earned your rest bravely. + +Lomellino.--Aye, signor, and oh, it is so sweet to rest on laurels. +But in truth, 'tis to you that I am indebted for mine; it is you who +have immortalised me. No soul on earth would have known that +Lomellino existed, had he not fought in Dalmatia and Sicilia under +the banners of the great Andreas, and assisted him in raising +eternal trophies in honour of the Republic. + +Andreas.--My good Lomellino, the Cyprus wine must have heated your +imagination. + +Lomellino.--Nay, I know well I ought not to call you great, and +praise you thus openly to your face; but faith, signor, I am grown +too old for it to be worth my while to flatter. That is a business +which I leave to our young courtiers, who have never yet come within +the smell of powder, and never have fought for Venice and Andreas. + +Andreas.--You are an old enthusiast. Think you the Emperor is of +the same opinion? + +Lomellino.--Unless Charles the Fifth is deceived by those about him, +or is too proud to allow the greatness of an enemy, he must say, +perforce, "There is but one man on earth whom I fear, and who is +worthy to contend with me, and that man is Andreas." + +Andreas.--I suspect he will be sorely displeased when he receives my +answer to the message by which he notified to me the imprisonment of +the French king. + +Lomellino.--Displeased he will be, signor, no doubt of it; but what +then? Venice need not fear his displeasure, while Andreas still +lives. But when you and your heroes are once gone to your eternal +rest--then, alas for thee, poor Venice. I fear your golden times +will soon come to their conclusion. + +Andreas.--What! Have we not many young officers of great promise? + +Lomellino.--Alas, what are most of them? Heroes in the fields of +Venus. Heroes at a drinking-bout. Effeminate striplings, relaxed +both in mind and body. But how am I running on, forgetful. Ah, +when one is grown old, and conversing with an Andreas, it is easy to +forget everything else. My lord, I sought you with a request, a +request, too, of consequence. + +Andreas.--You excite my curiosity. + +Lomellino.--About a week ago there arrived here a young Florentine +nobleman called Flodoardo, a youth of noble appearance and great +promise. + +Andreas.--Well? + +Lomellino.--His father was one of my dearest friends. He is dead +now, the good old generous nobleman. In our youth we served +together on board the same vessel, and many a turbaned head has +fallen beneath his sword. Ah, he was a brave soldier. + +Andreas.--While celebrating the father's bravery, you seem to have +quite forgotten the son. + +Lomellino.--His son is arrived in Venice, and wishes to enter into +the service of the Republic. I entreat you, give the young man some +respectable situation; he will prove the boast of Venice when we +shall be in our graves, on that would I hazard my existence. + +Andreas.--Has he sense and talent? + +Lomellino.--That he has; a heart like his father's. Will it please +you to see and converse with him? He is yonder, among the masks in +the great saloon. One thing I must tell you, as a specimen of his +designs. He has heard of the banditti who infest Venice, and he +engages that the first piece of service which he renders the +Republic shall be the delivering into the hands of justice those +concealed assassins, who hitherto have eluded the vigilance of our +police. + +Andreas.--Indeed! I doubt that promise will be too much for his +power to perform. Flodoardo, I think you called him? Tell him I +would speak with him. + +Lomellino.--Oh! then I have gained at least the HALF of my cause, +and I believe the WHOLE of it, for to see Flodoardo and not to like +him is as difficult as to look at Paradise and not wish to enter. +To see Flodoardo and to hate him is as unlikely as that a blind man +should hate the kind hand which removes the cataract from his eyes, +and pours upon them the blessings of light and beauties of nature. + +Andreas (smiling).--In the whole course of our acquaintance, +Lomellino, never did I hear you so enthusiastic! Go, then, conduct +this prodigy hither. + +Lomellino.--I hasten to find him. And as for you, signora, look to +yourself! look to yourself, I say! + +Rosabella.--Nay, prithee, Lomellino, bring your hero hither without +delay; you have raised my curiosity to the height. + +Lomellino quitted the saloon. + +Andreas.--How comes it that you rejoin not the dancers, my child? + +Rosabella.--I am weary, and, besides, curiosity now detains me here, +for I would fain see this Flodoardo, whom Lomellino thinks deserving +of such extraordinary praise. Shall I tell you the truth, my dear +uncle? I verily believe that I am already acquainted with him. +There was a mask in a Grecian habit, whose appearance was so +striking, that it was impossible for him to remain confounded with +the crowd. The least attentive eye must have singled him out from +among a thousand. It was a tall light figure, so graceful in every +movement; then his dancing was quite perfection. + +Andreas (smiling, and threatening with his finger).--Child, child! + +Rosabella.--Nay, my dear uncle, what I say is mere justice; it is +possible, indeed, that the Greek and the Florentine may be two +different persons, but still, according to Lomellino's description-- +Oh! look, dear uncle, only look yonder; there stands the Greek, as I +live. + +Andreas.--And Lomellino is with him; they approach. Rosabella, you +have made a good guess. + +The Doge had scarcely ceased to speak, when Lomellino entered the +room, conducting a tall young man, richly habited in the Grecian +fashion. + +"My gracious lord," said Lomellino, "I present to you the Count +Flodoardo, who humbly sues for your protection." + +Flodoardo uncovered his head in token of respect, took off his mask, +and bowed low before the illustrious ruler of Venice. + +Andreas.--I understand you are desirous of serving the Republic? + +Flodoardo.--That is my ambition, should your Highness think me +deserving of such an honour. + +Andreas.--Lomellino speaks highly of you; if all that he says be +true, how came you to deprive your own country of your services? + +Flodoardo.--Because my own country is not governed by an Andreas. + +Andreas.--You have intentions, it seems, of discovering the haunts +of the banditti, who for some time past have caused so many tears to +flow in Venice? + +Flodoardo.--If your Highness would deign to confide in me, I would +answer with my head for their delivery into the hands of your +officers, and that speedily. + +Andreas.--That were much for a stranger to perform. I would fain +make the trial whether you can keep your word. + +Flodoardo.--That is sufficient. To-morrow, or the day after at +least, will I perform my promise. + +Andreas.--And you make that promise so resolutely? Are you aware, +young man, how dangerous a task it is to surprise these miscreants? +They are never to be found when sought for, and always present when +least expected; they are at once everywhere and nowhere. There +exists not a nook in Venice which our spies are not acquainted with, +or have left unexamined, and yet has our police endeavoured in vain +to discover the place of their concealment. + +Flodoardo.--I know all this, and to know it rejoices me, since it +affords me an opportunity of convincing the Doge of Venice, that my +actions are not those of a common adventurer. + +Andreas.--Perform your promise, and then let me hear of you. For +the present our discourse shall end here, for no unpleasant thoughts +must disturb the joy to which this day is dedicated. Rosabella, +would you not like to join the dancers? Count, I confide her to +your care. + +Flodoardo.--I could not be entrusted with a more precious charge. + +Rosabella, during this conversation, had been leaning against the +back of her uncle's chair. She repeated to herself Lomellino's +assertion, "that to see Flodoardo, and not to like him, was as +difficult as to look at Paradise and not wish to enter;" and while +she gazed on the youth, she allowed that Lomellino had not +exaggerated. When her uncle desired Flodoardo to conduct her to the +dancers, a soft blush overspread her cheek, and she doubted whether +she should accept or decline the hand which was immediately offered. + +And to tell you my real opinion, my fair ladies, I suspect that very +few of you would have been more collected than Rosabella, had you +found yourselves similarly situated. In truth, such a form as +Flodoardo's; a countenance whose physiognomy seemed a passport at +once to the hearts of all who examined it; features so exquisitely +fashioned that the artist who wished to execute a model of manly +beauty, had he imitated them, would have had nothing to supply or +improve; features, every one of which spoke so clearly, "The bosom +of this youth contains the heart of a hero." Ah, ladies, my dear +ladies, a man like this might well make some little confusion in the +head and heart of a poor young girl, tender and unsuspicious! + +Flodoardo took Rosabella's hand, and led her into the ball-room. +Here all was mirth and splendour, the roofs re-echoed with the full +swell of harmony, and the floor trembled beneath the multitude of +dancers, who formed a thousand beautiful groups by the blaze of +innumerable lustres. Yes, Flodoardo and Rosabella passed on in +silence till they reached the extreme end of the great saloon. Here +they stopped, and remained before an open window. Some minutes +passed, and still they spoke not. Sometimes they gazed on each +other, sometimes on the dancers, sometimes on the moon; and then +again they forgot each other, the dancers, and the moon, and were +totally absorbed in themselves. + +"Lady," said Flodoardo, at length, "can there be a greater +misfortune?" + +"A misfortune?" said Rosabella, starting as if suddenly awaking from +a dream; "what misfortune, signor? Who is unfortunate?" + +"He who is doomed to behold the joys of Elysium and never to possess +them. He who dies of thirst and sees a cup stand full before him, +but which he knows is destined for the lips of another." + +"And are you, my lord, this outcast from Elysium? Are you the +thirsty one who stands near the cup which is filled for another? Is +it thus that you wish me to understand your speech?" + +"You understand it as I meant: and now tell me, lovely Rosabella, +am I not indeed unfortunate?" + +"And where, then, is the Elysium which you must never possess?" + +"Where Rosabella is, there is indeed Elysium. You are not offended, +signora?" said Flodoardo, and took her hand with an air of +respectful tenderness. "Has this openness displeased you?" + +"You are a native of Florence, Count Flodoardo. In Venice we +dislike this kind of compliment: at least I dislike them, and wish +to hear them from no one less than from you." + +"By my life, signora, I spoke but as I thought! my words concealed +no flattery." + +"See, the Doge enters the saloon with Manfrone and Lomellino: he +will seek us among the dancers. Come, let us join them." + +Flodoardo followed her in silence. The dance began. Heavens! how +lovely looked Rosabella, as she glided along to the sweet sounds of +music, conducted by Flodoardo. How handsome looked Flodoardo, as, +lighter than air, he flew down the dance, while his brilliant eyes +saw no object but Rosabella. + +He was still without his mask, and bareheaded: but every eye +glanced away from the helmets and barettes, waving with plumes, and +sparkling with jewels, to gaze on Flodoardo's raven locks, as they +floated on the air in wild luxuriance. A murmur of admiration rose +from every corner of the saloon, but it rose unmarked by those who +were the objects of it. Neither Rosabella nor Flodoardo at that +moment formed a wish to be applauded, except by each other. + + + +CHAPTER II: THE FLORENTINE STRANGER + + + +Two evenings had elapsed since the Doge's entertainment. On the +second, Parozzi sat in his own apartment, with Memmo and Falieri. +Dimly burnt the lights; lowering and tempestuous were the skies +without; gloomy and fearful were the souls of the libertines within. + +Parozzi (after a long silence).--What, are you both dreaming? Ho, +there, Memmo, Falieri, fill your goblets. + +Memmo (with indifference).--Well, to please you--. But I care not +for wine to-night. + +Falieri.--Nor I. Methinks it tastes like vinegar: yet the wine +itself is good: 'tis our ill temper spoils it. + +Parozzi.--Confound the rascals. + +Memmo.--What, the banditti? + +Parozzi.--Not a trace of them can be found. It is enough to kill +one with vexation. + +Falieri.--And in the meanwhile the time runs out, our projects will +get wind, and then we shall sit quietly in the State prisons of +Venice, objects of derision to the populace and ourselves. I could +tear my flesh for anger. (A universal silence.) + +Parozzi (striking his hand against the table passionately).-- +Flodoardo, Flodoardo. + +Falieri.--In a couple of hours I must attend the Cardinal Gonzaga, +and what intelligence shall I have to give him? + +Memmo.--Come, come, Contarino cannot have been absent so long +without cause; I warrant you he will bring some news with him when +he arrives. + +Falieri.--Pshaw, pshaw! My life on't he lies at this moment at +Olympia's feet, and forgets us, the Republic, the banditti, and +himself. + +Parozzi.--And so neither of you know anything of this Flodoardo? + +Memmo.--No more than of what happened on Rosabella's birthday. + +Falieri.--Well, then, I know one thing more about him; Parozzi is +jealous of him. + +Parozzi.--I? Ridiculous, Rosabella may bestow her hand on the +German Emperor, or a Venetian gondolier, without its giving me the +least anxiety. + +Falieri.--Ha! ha! ha! + +Memmo.--Well, one thing at least even envy must confess; Flodoardo +is the handsomest man in Venice. I doubt whether there's a woman in +the city who can resist him. + +Parozzi.--And I should doubt it too, if women had as little sense as +you have, and looked only at the shell without minding the kernel - + +Memmo.--Which unluckily is exactly the thing which women always do - + +Falieri.--The old Lomellino seems to be extremely intimate with this +Flodoardo. They say he was well acquainted with his father. + +Memmo.--It was he who presented him to the Doge. + +Parozzi.--Hark!--Surely some one knocked at the palace door? + +Memmo.--It can be none but Contarino. Now, then, we shall hear +whether he has discovered the banditti. + +Falieri (starting from his chair).--I'll swear to that footstep, +it's Contarino. + +The doors were thrown open. Contarino entered hastily, enveloped in +his cloak. + +"Good evening, sweet gentlemen," said he, and threw his mantle +aside. And Memmo, Parozzi, and Falieri started back in horror. + +"Good God!" they exclaimed, "what has happened? You are covered +with blood?" + +"A trifle!" cried Contarino; "is that wine? quick, give me a goblet +of it, I expire with thirst." + +Falieri (while he gives him a cup).--But, Contarino, you bleed? + +Contarino.--You need not tell me that. I did not do it myself, I +promise you. + +Parozzi.--First let us bind up your wounds, and then tell us what +has happened to you. It is as well that the servants should remain +ignorant of your adventure; I will be your surgeon myself. + +Contarino.--What has happened to me, say you? Oh! a joke, +gentlemen, a mere joke. Here, Falieri, fill the bowl again. + +Memmo.--I can scarcely breathe for terror. + +Contarino.--Very possibly; neither should I, were I Memmo instead of +being Contarino. The wound bleeds plenteously it's true, but it's +by no means dangerous (he tore open his doublet, and uncovered his +bosom). There, look, comrades; you see it's only a cut of not more +than two inches deep. + +Memmo (shuddering).--Mercy on me! the very sight of it makes my +blood run cold. + +Parozzi brought ointments and linen, and bound up the wound of his +associate. + +Contarino.--Old Horace is in the right. A philosopher can be +anything he pleases, a cobbler, a king, or a physician. Only +observe with what dignified address the philosopher Parozzi spreads +that plaster for me. I thank you, friend; that's enough: and now, +comrades, place yourselves in a circle round me, and listen to the +wonders which I am going to relate. + +Falieri.--Proceed. + +Contarino.--As soon as it was twilight, I stole out, wrapped in my +cloak, determined if possible to discover some of the banditti. I +knew not their persons, neither were they acquainted with mine. An +extravagant undertaking, perhaps, you will tell me; but I was +resolved to convince you that everything which a man DETERMINES to +do, may be done. I had some information respecting the rascals, +though it was but slight, and on these grounds I proceeded. I +happened by mere accident to stumble upon a gondolier, whose +appearance excited my curiosity. I fell into discourse with him. I +was soon convinced that he was not ignorant of the lurking-place of +the bravoes, and by means of some gold and many fair speeches, I at +length brought him to confess that though not regularly belonging to +the band, he had occasionally been employed by them. I immediately +made a bargain with him; he conducted me in his gondola through the +greatest part of Venice, sometimes right, sometimes left, till I +lost every idea as to the quarter of the town in which I found +myself. At length he insisted on binding my eyes with his +handkerchief, and I was compelled to submit. Half an hour elapsed +before the gondola stopped. He told me to descend, conducted me +through a couple of streets, and at length knocked at a door, where +he left me still blindfolded. The door was opened; my business was +inquired with great caution, and after some demur I was at length +admitted. The handkerchief was now withdrawn from my eyes, and I +found myself in a small chamber, surrounded by four men of not the +most creditable appearance, and a young woman, who (it seems) had +opened the door for me. + +Falieri.--You are a daring fellow, Contarino. + +Contarino.--Here was no time to be lost. I instantly threw my purse +on the table, promised them mountains of gold, and fixed on +particular days, hours, and signals which were necessary to +facilitate our future intercourse. For the present I only required +that Manfrone, Conari, and Lomellino should be removed with all +possible expedition. + +All.--Bravo. + +Contarino.--So far everything went exactly as we could have wished, +and one of my new associates was just setting out to guide me home, +when we were surprised by an unexpected visit. + +Parozzi.--Well? + +Memmo (anxiously).--Go on, for God's sake! + +Contarino.--A knocking was heard at the door; the girl went to +inquire the cause. In an instant she returned pale as a corpse, and +"Fly! fly!" cried she. + +Falieri.--What followed? + +Contarino.--Why then followed a whole legion of sbirri and police- +officers, and who should be at their head but the Florentine +stranger. + +All.--Flodoardo? What, Flodoardo? + +Contarino.--Flodoardo. + +Falieri.--What demon could have guided him thither? + +Parozzi.--Hell and furies! Oh, that I had been there. + +Memmo.--There, now, Parozzi, you see at least that Flodoardo is no +coward. + +Falieri.--Hush, let us hear the rest. + +Contarino.--We stood as if we had been petrified; not a soul could +stir a finger. "In the name of the Doge and the Republic," cried +Flodoardo, "yield yourselves and deliver your arms." "The devil +shall yield himself sooner than we," exclaimed one of the banditti, +and forced a sword from one of the officers. The others snatched +their muskets from the walls; and as for me, my first care was to +extinguish the lamp so that we could not tell friends from foes. +But still the confounded moonshine gleamed through the window- +shutters, and shed a partial light through the room. "Look to +yourself, Contarino," thought I; "if you are found here, you will be +hanged for company," and I drew my sword and made a plunge at +Flodoardo; but, however well intended, my thrust was foiled by his +sabre, which he whirled around with the rapidity of lightning. I +fought like a madman, but all my skill was without effect on this +occasion, and before I was aware of it, Flodoardo ripped open my +bosom. I felt myself wounded, and sprang back. At that moment two +pistols were fired, and the flash discovered to me a small side +door, which they had neglected to beset. Through this I stole +unperceived into the adjoining chamber, burst open the grated +window, sprang below unhurt, crossed a courtyard, climbed two or +three garden walls, gained the canal, where a gondola fortunately +was waiting, persuaded the boatman to convey me with all speed to +the Place of St. Mark, and thence hastened hither, astonished to +find myself still alive. There's an infernal adventure for you. + +Parozzi.--I shall go mad. + +Falieri.--Everything we design is counteracted; the more trouble we +give ourselves, the further we are from the goal. + +Memmo.--I confess it seems to me as if Heaven gave us warning to +desist. How say you? + +Contarino.--Pshaw, these are trifles! Such accidents should only +serve to sharpen our wits. The more obstacles I encounter, the +firmer is my resolution to surmount them. + +Falieri.--Do the banditti know who you are? + +Contarino.--No; they are not only ignorant of my name, but suppose +me to be a mere instrument of some powerful man, who has been +injured by the ducal confederates. + +Memmo.--Well, Contarino, in my mind you should thank Heaven that you +have escaped so well. + +Falieri.--But since he is an absolute stranger in Venice, how could +Flodoardo discover the lurking place of the banditti? + +Contarino.--I know not; probably by mere accident like myself, but +by the Power that made me, he shall pay dearly for this wound. + +Falieri.--Flodoardo is rather too hasty in making himself remarked. + +Parozzi.--Flodoardo must die. + +Contarino (filling a goblet).--May his next cup contain poison. + +Falieri.--I shall do myself the honour of becoming better acquainted +with the gentleman. + +Contarino.--Memmo, we must needs have full purses, or our business +will hang on hand wofully. + +When does your uncle take his departure to a better world? + +Memmo.--To-morrow evening, and yet--ugh, I tremble. + + + +CHAPTER III: MORE CONFUSION. + + + +Since Rosabella's birthday, no woman in Venice who had the slightest +pretensions to beauty, or the most remote expectations of making +conquests, had any subject of conversation except the handsome +Florentine. He found employment for every female tongue, and she +who dared not to employ her tongue, made amends for the privation +with her thoughts. Many a maiden now enjoyed less tranquil +slumbers; many an experienced coquette sighed as she laid on her +colour at the looking glass; many a prude forgot the rules which she +had imposed upon herself, and daily frequented the gardens and walks +in which report gave her the hope of meeting Flodoardo. + +But from the time that, placing himself at the head of the sbirri, +he had dared to enter boldly the den of the banditti, and seize them +at the hazard of his life, he was scarcely more an object of +attention among the women than among the men. Greatly did they +admire his courage and unshaken presence of mind while engaged in so +perilous an adventure; but still more were they astonished at his +penetration in discovering where the bravoes concealed themselves, +an attempt which foiled even the keen wits of the so much celebrated +police of Venice. + +The Doge Andreas cultivated the acquaintance of this singular young +man with increasing assiduity; and the more he conversed with him, +the more deserving of consideration did Flodoardo appear. The +action by which he had rendered the Republic a service so essential +was rewarded by a present that would not have disgraced Imperial +gratitude, and one of the most important offices of the State was +confided to his superintendence. + +Both favours were conferred unsolicited, but no sooner was the +Florentine apprised of the Doge's benevolent care of him, than with +modesty and respect he requested to decline the proposed advantages. +The only favour which he requested was, to be permitted to live free +and independent in Venice during a year, at the end of which he +promised to name that employment which he esteemed the best adapted +to his abilities and inclination. + +Flodoardo was lodged in the magnificent palace of his good old +patron, Lomellino, here he lived in the closest retirement, studied +the most valuable parts of ancient and modern literature, remained +for whole days together in his own apartment, and was seldom to be +seen in public except upon some great solemnity. + +But the Doge, Lomellino, Manfrone, and Conari, men who had +established the fame of Venice on so firm a basis that it would +require centuries to undermine it; men in whose society one seemed +to be withdrawn from the circle of ordinary mortals, and honoured by +the intercourse of superior beings, men who now graciously received +the Florentine stranger into their intimacy, and resolved to spare +no pains in forming him to support the character of a great man; it +could not long escape the observation of men like these, that +Flodoardo's gaiety was assumed, and that a secret sorrow preyed upon +his heart. + +In vain did Lomellino, who loved him like a father, endeavour to +discover the source of his melancholy; in vain did the venerable +Doge exert himself to dispel the gloom which oppressed his young +favourite. Flodoardo remained silent and sad. + +And Rosabella? Rosabella would have belied her sex had she remained +gay while Flodoardo sorrowed. Her spirits were flown, her eyes were +frequently obscured with tears. She grew daily paler and paler, +till the Doge, who doted on her, was seriously alarmed for her +health. At length Rosabella grew really ill; a fever fixed itself +upon her; she became weak, and was confined to her chamber, and her +complaint baffled the skill of the most experienced physicians in +Venice. + +In the midst of these unpleasant circumstances in which Andreas and +his friends now found themselves, an incident occurred one morning, +which raised their uneasiness to the very highest pitch. Never had +so bold and audacious an action been heard of in Venice, as that +which I am going to relate. + +The four banditti, whom Flodoardo had seized, Pietrino, Struzza, +Baluzza, and Thomaso, had been safely committed to the Doge's +dungeons, where they underwent a daily examination, and looked upon +every sun that rose as the last that would ever rise for THEM. +Andreas and his confidential counsellors now flattered themselves +that the public tranquillity had nothing more to apprehend, and that +Venice was now completely purified of the miscreants, whom gold +could bribe to be the instruments of revenge and cruelty; when all +at once the following address was discovered, affixed to most of the +remarkable statues, and pasted against the corners of the principal +streets, and pillars of the public buildings:- + + +"VENETIANS! + +"Struzza, Thomaso, Pietrino, Baluzza, and Matteo, five as brave men +as the world ever produced, who, had they stood at the head of +armies, would have been called HEROES, and now being called +BANDITTI, are fallen victims to the injustice of State policy. +These men, it is true, exist for you no longer; but their place is +supplied by him, whose name is affixed to this paper, and who will +stand by his employers with body and with soul. I laugh at the +vigilance of the Venetian police; I laugh at the crafty and insolent +Florentine, whose hand has dragged his brethren to the rack. Let +those who need me, seek me; they will find me everywhere! Let those +who seek me with the design of delivering me up to the law, despair +and tremble; they will find me nowhere, but _I_ shall find THEM, and +that when they least expect me! Venetians, you understand me! Woe +to the man who shall attempt to discover me; his life and death +depend upon my pleasure. This comes from the Venetian Bravo, +ABELLINO." + +"A hundred sequins," exclaimed the incensed Doge, on reading the +paper, "a hundred sequins to him who discovers this monster +Abellino, and a thousand to him who delivers him up to justice." + +But in vain did spies ransack every lurking place in Venice; no +Abellino was to be found. In vain did the luxurious, the +avaricious, and the hungry stretch their wits to the utmost, incited +by the tempting promise of a thousand sequins. Abellino's prudence +set all their ingenuity at defiance. + +But not the less did every one assert that he had recognised +Abellino, sometimes in one disguise, and sometimes in another, as an +old man, a gondolier, a woman, or a monk. Everybody had seen him +somewhere; but, unluckily, nobody could tell where he was to be seen +again. + + + +CHAPTER IV: THE VIOLET. + + + +I informed my readers, in the beginning of the last chapter, that +Flodoardo was become melancholy, and that Rosabella was indisposed, +but I did not tell them what had occasioned this sudden change. + +Flodoardo, who on his first arrival at Venice was all gaiety, and +the life of every society in which he mingled, lost his spirits on +one particular day; and it so happened that it was on the very same +day that Rosabella betrayed the first symptoms of indisposition. + +For on this unlucky day did the caprice of accident, or perhaps the +Goddess of Love (who has her caprices too every now and then), +conduct Rosabella into her uncle's garden, which none but the Doge's +intimate friends were permitted to enter; and where the Doge himself +frequently reposed in solitude and silence during the evening hours +of a sultry day. + +Rosabella, lost in thought, wandered listless and unconscious along +the broad and shady alleys of the garden. Sometimes, in a moment of +vexation, she plucked the unoffending leaves from the hedges and +strewed them upon the ground; sometimes she stopped suddenly, then +rushed forward with impetuosity, then again stood still, and gazed +upon the clear blue heaven. Sometimes her beautiful bosom was +heaved with quick and irregular motion, and sometimes a half- +suppressed sigh escaped from her lips of coral. + +"He is very handsome!" she murmured, and gazed with such eagerness +on vacancy, as though she had there seen something which was hidden +from the sight of common observers. + +"Yet Camilla is in the right," she resumed, after a pause, and she +frowned as had she said that Camilla was in the wrong. + +This Camilla was her governess, her friend, her confidante, I may +almost say her mother. Rosabella had lost her parents early. Her +mother died when her child could scarcely lisp her name; and her +father, Guiscardo of Corfu, the commander of a Venetian vessel, +eight years before had perished in an engagement with the Turks, +while he was still in the prime of life. Camilla, one of the +worthiest creatures that ever dignified the name of woman, supplied +to Rosabella the place of mother, had brought her up from infancy, +and was now her best friend, and the person to whose ear she +confided all her little secrets. + +While Rosabella was still buried in her own reflections, the +excellent Camilla advanced from a side path, and hastened to join +her pupil. Rosabella started. + +Rosabella.--Ah! dear Camilla, is it you? What brings you hither? + +Camilla.--You often call me your guardian angel, and guardian angels +should always be near the object of their care. + +Rosabella.--Camilla, I have been thinking over your arguments; I +cannot deny that all you have said to me is very true, and very +wise, but still - + +Camilla.--But still, though your prudence agrees with me, your heart +is of a contrary opinion. + +Rosabella.--It is, indeed. + +Camilla.--Nor do I blame your heart for differing from me, my poor +girl. I have acknowledged to you without disguise that were _I_ at +your time of life, and were such a man as Flodoardo to throw himself +in my way, I could not receive his attentions with indifference. It +cannot be denied that this young stranger is uncommonly pleasing, +and, indeed, for any woman whose heart is disengaged, an uncommonly +DANGEROUS companion. There is something very prepossessing in his +appearance, his manners are elegant, and short as has been his abode +in Venice, it is already past doubting that there are many noble and +striking features in his character. But alas, after all, he is but +a poor nobleman, and it is not very probable that the rich and +powerful Doge of Venice will ever bestow his niece on one who, to +speak plainly, arrived here little better than a beggar. No, no, +child, believe me, a romantic adventurer is no fit husband for +Rosabella of Corfu. + +Rosabella.--Dear Camilla, who was talking about husbands? What I +feel for Flodoardo is merely affection, friendship. + +Camilla.--Indeed! Then you would be perfectly satisfied, should +some one of our wealthy ladies bestow her hand on Flodoardo? + +Rosabella (hastily).--Oh! Flodoardo would not ACCEPT her hand, +Camilla; of that I am sure. + +Camilla.--Child, child, you would willingly deceive yourself. But +be assured that a girl who loves ever connects, perhaps +unconsciously, the wish for an eternal UNION with the idea of +eternal AFFECTION. Now this is a wish which you cannot indulge in +regard to Flodoardo without seriously offending your uncle, who, +good man as he is, must still submit to the severe control of +politics and etiquette. + +Rosabella.--I know all that, Camilla, but can I not make you +comprehend that I am not in love with Flodoardo, and do not mean to +be in love with him, and that love has nothing at all to do in the +business? I repeat to you, what I feel for him is nothing but +sincere and fervent friendship; and surely Flodoardo deserves that I +should feel that sentiment for him. Deserves it, said I? Oh, what +does Flodoardo NOT deserve? + +Camilla.--Ay, ay, friendship, indeed, and love. Oh, Rosabella, you +know not how often these deceivers borrow each other's mask to +ensnare the hearts of unsuspecting maidens. You know not how often +love finds admission, when wrapped in friendship's cloak, into that +bosom, which, had he approached under his own appearance, would have +been closed against him for ever. In short, my child, reflect how +much you owe to your uncle; reflect how much uneasiness this +inclination would cost him; and sacrifice to duty what at present is +a mere caprice, but which, if encouraged, might make too deep an +impression on your heart to be afterwards removed by your best +efforts. + +Rosabella.--You say right, Camilla. I really believe myself that my +prepossession in Flodoardo's favour is merely an accidental fancy, +of which I shall easily get the better. No, no; I am not in love +with Flodoardo--of that you may rest assured. I even think that I +rather feel an antipathy towards him, since you have shown me the +possibility of his making me prove a cause of uneasiness to my kind, +my excellent uncle. + +Camilla (smiling).--Are your sentiments of duty and gratitude so +very strong? + +Rosabella.--Oh, that they are, Camilla; and so you will say yourself +hereafter. This disagreeable Flodoardo--to give me so much +vexation! I wish he had never come to Venice. I declare I do not +like him at all. + +Camilla.--No--what! Not like Flodoardo? + +Rosabella (casting down her eyes).--No, not at all. Not that I wish +him ill, either, for you know, Camilla, there's no reason why I +should hate this poor Flodoardo! + +Camilla.--Well, we will resume this subject when I return. I have +business, and the gondola waits for me. Farewell, my child; and do +not lay aside your resolution as hastily as you took it up. + +Camilla departed, and Rosabella remained melancholy and uncertain. +She built castles in the air, and destroyed them as soon as built. +She formed wishes, and condemned herself for having formed them. +She looked round her frequently in search of something, but dared +not confess to herself what it was of which she was in search. + +The evening was sultry, and Rosabella was compelled to shelter +herself from the sun's overpowering heat. In the garden was a small +fountain, bordered by a bank of moss, over which the magic hands of +art and nature had formed a canopy of ivy and jessamine. Thither +she bent her steps. She arrived at the fountain, and instantly drew +back, covered with blushes, for on the bank of moss, shaded by the +protecting canopy, whose waving blossoms were reflected on the +fountain, Flodoardo was seated, and fixed his eyes on a roll of +parchment. + +Rosabella hesitated whether she should retire or stay. Flodoardo +started from his place, apparently in no less confusion than +herself, and relieved her from her indecision by taking her hand +with respect, and conducting her to the seat which he had just +quitted. + +Now, then, she could not possibly retire immediately, unless she +meant to violate every common principle of good breeding. + +Her hand was still clasped in Flodoardo's; but it was so natural for +him to take it, that she could not blame him for having done so. +But what was she next to do? Draw her hand away? Why should she, +since he did her hand no harm by keeping it, and the keeping it +seemed to make him so happy? And how could the gentle Rosabella +resolve to commit an act of such unheard-of cruelty as wilfully to +deprive any one of a pleasure which made him so happy, and which did +herself no harm? + +"Signora," said Flodoardo, merely for the sake of saying something, +"you do well to enjoy the open air. The evening is beautiful." + +"But I interrupt your studies, my lord," said Rosabella. + +"By no means," answered Flodoardo; and there this interesting +conversation came to a full stop. Both looked down; both examined +the heaven and the earth, the trees and the flowers, in the hopes of +finding some hints for renewing the conversation; but the more +anxiously they sought them, the more difficult did it seem to find +what they sought; and in this painful embarrassment did two whole +precious minutes elapse. + +"Ah, what a beautiful flower!" suddenly cried Rosabella, in order to +break the silence, then stooped and plucked a violet with an +appearance of the greatest eagerness, though, in fact, nothing at +that moment could have been more a matter of indifference. + +"It is a very beautiful flower, indeed," gravely observed Flodoardo, +and was out of all patience with himself for having made so flat a +speech. + +"Nothing can surpass this purple," continued Rosabella; "red and +blue so happily blended, that no painter can produce so perfect a +union." + +"Red and blue--the one the symbol of happiness, the other of +affection. Ah, Rosabella! how enviable will be that man's lot on +whom your hand shall bestow such a flower. Happiness and affection +are not more inseparably united than the red and blue which purple +that violet." + +"You seem to attach a value to the flower of which it is but little +deserving." + +"Might I but know on whom Rosabella will one day bestow what that +flower expresses. Yet, this is a subject which I have no right to +discuss. I know not what has happened to me to-day. I make nothing +but blunders and mistakes. Forgive my presumption, lady. I will +hazard such forward inquiries no more." + +He was silent. Rosabella was silent also. + +But though they could forbid their lips to betray their hidden +affection; though Rosabella said not--"Thou art he on whom this +flower shall be bestowed:" though Flodoardo's words had not +expressed--"Rosabella, give me that violet, and that which it +implies"--oh, their eyes were far from being silent. Those +treacherous interpreters of secret feelings acknowledged more to +each other than their hearts had yet acknowledged to themselves. + +Flodoardo and Rosabella gazed on each other with looks which made +all speech unnecessary. Sweet, tender, and enthusiastic was the +smile which played around Rosabella's lips when her eyes met those +of the youth whom she had selected from the rest of mankind; and +with mingled emotions of hope and fear did the youth study the +meaning of that smile. He understood it, and his heart beat louder, +and his eye flamed brighter. + +Rosabella trembled; her eyes could no longer sustain the fire of his +glances, and a modest blush overspread her face and bosom. + +"Rosabella!" at length murmured Flodoardo, unconsciously; +"Flodoardo!" sighed Rosabella, in the same tone. + +"Give me that violet!" he exclaimed, eagerly, then sank at her feet, +and in a tone of the most humble supplication repeated, "Oh, give it +to me!" + +Rosabella held the flower fast. + +"Ask for it what thou wilt. If a throne can purchase it, I will pay +that price, or perish. Rosabella, give me that flower!" + +She stole one look at the handsome suppliant and dared not hazard a +second. + +"My repose, my happiness, my life--nay, even my glory, all depend on +the possession of that little flower. Let that be mine, and here I +solemnly renounce all else which the world calls precious." + +The flower trembled in her snowy hand. Her fingers clasped it less +firmly. + +"You hear me, Rosabella? I kneel at your feet; and am I then in +vain a beggar?" + +The word "beggar" recalled to her memory Camilla and her prudent +counsels. "What am I doing?" she said to herself. "Have I +forgotten my promise, my resolution? Fly, Rosabella, fly, or this +hour makes you faithless to yourself and duty." + +She tore the flower to pieces, and threw it contemptuously on the +ground. + +"I understand you, Flodoardo," said she; "and having understood you, +will never suffer this subject to be renewed. Here let us part, and +let me not again be offended by a similar presumption. Farewell!" + +She turned from him with disdain, and left Flodoardo rooted to his +place with sorrow and astonishment. + + + +CHAPTER V: THE ASSASSIN. + + + +Scarcely had she reached her chamber ere Rosabella repented her +having acted so courageously. It was cruel in her, she thought, to +have given him so harsh an answer. She recollected with what +hopeless and melancholy looks the poor thunderstruck youth had +followed her steps as she turned to leave him. She fancied that she +saw him stretched despairing on the earth, his hair dishevelled, his +eyes filled with tears. She heard him term her the murderess of his +repose, pray for death as his only refuge; and she saw him with +every moment approach towards the attainment of his prayer through +the tears which he shed on her account. Already she heard those +dreadful words--"Flodoardo is no more." Already she saw the +sympathising multitude weep round the tomb of him whom all the +virtuous loved, and whom the wicked dreaded; whom all his friends +adored, and whom even his enemies admired. + +"Alas! alas!" cried she, "this was but a wretched attempt to play +the heroine. Already does my resolution fail me. Ah, Flodoardo! I +meant not what I said. I love you--love you now, and must love you +always, though Camilla may chide, and though my good uncle may hate +me." + +In a few days after this interview she understood that an +extraordinary alteration had taken place in Flodoardo's manner and +appearance; that he had withdrawn himself from all general society; +and that when the solicitations of his intimate friends compelled +him to appear in their circle, his spirits seemed evidently +depressed by the weight of an unconquerable melancholy. + +This intelligence was like the stroke of a poniard to the feeling +heart of Rosabella. She fled for shelter to the solitude of her +chamber, there indulged her feelings without restraint, and +lamented, with showers of repentant tears, her harsh treatment of +Flodoardo. + +The grief which preyed in secret on her soul soon undermined her +health. No one could relieve her sufferings, for no one knew the +cause of her melancholy, or the origin of her illness. No wonder, +then, that Rosabella's situation at length excited the most bitter +anxiety in the bosom of her venerable uncle. No wonder, too, that +Flodoardo entirely withdrew himself from a world which was become +odious to him, since Rosabella was to be seen in it no longer; and +that he devoted himself in solitude to the indulgence of a passion +which he had vainly endeavoured to subdue, and which, in the +impetuosity of its course, had already swallowed up every other +wish, and every other sentiment. + +But let us for the moment turn from the sick chamber of Rosabella, +and visit the dwellings of the conspirators, who were now advancing +with rapid strides towards the execution of their plans; and who, +with every hour that passed over their heads, became more numerous, +more powerful, and more dangerous to Andreas and his beloved +Republic. + +Parozzi, Memmo, Contarino, Falieri, the chiefs of this desperate +undertaking, now assembled frequently in the Cardinal Gonzaga's +palace, where different plans for altering the constitution of +Venice were brought forward and discussed. But in all different +schemes it was evident that the proposer was solely actuated by +considerations of private interest. The object of one was to get +free from the burden of enormous debts; another was willing to +sacrifice everything to gratify his inordinate ambition. The +cupidity of THIS man was excited by the treasures of Andreas and his +friends; while THAT was actuated by resentment of some fancied +offence, a resentment which could only be quenched with the +offender's blood. + +These execrable wretches, who aimed at nothing less than the total +overthrow of Venice, or at least of her government, looked towards +the completion of their extravagant hopes with the greater +confidence, since a new but necessary addition to the already +existing taxes had put the Venetian populace out of humour with +their rulers. + +Rich enough, both in adherents and in wealth, to realise their +projects, rich enough in bold, shrewd, desperate men, whose minds +were well adapted to the contrivance and execution of revolutionary +projects, they now looked down with contempt upon the good old Doge, +who as yet entertained no suspicion of their nocturnal meetings. + +Still did they not dare to carry their projects into effect, till +some principal persons in the State should be prevented by DEATH +from throwing obstacles in their way. For the accomplishment of +this part of their plan they relied on the daggers of the banditti. +Dreadful therefore was the sound in their ears, when the bell gave +the signal for execution, and they saw their best-founded hopes +expire on the scaffold, which supported the headless trunks of the +four bravoes. But if their consternation was great at thus losing +the destined instruments of their designs, how extravagant was their +joy when the proud Abellino dared openly to declare to Venice that +he still inhabited the Republic, and that he still wore a dagger at +the disposal of Vice. + +"This desperado is the very man for us!" they exclaimed unanimously, +and in rapture; and now their most ardent wish was to enroll +Abellino in their services. + +Their object was soon attained--they sought the daring ruffian, and +he suffered himself to be found. He visited their meetings, but in +his promises and demands he was equally extravagant. + +The first and most earnest wish of the whole conspiracy was the +death of Conari, the Procurator, a man whom the Doge valued beyond +all others, a man whose eagle eyes made the conspirators hourly +tremble for their secret, and whose service the Doge had accepted, +in preference to those of the Cardinal Gonzaga. But the sum which +Abellino demanded for the murder of this one man was enormous. + +"Give me the reward which I require," said he, "and I promise, on +the word of a man of honour, that after this night the Procurator, +Conari, shall give you no further trouble. Exalt him to heaven, or +imprison him in hell, I'll engage to find and stab him." + +What could they do? Abellino was not a man to be easily beat down +in his demands. The Cardinal was impatient to attain the summit of +his wishes; but his road lay straight over Conari's grave! + +Abellino received the sum demanded; the next day the venerable +Conari, the Doge's best and dearest friend, the pride and safeguard +of the Republic, was no longer numbered among the living. + +"'Tis a terrible fellow, this Abellino!" cried the conspirators, +when the news reached them, and celebrated the Procurator's death in +triumph at the Cardinal's midnight feast. + +The Doge was almost distracted with terror and astonishment. He +engaged to give ten thousand sequins to any one who should discover +by whom Conari had been removed from the world. A proclamation to +this effect was published at the corner of every street in Venice, +and made known throughout the territories of the Republic. A few +days after this proclamation had been made, a paper was discovered +affixed to the principal door of the Venetian Signoria. + +"VENETIANS! + +"You would fain know the author of Conari's death. To spare you +much fruitless trouble, I hereby acknowledge that I, Abellino, was +his assassin. + +"Twice did I bury my dagger in his heart, and then sent his body to +feed the fishes. The Doge promises TEN thousand sequins to him who +shall discover Conari's murderer; and to him who shall be clever +enough to SEIZE him, Abellino hereby promises TWENTY. Adieu, +Signors. I remain your faithful servant, + +"ABELLINO." + + + +CHAPTER VI: THE TWO GREATEST MEN IN VENICE. + + + +It must be superfluous to inform my readers that all Venice became +furious at this new insolence. Within the memory of man had no one +ever treated with such derision the celebrated Venetian police, or +set the Doge's power at defiance with such proud temerity. This +occurrence threw the whole city into confusion; every one was on the +look-out; the patrols were doubled; the sbirri extended their +researches on all sides; yet no one could see, or hear, or discover +the most distant trace of Abellino. + +The priests in their sermons strove to rouse the slumbering +vengeance of Heaven to crush this insolent offender. The ladies +were ready to swoon at the very name of Abellino, for who could +assure them that, at some unexpected moment, he might not pay THEM +the same compliment which he had paid to Rosabella? As for the old +women, they unanimously asserted that Abellino had sold himself to +the Prince of Darkness, by whose assistance he was enabled to sport +with the patience of all pious Venetians, and deride the impotence +of their just indignation. The Cardinal and his associates were +proud of their terrible confederate, and looking forward with +confidence to the triumphant issue of their undertaking. The +deserted family of Conari called down curses on his murderer's head, +and wished that their tears might be changed into a sea of sulphur, +in whose waves they might plunge the monster Abellino; nor did +Conari's relations feel more grief for his loss than the Doge and +his two confidants, who swore never to rest till they had discovered +the lurking-place of this ruthless assassin, and had punished his +crime with tenfold vengeance. + +"Yet, after all," said Andreas one evening, as he sat alone in his +private chamber, "after all, it must be confessed that this Abellino +is a singular man. He who can do what Abellino has done must +possess both such talents and such courage as, stood he at the head +of an army, would enable him to conquer half the world. Would that +I could once get a sight of him!" + +"Look up, then!" roared Abellino, and clapped the Doge on the +shoulder. Andreas started from his seat. A colossal figure stood +before him, wrapped in a dark mantle above which appeared a +countenance so hideous and forbidding, that the universe could not +have produced its equal. + +"Who art thou?" stammered out the Doge. + +"Thou seest me, and canst doubt? Well, then, I am Abellino, the +good friend of your murdered Conari, the Republic's most submissive +slave." + +The brave Andreas, who had never trembled in fight by land or by +sea, and for whom no danger had possessed terrors sufficient to +shake his undaunted resolution, the brave Andreas now forgot for a +few moments his usual presence of mind. Speechless did he gaze on +the daring assassin, who stood before him calm and haughty, +unappalled by the majesty of the greatest man in Venice. + +Abellino nodded to him with an air of familiar protection, and +graciously condescended to grin upon him with a kind of half- +friendly smile. + +"Abellino," said the Doge, at length, endeavouring to recollect +himself, "thou art a fearful--a detestable man." + +"Fearful?" answered the bravo; "dost thou think me so? Good, that +glads me to the very heart! Detestable? that may be so, or it may +not. I confess, the sign which I hang out gives no great promise of +good entertainment within; but yet, Andreas, one thing is certain. +You and I stand on the same line, for at this moment we are the two +greatest men in Venice; you in your way, I in mine." + +The Doge could not help smiling at the bravo's familiar tone. + +"Nay, nay," continued Abellino, "no smiles of disbelief, if you +please. Allow me, though a bravo, to compare myself to a Doge; +truly, I think there's no great presumption in placing myself on a +level with a man whom I hold in my power, and who therefore is in +fact beneath me." + +The Doge made a movement, as he would have left him. + +"Not so fast," said Abellino, laughing rudely, and he barred the +Doge's passage. "Accident seldom unites in so small a space as this +chamber a pair of such great men. Stay where you are, for I have +not done with you yet; we must have a little conversation." + +"Hear me, Abellino," said the Doge, mustering up all the dignity +which he possessed; "thou hast received great talents from Nature: +why dost thou employ them to so little advantage? I here promise +you, on my most sacred word, pardon for the past, and protection for +the future, will you but name to me the villain who bribed you to +assassinate Conari, abjure your bloody trade, and accept an honest +employment in the service of the Republic. If this offer is +rejected, at least quit with all speed the territory of Venice, or I +swear--" + +"Ho! ho!" interrupted Abellino; "pardon and protection, say you? It +is long since I thought it worth my while to care for such trifles. +Abellino is able to protect himself without foreign aid; and, as to +pardon, mortals cannot give absolution for sins like mine. On that +day, when all men must give in the list of their offences, then, +too, will I give in mine, but till then never. You would know the +name of him who bribed me to be Conari's murderer? Well, well, you +shall know it, but not to-day. I must quit with all speed the +Venetian territory? and wherefore; through fear of thee? Ho! ho! +Through fear of Venice? Ha, Abellino fears not Venice; 'tis Venice +that fears Abellino! You would have me abjure my profession? Well, +Andreas, there is one condition, which, perhaps--" + +"Name it," cried the Doge, eagerly; "will ten thousand sequins +purchase your departure from the Republic?" + +"I would gladly give you twice as much myself, could you recall the +insult of offering Abellino so miserable a bribe! No, Andreas, but +one price can pay me: give me your niece for my bride. I love +Rosabella, the daughter of Guiscard of Corfu." + +"Monster--what insolence!" + +"Ho! ho! Patience, patience, good uncle, that is to be. Will you +accept my terms?" + +"Name what sum will satisfy you, and it shall be yours this instant, +so you will only relieve Venice from your presence. Though it +should cost the Republic a million she will be a gainer, if her air +is no longer poisoned by your breath." + +"Indeed! Why, in fact, a million is not so great a sum; for look +you, Andreas, I have just sold for near HALF a million the lives of +your two dear friends, Manfrone and Lomellino. Now give me +Rosabella, and I break the bargain." + +"Miscreant! Has Heaven no lightnings?" + +"You will not? Mark me! In four-and-twenty hours shall Manfrone +and Lomellino be food for fishes. Abellino has said it. Away!" + +And with these words he drew a pistol from under his cloak, and +flashed it in the Doge's face. Blinded by the powder, and confused +by the unexpected explosion, Andreas started back, and sunk +bewildered on a neighbouring sofa. He soon recovered from his +astonishment. He sprang from his seat to summon his guards and +seize Abellino; but Abellino had already disappeared. + +On that same evening were Parozzi and his confederates assembled in +the palace of the Cardinal Gonzaga. The table was spread with the +most luxurious profusion, and they arranged over their flowing +goblets plans for the Republic's ruin. The Cardinal related how he +had of late contrived to insinuate himself into the Doge's good +graces, and had succeeded in impressing him with an opinion that the +chiefs of the confederacy were fit men to hold offices of important +trust. Contarino boasted that he doubted not before long to be +appointed to the vacant procuratorship. Parozzi reckoned for HIS +share upon Rosabella's hand, and the place either of Lomellino or +Manfrone, when once those two chief obstacles to his hope should be +removed. Such was the conversation in which they were engaged, when +the clock struck twelve, the doors flew wide, and Abellino stood +before them. + +"Wine, there!" cried he; "the work is done. Manfrone and Lomellino +are at supper with the worms. And I have thrown the Doge himself +into such a fit of terror that I warrant he will not recover himself +easily. Now answer are you content with me, you bloodhounds?" + +"Next, then, for Flodoardo!" shouted Parozzi. + +"Flodoardo!" muttered Abellino between his teeth; "hum--hum--that's +not so easy." + + + + +BOOK THE THIRD + + + + +CHAPTER I: THE LOVERS. + + + +Rosabella, the idol of all Venice, lay on the bed of sickness; a +sorrow, whose cause was carefully concealed from every one, +undermined her health, and destroyed the bloom of her beauty. She +loved the noble Flodoardo; and who could have known Flodoardo and +not have loved him? His majestic stature, his expressive +countenance, his enthusiastic glance, his whole being declared +aloud--Flodoardo is Nature's favourite, and Rosabella had been +always a great admirer of Nature. + +But if Rosabella was ill, Flodoardo was scarcely better. He +confined himself to his own apartment; he shunned society, and +frequently made long journeys to different cities of the Republic, +in hopes of distracting his thoughts by change of place from that +object which, wherever he went, still pursued him. He had now been +absent for three whole weeks. No one knew in what quarter he was +wandering; and it was during this absence that the so-long expected +Prince of Monaldeschi arrived at Venice to claim Rosabella as his +bride. + +His appearance, to which a month before Andreas looked forward with +such pleasing expectation, now afforded but little satisfaction to +the Doge. Rosabella was too ill to receive her suitor's visits, and +he did not allow her much time to recover her health; for six days +after his arrival at Venice the Prince was found murdered in a +retired part of one of the public gardens. His sword lay by him +unsheathed and bloody; his tablets were gone, but one leaf had been +torn from them and fastened on his breast. It was examined, and +found to contain the following lines, apparently written in blood:- + + +"Let no one pretend to Rosabella's hand, who is not prepared to +share the fate of Monaldeschi. +"The Bravo, +"ABELLINO." + + +"Oh, where shall I now fly for comfort? for protection?" exclaimed +the Doge in despair, when this dreadful news was announced. "Why, +why, is Flodoardo absent?" + +Anxiously did he now desire the youth's return, to support him under +the weight of these heavy misfortunes; nor was it long before that +desire was gratified. Flodoardo returned. + +"Welcome, noble youth!" said the Doge, when he saw the Florentine +enter his apartment. "You must not in future deprive me of your +presence for so long. I am now a poor forsaken old man. You have +heard that Lomellino--that Manfrone--" + +"I know all," answered Flodoardo, with a melancholy air. + +"Satan has burst his chains, and now inhabits Venice under the name +of Abellino, robbing me of all that my soul holds precious. +Flodoardo, for Heaven's love, be cautious; often, during your +absence, have I trembled lest the miscreant's dagger should have +deprived me too of YOU. I have much to say to you, my young friend, +but I must defer it till the evening. A foreigner of consequence +has appointed this hour for an audience, and I must hasten to +receive him--but in the evening--" + +He was interrupted by the appearance of Rosabella, who, with +tottering steps and pale cheeks, advanced slowly into the apartment. +She saw Flodoardo, and a faint blush overspread her countenance. +Flodoardo rose from his seat, and welcomed her with an air of +distant respect. + +"Do not go yet," said the Doge; "perhaps in half an hour I may be at +liberty: in the meanwhile I leave you to entertain my poor +Rosabella. She has been very ill during your absence; and I am +still uneasy about her health. She kept her bed till yesterday, and +truly I think she has left it too soon." + +The venerable Doge quitted the apartment, and the lovers once more +found themselves alone. Rosabella drew near the window; Flodoardo +at length ventured to approach it also. + +"Signora," said he, "are you still angry with me?" + +"I am not angry with you," stammered out Rosabella, and blushed as +she recollected the garden scene. + +"And you have quite forgiven my transgression?" + +"Your transgression?" repeated Rosabella, with a faint smile; "yes, +if it was a transgression, I have quite forgiven it. Dying people +ought to pardon those who have trespassed against them, in order +that they, in their turn, may be pardoned their trespasses against +Heaven--and I am dying; I feel it." + +"Signora!" + +"Nay, 'tis past a doubt. It's true, I have quitted my sick-bed +since yesterday; but I know well that I am soon to return to it, +never to leave it more. And therefore--therefore, I now ask your +pardon, signor, for the vexation which I was obliged to cause to you +the last time we met." + +Flodoardo replied not. + +"Will you not forgive me? You must be very difficult to appease-- +very revengeful!" + +Flodoardo replied not. + +"Will you refuse my offered hand? Shall all be forgotten?" + +"Forgotten, lady? Never, never--every word and look of yours is +stamped on my memory, never to be effaced. I cannot forget a +transaction in which YOU bore a part: I cannot forget the scene +that passed between us, every circumstance is too precious and +sacred. As to PARDON"--he took her extended hand and pressed it +respectfully to his lips--"I would to Heaven, dear lady, that you +had in truth injured me much, that I might have much to forgive you. +Alas! I have at present nothing to pardon." + +Both were now silent. At length Rosabella resumed the conversation +by saying--"You have made a long absence from Venice; did you travel +far?" + +"I did." + +"And received much pleasure from your journey?" + +"Much; for everywhere I heard the praises of Rosabella." + +"Count Flodoardo," she interrupted him with a look of reprehension, +but in a gentle voice, "would you again offend me?" + +"That will soon be out of my power. Perhaps you can guess what are +my present intentions." + +"To resume your travels soon?" + +"Exactly so; and the next time that I quit Venice, to return to it +no more." + +"No more?" she repeated, eagerly. "Oh, not so, Flodoardo! Ah, can +you leave me?"--She stopped, ashamed of her imprudence. "Can you +leave my uncle? I meant to say. You do but jest, I doubt not." + +"By my honour, lady, I never was more in earnest." + +"And whither, then, do you mean to go?" + +"To Malta, and assist the knights in their attacks upon the corsairs +of Barbary. Providence, perhaps, may enable me to obtain the +command of a galley, then will I call my vessel 'Rosabella;' then +shall the war-cry be still 'Rosabella;' that name will render me +invincible." + +"Oh! this is a mockery, Count. I have not deserved that you should +sport with my feelings so cruelly." + +"It is to SPARE your feelings, signora, that I am now resolved to +fly from Venice; my presence might cause you some uneasy moments. I +am not the happy man whose sight is destined to give you pleasure; I +will, at least, avoid giving you pain." + +"And you really can resolve to abandon the Doge, whose esteem for +you is so sincere, whose friendship has always been so warm?" + +"I value his friendship highly, but it is not sufficient to make me +happy, and could he lay kingdoms at my feet, still would his +friendship be insufficient to make me happy." + +"Does, then, your happiness require so much?" + +"It does--much more than I have mentioned, infinitely more. But one +boon can make me happy; I have begged for it on my knees." He +caught her hand and pressed it eagerly to his lips. "I have begged +for it, Rosabella, and my suit has been rejected." + +"You are a strange enthusiast," she said with difficulty, and +scarcely knew what she said, while Flodoardo drew her gently nearer +to him, and murmured in a supplicating voice, "Rosabella!" + +"What would you of me?" + +"My happiness!" + +She gazed upon him for a moment undecided, then hastily drew away +her hand, and exclaimed, "Leave me, this moment, I command you. +Leave me, for Heaven's sake!" + +Flodoardo clasped his hands together in despair and anguish. He +bowed his head in token of obedience. He left her with slow steps +and a melancholy air, and as he passed the threshold, turned to bid +her farewell for ever. Suddenly she rushed towards him, caught his +hand, and pressed it to her heart. + +"Flodoardo," she cried, "I am thine!" and sank motionless at his +feet. + + + +CHAPTER II: A DANGEROUS PROMISE. + + + +And now who was so blessed as the fortunate Flodoardo? The victory +was his own, he had heard the wished-for sentence pronounced by the +lips of Rosabella. He raised her from the ground, and placed her on +a sofa. Her blue eyes soon unclosed themselves once more, and the +first object which they beheld was Flodoardo kneeling at her feet, +while with one arm he encircled her waist. Her head sank upon the +shoulder of the man for whom she had breathed so many sighs, who had +occupied so many of her thoughts by day, who had been present in so +many of her dreams by night. + +As they gazed in silent rapture on each other, they forgot that they +were mortals; they seemed to be transported to a happier, to a +better world. Rosabella thought that the chamber in which she sat +was transformed into an earthly Paradise; invisible seraphs seemed +to hallow by their protecting presence the indulgence of her +innocent affection, and she poured forth her secret thanks to Him +who had given her a heart susceptible of love. + +Through the whole course of man's existence, such a moment as this +occurs but once. Happy is he who sighs for its arrival; happy is he +who, when it arrives, has a soul worthy of its enjoyment; happy is +even he for whom that moment has long been passed, so it passed not +unenjoyed, for the recollection of it still is precious. Sage +philosophers, in vain do you assure us that the raptures of a moment +like this are mere illusions of a heated imagination, scarcely more +solid than an enchanting dream, which fades before the sunbeams of +truth and reason. Alas! does there exist a happiness under the moon +which owes not its charms in some degree to the magic of +imagination! + +"You are dear to me, Flodoardo," murmured Rosabella, for Camilla and +her counsels were quite forgotten; "oh, you are very, very dear!" + +The youth only thanked her by clasping her still closer to his +bosom, while, for the first time, he sealed her coral lips with his +own. + +At that moment the door was suddenly thrown open. The Doge Andreas +re-entered the apartment: the expected stranger had been suddenly +taken ill, and Andreas was no sooner at liberty than he hastened to +rejoin his favourite. The rustling of his garments roused the +lovers from their dream of bliss. Rosabella started from +Flodoardo's embrace with a cry of terror; Flodoardo quitted his +kneeling posture, yet seemed by no means disconcerted at the +discovery. + +Andreas gazed upon them for some minutes, with a look which +expressed at once anger, melancholy, and the most heartfelt +disappointment. He sighed deeply, cast his eyes towards heaven, and +in silence turned to leave the apartment. + +"Stay yet one moment, noble Andreas," cried the Florentine. + +The Doge turned, and Flodoardo threw himself at his feet. Andreas +looked down with calm and serious dignity on the kneeling offender, +by whom his friendship had been so unworthily rewarded, and by whom +his confidence had been so cruelly betrayed. + +"Young man," said he, in a stern voice, "the attempt to excuse +yourself must be fruitless." + +"Excuse myself!" interrupted Flodoardo, boldly; "no, my lord, I need +no excuses for loving Rosabella; 'twere for him to excuse himself +who had seen Rosabella and NOT loved her; yet, if it is indeed a +crime in me that I adore Rosabella, 'tis a crime of which Heaven +itself will absolve me, since it formed Rosabella so worthy to be +adored." + +"You seem to lay too much stress on this fantastic apology," +answered the Doge, contemptuously; "at least you cannot expect that +it should have much weight with me." + +"I say it once more, my lord," resumed Flodoardo, while he rose from +the ground, "that I intend to make no apology; I mean not to excuse +my love for Rosabella, but to request your approbation of that love. +Andreas, I adore your niece; I demand her for my bride." + +The Doge started in astonishment at this bold and unexpected +request. + +"It is true," continued the Florentine, "I am no more than a needy, +unknown youth, and it seems a piece of strange temerity when such a +man proposes himself to espouse the heiress of the Venetian Doge. +But, by Heaven, I am confident that the great Andreas means not to +bestow his Rosabella on one of those whose claims to favour are +overflowing coffers, extensive territories, and sounding titles, or +who vainly decorate their insignificance with the glory obtained by +the titles of their ancestors, glory of which they are themselves +incapable of acquiring a single ray. I acknowledge freely that I +have as yet performed no actions which make me deserving of such a +reward as Rosabella; but it shall not be long ere I WILL perform +such actions, or perish in the attempt." + +The Doge turned from him with a look of displeasure. + +"Oh, be not incensed with him, dear uncle," said Rosabella. She +hastened to detain the Doge, threw her white arms around his neck +fondly, and concealed in his bosom the tears with which her +countenance was bedewed. + +"Make your demands," continued Flodoardo, still addressing himself +to the Doge; "say what you wish me to do, and what you would have me +become, in order to obtain from you the hand of Rosabella. Ask what +you will, I will look on the task, however difficult, as nothing +more than sport and pastime. By Heaven, I would that Venice were at +this moment exposed to the most imminent danger, and that ten +thousand daggers were unsheathed against your life; Rosabella my +reward--how certain should I be to rescue Venice, and strike the ten +thousand daggers down." + +"I have served the Republic faithfully and fervently for many a long +year," answered Andreas, with a bitter smile; "I have risked my life +without hesitation; I have shed my blood with profusion; I asked +nothing for my reward but to pass my old age in soft tranquillity, +and of this reward have I been cheated. My bosom friends, the +companions of my youth, the confidants of my age, have been torn +from me by the daggers of banditti; and you, Flodoardo, you, on whom +I heaped all favours, have now deprived me of this my only remaining +comfort. Answer me, Rosabella; hast thou in truth bestowed thy +heart on Flodoardo irrevocably?" + +One hand of Rosabella's still rested on her uncle's shoulder; with +the other she clasped Flodoardo's and pressed it fondly against her +heart--yet Flodoardo seemed still unsatisfied. No sooner had the +Doge's question struck his ear, than his countenance became +dejected; and though his hand returned the pressure of Rosabella's, +he shook his head mournfully, with an air of doubt, and cast on her +a penetrating look, as would he have read the secrets of her inmost +soul. + +Andreas withdrew himself gently from Rosabella's arm, and for some +time paced the apartment slowly, with a countenance sad and earnest. +Rosabella sank upon a sofa which stood near her, and wept. +Flodoardo eyed the Doge, and waited for his decision with +impatience. + +Thus passed some minutes. An awful silence reigned through the +chamber; Andreas seemed to be labouring with some resolution of +dreadful importance. The lovers wished, yet dreaded, the conclusion +of the scene, and with every moment their anxiety became more +painful. + +"Flodoardo!" at length said the Doge, and suddenly stood still in +the middle of the chamber. Flodoardo advanced with a respectful +air. "Young man," he continued, "I am at length resolved; Rosabella +loves you, nor will I oppose the decision of her heart; but +Rosabella is much too precious to admit of my bestowing her on the +first who thinks fit to demand her. The man to whom I give her must +be worthy such a gift. She must be the reward of his services; nor +can he do services so great that such a reward will not overpay +them. Your claims on the Republic's gratitude are as yet but +trifling; an opportunity now offers of rendering as an essential +service. The murderer of Conari, Manfrone, and Lomellino--go, bring +him hither! Alive or dead, thou must bring to this palace the +terrible banditti-king, ABELLINO!" + +At this unexpected conclusion of a speech on which his happiness or +despair depended, Flodoardo started back. The colour fled from his +cheeks. + +"My noble lord!" he said at length, hesitating, "you know well that- +-" + +"I know well," interrupted Andreas, "how difficult a task I enjoin, +when I require the delivery of Abellino. For myself I swear that I +had rather a thousand times force my passage with a single vessel +through the whole Turkish fleet, and carry off the admiral's ship +from the midst of them, than attempt to seize this Abellino, who +seems to have entered into a compact with Lucifer himself: who is +to be found everywhere and nowhere; whom so many have seen, but whom +no one knows; whose cautious subtlety has brought to shame the +vigilance of our State inquisitors, of the College of Ten, and of +all their legions of spies and sbirri; whose very name strikes +terror into the hearts of the bravest Venetians, and from whose +dagger I myself am not safe upon my throne. I know well, Flodoardo, +how much I ask; but I know also how much I proffer. You seem +irresolute? You are silent? Flodoardo, I have long watched you +with attention. I have discovered in you marks of a superior +genius, and therefore I am induced to make such a demand. If any +one is able to cope with Abellino, thou art the man. I wait your +answer." + +Flodoardo paced the chamber in silence. Dreadful was the enterprise +proposed. Woe to him should Abellino discover his purpose. But +Rosabella was the reward. He cast a look on the beloved one, and +resolved to risk everything. + +He advanced towards the Doge. + +Andreas.--Now, then, Flodoardo--your resolution? + +Flodoardo.--Should I deliver Abellino into your power, do you +solemnly swear that Rosabella shall be my bride? + +Andreas.--She shall! and NOT TILL THEN. + +Rosabella.--Ah! Flodoardo, I fear this undertaking will end +fatally. Abellino is so crafty, so dreadful. Oh! look well to +yourself, for should you meet with the detested monster, whose +dagger - + +Flodoardo (interrupting her hastily).--Oh! silence, Rosabella--at +least allow me to hope. Noble Andreas, give me your hand, and +pledge your princely word that, Abellino once in your power, nothing +shall prevent me from being Rosabella's husband. + +Andreas.--I swear it; deliver into my power, either alive or dead, +this most dangerous foe of Venice, and nothing shall prevent +Rosabella from being your wife. In pledge of which I here give you +my princely hand. + +Flodoardo grasped the Doge's hand in silence, and shook it thrice. +He turned to Rosabella, and seemed on the point of addressing her, +when he suddenly turned away, struck his forehead, and measured the +apartment with disordered and unsteady steps. The clock in the +tower of St. Mark's church struck five. + +"Time flies!" cried Flodoardo; "no more delay, then. In four-and- +twenty hours will I produce in this very palace this dreaded bravo, +Abellino." + +Andreas shook his head. "Young man," said he, "be less confident in +your promises; I shall have more faith in your performance." + +Flodoardo (serious and firm).--Let things terminate as they may, +either I will keep my word, or never again will cross the threshold +of your palace. I have discovered some traces of the miscreant, and +I trust that I shall amuse you to-morrow, at this time and in this +place, with the representation of a comedy; but should it prove a +tragedy instead, God's will be done. + +Andreas.--Remember that too much haste is dangerous; rashness will +destroy even the frail hopes of success which you may reasonably +indulge at present. + +Flodoardo.--Rashness, my lord? He who has lived as I have lived, +and suffered what I have suffered, must have been long since cured +of rashness. + +Rosabella (taking his hand).--Yet be not too confident of your own +strength, I beseech you! Dear Flodoardo, my uncle loves you, and +his advice is wise! Beware of Abellino's dagger! + +Flodoardo.--The best way to escape his dagger is not to allow him +time to use it: within four-and-twenty hours must the deed be done, +or never. Now, then, illustrious Prince, I take my leave of you. +To-morrow I doubt not to convince you that nothing is too much for +love to venture. + +Andreas.--Right; to venture: but to achieve? + +Flodoardo.--Ah, that must depend--He paused suddenly again his eyes +were fastened eagerly on those of Rosabella, and it was evident that +with every moment his uneasiness acquired fresh strength. He +resumed his discourse to Andreas, with a movement of impatience. + +"Noble Andreas," said he, "do not make me dispirited; rather let me +try whether I cannot inspire you with more confidence of my success. +I must first request you to order a splendid entertainment to be +prepared. At this hour in the afternoon of to-morrow let me find +all the principal persons in Venice, both men and women, assembled +in this chamber; for should my hopes be realised, I would willingly +have spectators of my triumph. Particularly let the venerable +members of the College of Ten he invited, in order that they may at +last he brought face to face with this terrible Abellino, against +whom they have so long been engaged in fruitless warfare." + +Andreas (after eyeing him some time with a look of mingled surprise +and uncertainty).--They shall be present. + +Flodoardo.--I understand, also, that since Conari's death you have +been reconciled to the Cardinal Gonzaga; and that he has convinced +you how unjust were the prejudices with which Conari had inspired +you against the nobility--Parozzi, Contarino, and the rest of that +society. During my late excursions I have heard much in praise of +these young men, which makes me wish to show myself to them in a +favourable light. If you have no objection, let me beg you to +invite them also. + +Andreas.--You shall be gratified. + +Flodoardo.--One thing more, which had nearly escaped my memory. Let +no one know the motive of this entertainment till the whole company +is assembled. Then let guards be placed around the palace, and, +indeed, it may be as well to place them even before the doors of the +saloon; for in truth this Abellino is such a desperate villain, that +too many precautions cannot be taken against him. The sentinels +must have their pieces loaded, and, above all things, they must be +strictly charged, on pain of death, to let every one enter, but no +one quit the chamber. + +Andreas.--All this shall be done punctually. + +Flodoardo.--I have nothing more to say. Noble Andreas, farewell. +Rosabella, to-morrow, when the clock strikes five, we shall meet +again, or never. + +He said, and rushed out of the apartment. Andreas shook his head; +while Rosabella sank upon her uncle's bosom, and wept bitterly. + + + +CHAPTER III.--THE MIDNIGHT MEETING. + + + +"Victory!" shouted Parozzi, as he rushed into the Cardinal Gonzaga's +chamber, where the chief conspirators were all assembled; "our work +goes on bravely. Flodoardo returned this morning to Venice, and +Abellino has already received the required sum." + +Gonzaga.--Flodoardo does not want talents; I had rather he should +live and join our party. He is seldom off his guard - + +Parozzi.--Such vagabonds may well be cautious; they must not forget +themselves, who have so much to conceal from others. + +Falieri.--Rosabella, as I understand, by no means sees this +Florentine with unfavourable eyes. + +Parozzi.--Oh, wait till to-morrow, and then he may make love to the +devil and his grandmother, if he likes it. Abellino by that time +will have wrung his neck round, I warrant you. + +Contarino.--It is strange that, in spite of all inquiries, I can +learn but little at Florence respecting this Flodoardo. My letters +inform me that some time ago there did exist a family of that name; +but it has been long extinct, or if any of its descendants are still +in being at Florence, their existence is quite a secret. + +Gonzaga.--Are you all invited to the Doge's tomorrow? + +Contarino.--All of us, without exception. + +Gonzaga.--That is well. It seems that my recommendations have +obtained some weight with him, since his triumvirate has been +removed. And in the evening a masked ball is to be given. Did not +the Doge's chamberlain say so? + +Falieri.--He did. + +Memmo.--I only hope there is no trick in all this. If he should +have been given a hint of our conspiracy! Mercy on us! my teeth +chatter at the thought. + +Gonzaga.--Absurd! By what means should our designs have been made +known to him? The thing is impossible. + +Memmo.--Impossible? What, when there's scarce a cutpurse, +housebreaker, or vagabond in Venice who has not been enlisted in our +service, would it be so strange if the Doge discovered a little of +the business? A secret which is known to so many, how should it +escape his penetration? + +Contarino.--Simpleton! the same thing happens to him which happens +to betrayed husbands. Everyone can see the horns except the man who +carries them. And yet I confess it is full time that we should +realise our projects, and prevent the possibility of our being +betrayed. + +Falieri.--You are right, friend; everything is ready now. The +sooner that the blow is struck the better. + +Parozzi.--Nay, the discontented populace, which at present sides +with us, would be perfectly well pleased if the sport began this +very night; delay the business longer, and their anger against +Andreas will cool, and render them unfit for our purpose. + +Contarino.--Then let us decide the game at once; be to-morrow the +important day. Leave the Doge to my disposal. I'll at least engage +to bury my poniard in his heart, and then let the business end as it +may, one of two things must happen: either we shall rescue +ourselves from all trouble and vexation, by throwing everything into +uproar and confusion, or else we shall sail with a full wind from +this cursed world to another. + +Parozzi.--Mark me, friends, we must go armed to the Doge's +entertainment. + +Gonzaga.--All the members of the College of Ten have been +particularly invited - + +Falieri.--Down with every man of them! + +Memmo.--Aye, aye! Fine talking, but suppose it should turn out to +be down with ourselves? + +Falieri.--Thou white-livered wretch! Stay at home, then, and take +care of your worthless existence. But if our attempt succeeds, come +not to us to reimburse you for the sums which you have already +advanced. Not a sequin shall be paid you back, depend on't. + +Memmo.--You wrong me, Falieri; if you wish to prove my courage, draw +your sword and measure it against mine. I am as brave as yourself; +but, thank Heaven, I am not quite so hot-headed. + +Gonzaga.--Nay, even suppose that the event should not answer our +expectations? Andreas once dead, let the populace storm as it +pleases; the protection of his Holiness will sanction our +proceedings. + +Memmo.--The Pope? May we count on his protection? + +Gonzaga (throwing him a letter).--Read there, unbeliever. The Pope, +I tell you, must protect us, since one of our objects is professed +to be the assertion of the rights of St. Peter's Chair in Venice. +Prithee, Memmo, tease us no more with such doubts, but let +Contarino's proposal be adopted at once. Our confederates must be +summoned to Parozzi's palace with all diligence, and there furnished +with such weapons as are necessary. Let the stroke of midnight be +the signal for Contarino's quitting the ball-room, and hastening to +seize the arsenal. Salviati, who commands there, is in our +interest, and will throw open the gates at the first summons. + +Falieri.--The admiral Adorna, as soon as he hears the alarm-bell, +will immediately lead his people to our assistance. + +Parozzi.--Oh, our success is certain. + +Contarino.--Only let us take care to make the confusion as general +as possible. Our adversaries must be kept in the dark who are their +friends and who their foes, and all but our own party must be left +ignorant as to the authors, the origin, and the object of the +uproar. + +Parozzi.--Heaven, I am delighted at finding the business at length +so near the moment of execution! + +Falieri.--Parozzi, have you distributed the white ribbons by which +we are to recognise our partisans? + +Parozzi.--That was done some days ago. + +Contarino.--Then there is no more necessary to be said on the +subject. Comrades, fill your goblets. We will not meet again +together till our work has been completed. + +Memmo.--And yet methinks it would not be unwise to consider the +matter over again coolly. + +Contarino.--Pshaw! consideration and prudence have nothing to do +with a rebellion; despair and rashness in this case are better +counsellors. The work once begun, the constitution of Venice once +boldly overturned, so that no one can tell who is master and who is +subject, then consideration will be of service in instructing us how +far it may be necessary for our interest to push the confusion. +Come, friends! fill, fill, I say. I cannot help laughing when I +reflect that, by giving this entertainment to-morrow, the Doge +himself kindly affords us an opportunity of executing our plans. + +Parozzi.--As to Flodoardo, I look upon him already as in his grave; +yet before we go to-morrow to the Doge's, it will be as well to have +a conference with Abellino. + +Contarino.--That care we will leave to you, Parozzi, and in the +meanwhile here's the health of Abellino. + +All.--Abellino! + +Gonzaga.--And success to our enterprise to-morrow. + +Memmo.--I'll drink THAT toast with all my heart. + +All.--Success to to-morrow's enterprise! + +Parozzi.--The wine tastes well, and every face looks gay; pass +eight-and-forty hours, and shall we look as gaily? We separate +smiling; shall we smile when two nights hence we meet again? No +matter. + + + +CHAPTER IV.--THE DECISIVE DAY. + + + +The next morning everything in Venice seemed as tranquil as if +nothing more than ordinary was on the point of taking place; and +yet, since her first foundation, never had a more important day +risen on the Republic. + +The inhabitants of the ducal palace were in motion early. The +impatient Andreas forsook the couch on which he had passed a +sleepless and anxious night, as soon as the first sunbeams +penetrated through the lattice of his chamber. Rosabella had +employed the hours of rest in dreams of Flodoardo, and she still +seemed to be dreaming of him, even after sleep was fled. Camilla's +love for her fair pupil had broken her repose; she loved Rosabella +as had she been her daughter, and was aware that on this interesting +day depended the love-sick girl's whole future happiness. For some +time Rosabella was unusually gay; she sang to her harp the most +lively airs, and jested with Camilla for looking so serious and so +uneasy; but when mid-day approached, her spirits began to forsake +her. She quitted her instrument, and paced the chamber with +unsteady steps. With every succeeding hour her heart palpitated +with greater pain and violence, and she trembled in expectation of +the scene which was soon to take place. + +The most illustrious persons in Venice already filled her uncle's +palace; the afternoon so much dreaded, and yet so much desired, was +come; and the Doge now desired Camilla to conduct his niece to the +great saloon, where she was expected with impatience by all those +who were of most consequence in the Republic. + +Rosabella sank on her knees before a statue of the Virgin. "Blessed +Lady!" she exclaimed, with lifted hands, "have mercy on me! Let all +to-day end well!" + +Pale as death did she enter the chamber in which, on the day before, +she had acknowledged her love for Flodoardo, and Flodoardo had sworn +to risk his life to obtain her. Flodoardo was not yet arrived. + +The assembly was brilliant, the conversation was gay. They talked +over the politics of the day, and discussed the various occurrences +of Europe. The Cardinal and Contarino were engaged in a conference +with the Doge, while Memmo, Parozzi, and Falieri stood silent +together, and revolved the project whose execution was to take place +at midnight. + +The weather was dark and tempestuous. The wind roared among the +waters of the canal, and the vanes of the palace-towers creaked +shrilly and discordantly. One storm of rain followed hard upon +another. + +The clock struck four. The cheeks of Rosabella, if possible, became +paler than before. Andreas whispered something to his chamberlain. +In a few minutes the tread of armed men seemed approaching the doors +of the saloon, and soon after the clattering of weapons was heard. + +Instantly a sudden silence reigned through the whole assembly. The +young courtiers broke off their love-speeches abruptly, and the +ladies stopped in their criticisms upon the last new fashions. The +statesmen dropped their political discussions, and gazed on each +other in silence and anxiety. + +The Doge advanced slowly into the midst of the assembly. Every eye +was fixed upon him. The hearts of the conspirators beat painfully. + +"Be not surprised, my friends," said Andreas, "at these unusual +precautions; they relate to nothing which need interfere with the +pleasures of this society. You have all heard but too much of the +bravo Abellino, the murderer of the Procurator Conari, and of my +faithful counsellors Manfrone and Lomellino, and to whose dagger my +illustrious guest the Prince of Monaldeschi has but lately fallen a +victim. This miscreant, the object of aversion to every honest man +in Venice, to whom nothing is sacred or venerable, and who has +hitherto set at defiance the whole vengeance of the Republic--before +another hour expires, perhaps this outcast of hell may stand before +you in this very saloon." + +All (astonished).--Abellino? What, the bravo Abellino? + +Gonzaga.--Of his own accord! + +Andreas.--No, not of his own accord, in truth. But Flodoardo of +Florence has undertaken to render this important service to the +Republic, to seize Abellino, cost what it may, and conduct him +hither at the risk of his life. + +A Senator.--The engagement will be difficult to fulfil. I doubt +much Flodoardo's keeping his promise. + +Another.--But if he SHOULD perform it, the obligation which +Flodoardo will lay upon the Republic will not be trifling. + +A Third.--Nay, we shall be all his debtors, nor do I know how we can +reward Flodoardo for so important a service. + +Andreas.--Be that my task. Flodoardo has demanded my niece in +marriage if he performs his promise. Rosabella shall be his reward. + +All gazed on each other in silence; some with looks expressing the +most heartfelt satisfaction, and others with glances of envy and +surprise. + +Falieri (in a low voice).--Parozzi, how will this end? + +Memmo.--As I live, the very idea makes me shake as if I had a fever. + +Parozzi (smiling contemptuously).--It's very likely that Abellino +should suffer himself to be caught! + +Contarino.--Pray inform me, signors, have any of you ever met this +Abellino face to face? + +Several Noblemen at once.--Not I. Never. + +A Senator.--He is a kind of spectre, who only appears now and then, +when he is least expected and desired. + +Rosabella.--I saw him once; never again shall I forget the monster. + +Andreas.--And my interview with him is too well known to make it +needful for me to relate it. + +Memmo.--I have heard a thousand stories about this miscreant, the +one more wonderful than the other; and for my own part I verily +believe that he is Satan himself in a human form. I must say that I +think it would be wiser not to let him be brought in among us, for +he is capable of strangling us all as we stand here, one after +another, without mercy. + +"Gracious Heaven!" screamed several of the ladies, "you don't say +so? What, strangle us in this very chamber?" + +Contarino.--The principal point is, whether Flodoardo will get the +better of HIM, or HE of Flodoardo. Now I would lay a heavy wager +that the Florentine will return without having finished the +business. + +A Senator.--And _I_ would engage, on the contrary, that there is but +one man in Venice who is capable of seizing Abellino, and that THAT +man is Flodoardo of Florence. The moment that I became acquainted +with him, I prophesied that one day or other he would play a +brilliant part in the annals of history. + +Another Senator.--I think with you, signor. Never was I so struck +with a man at first sight as I was with Flodoardo. + +Contarino.--A thousand sequins on Abellino's not being taken, unless +death should have taken him first. + +The First Senator.--A thousand sequins on Flodoardo seizing him - + +Andreas.--And delivering him up to me, either alive or dead. + +Contarino.--Illustrious signors, you are witnesses of the wager. My +Lord Vitalba, there is my hand on it. A thousand sequins! + +The Senator.--Done. + +Contarino (smiling).--Many thanks for your gold, signor. I look on +it as already in my purse. Flodoardo is a clever gentleman, no +doubt, yet I would advise him to take good care of himself; for he +will find that Abellino knows a trick or two, or I am much mistaken. + +Gonzaga.--May I request your Highness to inform me whether Flodoardo +is attended by the sbirri? + +Andreas.--No, he is alone. Near four-and-twenty hours have elapsed +since he set out in pursuit of the bravo. + +Gonzaga (to Contarino, with a smile of triumph).--I wish you joy of +your thousand sequins, signor. + +Contarino (bowing respectfully).--Since your Excellency prophesies +it I can no longer doubt my success. + +Memmo.--I begin to recover myself! Well, well! let us see the end. + +Three-and-twenty hours had elapsed since Flodoardo had entered into +the rash engagement. The four-and-twentieth now hastened to its +completion, and yet Flodoardo came not. + + + +CHAPTER V.--THE CLOCK STRIKES FIVE. + + + +The Doge became uneasy. The senator Vitalba began to tremble for +his thousand sequins, and the conspirators could not restrain their +spiteful laughter, when Contarino gravely declared that he would +gladly lose, not ONE thousand sequins, but twenty, if the loss of +his wager through Abellino's being captured might but secure the +general safety of the Republic. + +"Hark!" cried Rosabella, "the clock strikes five!" + +All listened to the chimes in the tower of St. Mark's Church, and +trembled as they counted the strokes. Had not Camilla supported +her, Rosabella would have sank upon the ground. The destined hour +was past, and still Flodoardo came not! + +The venerable Andreas felt a sincere affection for the Florentine; +he shuddered as he dwelt upon the probability that Abellino's dagger +had prevailed. + +Rosabella advanced towards her uncle as if she would have spoken to +him; but anxiety fettered her tongue, and tears forced themselves +into her eyes. She struggled for a while to conceal her emotions, +but the effort was too much for her. She threw herself on a sofa, +wrung her hands, and prayed to the God of mercy for help and +comfort. + +The rest of the company either formed groups of whisperers, or +strolled up and down the apartment in evident uneasiness. They +would willingly have appeared gay and unconcerned, but they found it +impossible to assume even an affectation of gaiety, and thus elapsed +another hour, and still Flodoardo came not. + +At that moment the evening sun broke through the clouds, and a ray +of its setting glory was thrown full upon the countenance of +Rosabella. She started from the sofa, extended her arms towards the +radiant orb, and exclaimed, while a smile of hope played round her +lips, "God is merciful; God will have mercy on me." + +Contarino.--Was it at five o'clock that Flodoardo engaged to produce +Abellino? It is now a full hour beyond his time. + +The Senator Vitalba.--Let him only produce him at last, and he may +be a month beyond his time if he choose. + +Andreas.--Hark! No. Silence! silence! Surely I hear footsteps +approaching the saloon. + +The words were scarcely spoken when the folding doors were thrown +open, and Flodoardo rushed into the room enveloped in his mantle. +His hair streamed on the air in wild disorder; a deep shade was +thrown over his face by the drooping plumes of his barrette, from +which the rain was flowing. Extreme melancholy was impressed on all +his features, and he threw gloomy looks around him as he bowed his +head in salutation of the assembly. + +Every one crowded round him; every mouth was unclosed to question +him; every eye was fixed on his face as if eager to anticipate his +answers. + +"Holy Virgin!" exclaimed Memmo, "I am afraid that--" + +"Be silent, signor!" interrupted Contarino, sternly; "there is +nothing to be afraid of." + +"Illustrious Venetians!"--it was thus that Flodoardo broke silence, +and he spoke with the commanding tone of a hero--"I conclude that +his Highness has already made known to you the object of your being +thus assembled. I come to put an end to your anxiety; but first, +noble Andreas, I must once more receive the assurance that Rosabella +of Corfu shall become my bride, provided I deliver into your power +the bravo Abellino." + +Andreas (examining his countenance with extreme anxiety).-- +Flodoardo, have you succeeded? Is Abellino your prisoner? + +Flodoardo.--If Abellino is my prisoner, shall Rosabella be my bride? + +Andreas.--Bring me Abellino, alive or dead, and she is yours. I +swear it beyond the power of retracting, and also that her dowry +shall be royal! + +Flodoardo.--Illustrious Venetians, ye have heard the Doge's oath? + +All.--We are your witnesses. + +Flodoardo (advancing a few paces with a bold air, and speaking in a +firm voice).--Well, then, Abellino is in my power--is in YOURS. + +All (in confusion and a kind of uproar).--In ours? Merciful heaven! +Where is he? Abellino! + +Andreas.--Is he dead or living? + +Flodoardo.--He still lives. + +Gonzaga (hastily).--He lives? + +Flodoardo (bowing to the Cardinal respectfully).--He still lives, +signor. + +Rosabella (pressing Camilla to her bosom). Didst thou hear that, +Camilla? Didst thou hear it? The villain still lives. Not one +drop of blood has stained the innocent hand of Flodoardo. + +The Senator Vitalba.--Signor Contarino, I have won a thousand +sequins of you. + +Contarino.--So it should seem, signor. + +Andreas.--My son, you have bound the Republic to you for ever, and I +rejoice that it is to Flodoardo that she is indebted for a service +so essential. + +Vitalba.--And permit me, noble Florentine, to thank you for this +heroic act in the name of the Senate of Venice. Our first care +shall be to seek out a reward proportioned to your merits. + +Flodoardo (extending his arms towards Rosabella, with a melancholy +air).--There stands the only reward for which I wish. + +Andreas (joyfully).--And that reward is your own. But where have +you left the bloodhound? Conduct him hither, my son, and let me +look at him once more. When I last saw him, he had the insolence to +tell me, "Doge, I am your equal. This narrow chamber now holds the +two greatest men in Venice." Now, then, let me see how this other +great man looks in captivity. + +Two or three Senators.--Where is he? Bring him hither. + +Several of the ladies screamed at hearing this proposal. "For +heaven's sake," cried they, "keep the monster away from us! I shall +be frightened out of my senses if he comes here." + +"Noble ladies," said Flodoardo, with a smile, expressing rather +sorrow than joy, "you have nothing to apprehend. Abellino shall do +you no harm; but he needs must come hither to claim THE BRAVO'S +BRIDE." And he pointed to Rosabella. + +"Oh, my best friend," she answered, "how shall I express my thanks +to you for having thus put an end to my terrors? I shall tremble no +more at hearing Abellino named. Rosabella shall now be called the +Bravo's Bride no longer." + +Falieri.--Is Abellino already in this palace? + +Flodoardo.--He is. + +Vitalba.--Then why do you not produce him? Why do you trifle so +long with our impatience? + +Flodoardo.--Be patient. It's now time that the play should begin. +Be seated, noble Andreas. Let all the rest arrange themselves +behind the Doge. Abellino's coming! + +At that word both old and young, both male and female, with the +rapidity of lightning, flew to take shelter behind Andreas. Every +heart beat anxiously; but as to the conspirators, while expecting +Abellino's appearance, they suffered the torments of the damned. + +Grave and tranquil sat the Doge in his chair, like a judge appointed +to pass sentence on this King of the Banditti. The spectators stood +around in various groups, all hushed and solemn, as if they were +waiting to receive their final judgment. The lovely Rosabella, with +all the security of angels whose innocence have nothing to fear, +reclined her head on Camilla's shoulder and gazed on her heroic +lover with looks of adoration. The conspirators, with pallid cheeks +and staring eyes, filled up the background, and a dead and awful +silence prevailed through the assembly, scarcely interrupted by a +single breath. + +"And now, then," said Flodoardo, "prepare yourselves, for this +terrible Abellino shall immediately appear before you. Do not +tremble; he shall do no one harm." + +With these words he turned away from the company, advanced towards +the folding-doors. He paused for a few moments, and concealed his +face in his cloak. + +"Abellino!" cried he at length, raising his head, and extending his +arm towards the door. At that name all who heard it shuddered +involuntarily, and Rosabella advanced unconsciously a few steps +towards her lover. She trembled more for Flodoardo than herself. + +"Abellino!" the Florentine repeated, in a loud and angry tone, threw +from him his mantle and barrette, and had already laid his hand on +the lock of the door to open it, when Rosabella uttered a cry of +terror. + +"Stay, Flodoardo!" she cried, rushing towards him, and--Ha! +Flodoardo was gone, and there, in his place, stood Abellino, and +shouted out, "Ho! ho!" + + + +CHAPTER VI.--APPARITIONS. + + + +Instantly a loud cry of terror resounded through the apartment. +Rosabella sank fainting at the bravo's feet; the conspirators were +almost suffocated with rage, terror, and astonishment; the ladies +made signs of the cross, and began in all haste to repeat their +paternosters; the senators stood rooted to their places like so many +statues; and the Doge doubted the information of his ears and eyes. + +Calm and terrible stood the bravo before them, in all the pomp of +his strange and awful ugliness, with his bravo's habit, his girdle +filled with pistols and poniards, his distorted yellow countenance, +his black and bushy eyebrows, his lips convulsed, his right eye +covered by a large patch, and his left half buried among the +wrinkles of flesh which swelled around it. He gazed around him for +a few moments in silence, and then approached the stupefied Andreas. + +"Ho! ho!" he roared in a voice like thunder, "you wish to see the +bravo Abellino? Doge of Venice, here he stands, and is come to +claim his bride." + +Andreas gazed with looks of horror on this model for demons, and at +length stammered out with difficulty, "It cannot be real; I must +surely be the sport of some terrible dream." + +"Without there, guards!" exclaimed the Cardinal Gonzaga, and would +have hastened to the folding doors, when Abellino put his back +against them, snatched a pistol from his girdle, and pointed it at +the Cardinal's bosom. + +"The first," cried he, "who calls for the guard, or advances one +step from the place on which he stands, expires that moment. Fools! +Do ye think I would have delivered myself up, and desired that +guards might beset these doors, had I feared their swords, or +intended to escape from your power? No; I am content to be your +prisoner, but not through compulsion! I am content to be your +prisoner; and it was with that intent that I came hither. No mortal +should have the glory of seizing Abellino. If justice required him +to be delivered up, it was necessary that he should be delivered up +by himself! Or do ye take Abellino for an ordinary ruffian, who +passes his time in skulking from the sbirri, and who murders for the +sake of despicable plunder? No, by heaven, no! Abellino was no +such common villain. It's true I was a bravo; but the motives which +induced me to become one were great and striking." + +Andreas (clasping his hands together).--Almighty God! can all this +be possible? + +An awful silence again reigned through the saloon. All trembled +while they listened to the voice of the terrible assassin, who +strode through the chamber proud and majestic as the monarch of the +infernal world. + +Rosabella opened her eyes; their first look fell upon the bravo. + +"Oh, God of mercy!" she exclaimed, "he is still there. Methought, +too, that Flodoardo -. No, no; it could not be! I was deceived by +witchcraft." + +Abellino advanced towards her, and attempted to raise her. She +shrunk from his touch with horror. + +"No, Rosabella," said the bravo, in an altered voice, "what you saw +was no illusion. Your favoured Flodoardo is no other than Abellino +the bravo." + +"It is false!" interrupted Rosabella, starting from the ground in +despair, and throwing herself for refuge on Camilla's bosom. +"Monster! thou canst not be Flodoardo! such a fiend can never have +been such a seraph. Flodoardo's actions were good and glorious as a +demi-god's! 'Twas of him that I learned to love good and glorious +actions, and 'twas he who encouraged me to attempt them myself; his +heart was pure from all mean passions, and capable of conceiving all +great designs. Never did he scruple, in the cause of virtue, to +endure fatigue and pain, and to dry up the tears of suffering +innocence--that was Flodoardo's proudest triumph! Flodoardo and +thou--! Wretch, whom many a bleeding ghost has long since accused +before the throne of heaven, darest thou to profane the name of +Flodoardo!" + +Abellino (proud and earnest).--Rosabella, wilt thou forsake me? +Wilt thou retract thy promise? Look, Rosabella, and be convinced: +I, the bravo, and thy Flodoardo are the same. + +He said, removing the patch from his eye, and passed a handkerchief +over his face once or twice. In an instant his complexion was +altered, his bushy eyebrows and straight black hair disappeared, his +features were replaced in their natural symmetry, and lo! the +handsome Florentine stood before the whole assembly, dressed in the +habit of the bravo Abellino. + +Abellino.--Mark me, Rosabella! Seven times over, and seven times +again, will I change my appearance, even before your eyes, and that +so artfully that, study me as you will, the transformation shall +deceive you. But change as I may, of one thing be assured: I am +the man whom you loved as Flodoardo. + +The Doge gazed and listened without being able to recover from his +confusion, but every now and then the words "Dreadful! dreadful!" +escaped from his lips, and he wrung his hands in agony. Abellino +approached Rosabella, and said in the tone of supplication: +"Rosabella, wilt thou break thy promise? Am I no longer dear to +thee?" + +Rosabella was unable to answer; she stood like one changed to a +statue, and fixed her motionless eyes on the bravo. + +Abellino took her cold hand and pressed it to his lips. + +"Rosabella," said he, "art thou still mine?" + +Rosabella.--Flodoardo, oh! that I had never loved, had never seen +thee! + +Abellino.--Rosabella wilt thou still be the bride of Flodoardo? wilt +thou be "the Bravo's Bride?" + +Love struggled with abhorrence in Rosabella's bosom, and painful was +the contest. + +Abellino.--Hear me, beloved one! It was for thee that I have +discovered myself--that I have delivered myself into the hands of +justice. For thee--oh, what would I not do for thee! Rosabella, I +wait but to hear one syllable from your lips; speak but a decisive +yes or no, and all is ended. Rosabella, dost thou love me still? + +And still she answered not; but she threw upon him a look innocent +and tender as ever beamed from the eye of an angel, and that look +betrayed but too plainly that the miscreant was still master of her +heart. She turned from him hastily, threw herself into Camilla's +arms, and exclaimed, "God forgive you, man, for torturing me so +cruelly!" + +The Doge had by this time recovered from his stupor. He started +from his chair, threats flashed from his eyes, and his lips trembled +with passion. He rushed towards Abellino; but the senators threw +themselves in his passage, and held him back by force. In the +meanwhile the bravo advanced towards him with the most insolent +composure, and requested him to calm his agitation. + +"Doge of Venice," said he, "will you keep your promise? That you +gave it to me, these noble lords and ladies can testify." + +Andreas.--Monster! miscreant! Oh! how artfully has this plan been +laid to ensnare me! Tell me, Venetians, to SUCH a creditor am I +obliged to discharge my fearful debt? Long has he been playing a +deceitful bloody part; the bravest of our citizens have fallen +beneath his dagger, and it was the price of their blood which has +enabled him to act the nobleman in Venice. Then comes he to me in +disguise of a man of honour, seduces the heart of my unfortunate +Rosabella, obtains my promise by an artful trick, and now claims the +maiden for his bride, in the hope that the husband of the Doge's +niece will easily obtain an absolution for his crimes. Tell me, +Venetians, ought I to keep my word with this miscreant? + +All the Senators.--No, no, by no means. + +Abellino (with solemnity).--If you have once pledged your word, you +ought to keep it, though given to the Prince of Darkness. Oh, fie, +fie! Abellino, how shamefully hast thou been deceived in thy +reckoning. I thought I had to do with men of honour. Oh! how +grossly have I been mistaken. (In a terrible voice.)--Once again, +and for the last time, I ask you, Doge of Venice, wilt thou break +thy princely word? + +Andreas (in the tone of authority).--Give up your arms. + +Abellino.--And you will really withhold from me my just reward? +Shall it be in vain that I delivered Abellino into your power? + +Andreas.--It was to the brave Flodoardo that I promised Rosabella. +I never entered into any engagement with the murderer Abellino. Let +Flodoardo claim my niece, and she is his; but Abellino can have no +claim to her. Again I say lay down your arms. + +Abellino (laughing wildly).--The murderer Abellino, say you? Ho! +ho! Be it your care to keep your own promises, and trouble not +yourself about my murders, they are MY affair, and I warrant I shall +find a word or two to say in defence of them, when the judgment day +arrives. + +Gonzaga (to the Doge).--What dreadful blasphemy. + +Abellino.--Oh, good Lord Cardinal, intercede in my behalf, you know +me well; I have always acted by you like a man of honour, that at +least you cannot deny. Say a word in my favour, then, good Lord +Cardinal. + +Gonzaga (angrily, and with imperious dignity).--Address not thyself +to ME, miscreant. What canst thou and I have to do together? +Venerable Andreas, delay no longer; let the guards be called in. + +Abellino.--What? Is there then no hope for me? Does no one feel +compassion for the wretched Abellino? What! NO ONE?--(a pause)--All +are silent?--ALL! 'Tis enough. Then my fate is decided--call in +your guards. + +Rosabella (with a scream of agony, springing forward, and falling at +the feet of the Doge).--Mercy, mercy! Pardon him--pardon ABELLINO! + +Abellino (in rapture).--Sayest thou so? Ho! ho! then an angel prays +for Abellino in his last moments. + +Rosabella (clasping the Doge's knees).--Have mercy on him, my +friend, my father, he is a sinner; but leave him to the justice of +Heaven. He is a sinner, but oh, Rosabella loves him still. + +Andreas (pushing her away with indignation).--Away, unworthy girl; +you rave. + +Abellino folded his arms, gazed with eagerness on what was passing, +and tears gushed into his brilliant eyes. Rosabella caught the +Doge's hand, as he turned to leave her, kissed it twice, and said, +"If you have no mercy on HIM, then have none on ME. The sentence +which you pass on Abellino will be mine; 'tis for my own life that I +plead as well as Abellino's. Father, dear father, reject not my +suit, but spare him." + +Andreas (in an angry and decided tone).--Abellino dies. + +Abellino.--And can you look on with dry eyes while that innocent +dove bleeds at your feet? Go, barbarian; you never loved Rosabella +as she deserved. Now she is yours no longer. She is mine, she is +Abellino's. + +He raised her from the ground, and pressed her pale lips against his +own. + +"Rosabella, thou art mine; death alone can part us. Thou lovest me +as I WOULD be loved; I am blest whate'er may happen, and can now set +fortune at defiance. To business, then." + +He replaced Rosabella, who was almost fainting, on the bosom of +Camilla, then advanced into the middle of the chamber, and addressed +the assembly with an undaunted air - + +"Venetians, you are determined to deliver me up to the axe of +justice; there is for me no hope of mercy. 'Tis well, act as you +please; but ere you sit in judgment over ME, signors, I shall take +the liberty of passing sentence upon some few of YOU. Now mark me, +you see in me the murderer of Conari, the murderer of Paolo +Manfrone, the murderer of Lomellino. I deny it not. But would you +know the illustrious persons who paid me for the use of my dagger?" + +With these words he put a whistle to his lips, sounded it, and +instantly the doors flew open, the guards rushed in, and ere they +had time to recollect themselves, the chief conspirators were in +custody, and disarmed. + +"Guard them well," said Abellino, in a terrible voice to the +sentinels; "you have your orders. Noble Venetians, look on these +villains; it is to them that you are indebted for the loss of your +three citizens. I accuse of those murders one, two, three, four, +and my good Lord Cardinal there has the honour to be the fifth." + +Motionless and bewildered stood the accused; tale-telling confusion +spoke in every feature that the charge was true, and no one was bold +enough to contradict Abellino. + +"What can all this mean?" asked the senators of each other, in the +utmost surprise and confusion. + +"This is all a shameful artifice," the Cardinal at length contrived +to say; "the villain, perceiving that he has no chance of escaping +punishment, is willing, out of mere resentment, to involve us in his +destruction." + +Contarino (recovering himself ).--In the wickedness of his life he +has surpassed all former miscreants, and now he is trying to surpass +them in the wickedness of his death. + +Abellino (with majesty).--Be silent. I know your whole plot, have +seen your list of proscriptions, am well informed of your whole +arrangement, and at the moment that I speak to you the officers of +justice are employed, by my orders, in seizing the gentlemen with +the white ribbons round their arms, who this very night intended to +overturn Venice. Be silent, for defence were vain. + +Andreas (in astonishment)--Abellino, what is the meaning of all +this? + +Abellino.--Neither more nor less than that Abellino has discovered +and defeated a conspiracy against the constitution of Venice and the +life of its Doge! The bravo, in return for your kind intention of +sending him to destruction in a few hours, has preserved you from +it. + +Vitalba (to the accused).--Noble Venetians, you are silent under +this heavy charge. + +Abellino.--They are wise, for no defence can now avail them. Their +troops are already disarmed, and lodged in separate dungeons of the +State prison; visit them there, and you will learn more. You now +understand probably that I did not order the doors of this saloon to +be guarded for the purpose of seizing the terrible bravo Abellino, +but of taking those heroes into secure custody. + +And now, Venetians, compare together YOUR conduct and MINE. At the +hazard of my life have I preserved the State from ruin. Disguised +as a bravo, I dared to enter the assembly of those ruthless +villains, whose daggers laid Venice waste. I have endured for your +sakes storm, and rain, and frost, and heat; I have watched for your +safety while you were sleeping. Venice owes to my care her +constitution and your lives; and yet are my services deserving of no +reward? All this have I done for Rosabella of Corfu, and yet will +you withhold from me my promised bride? I have saved you from +death, have saved the honour of your wives, and the throats of your +innocent children from the knife of the assassin. Men! men! and yet +will you send me to the scaffold? + +Look on this list! See how many among you would have bled this +night, had it not been for Abellino, and see where the miscreants +stand by whom you would have bled! Read you not in every feature +that they are already condemned by heaven and their own conscience? +Does a single mouth unclose itself in exculpation? Does a single +movement of the head give the lie to my charge? Yet the truth of +what I have advanced shall be made still more evident. + +He turned himself to the conspirators + +"Mark me!" said he, "the first among you who acknowledges the truth +shall receive a free pardon. I swear it, I, the bravo Abellino!" + +The conspirators remained silent. Suddenly Memmo started forward +and threw himself trembling at the Doge's feet. + +"Venetians," he exclaimed, "Abellino has told you true." + +"'Tis false, 'tis false!" exclaimed the accused altogether. + +"Silence!" cried Abellino, in a voice of thunder, while the +indignation which flamed in every feature struck terror into his +hearers: "Silence, I say, and hear me, or rather hear the ghosts of +your victims. Appear, appear!" cried this dreadful man, in a tone +still louder: "'Tis time!" + +Again he sounded his whistle. The folding doors were thrown open, +and there stood the Doge's much lamented friends--Conari, Lomellino, +and Manfrone. + +"We are betrayed!" shouted Contarino, who drew out a concealed +dagger, and plunged it in his bosom up to the very hilt. + +And now what a scene of rapture followed. Tears streamed down the +silver beard of Andreas, as he rushed into the arms of his long-lost +companions; tears bedewed the cheeks of the venerable triumvirate, +as they once more clasped the knees of their prince, their friend, +their brother. These excellent men, these heroes, never had Andreas +hoped to meet them again till they should meet in heaven; and +Andreas blessed heaven for permitting him to meet them once more on +earth. These four men, who had valued each other in the first dawn +of YOUTH, who had fought by each other's sides in MANHOOD, were now +assembled in AGE, and valued each other more than ever. The +spectators gazed with universal interest on the scene before them, +and the good old senators mingled tears of joy with those shed by +the re-united companions. In the happy delirium of this moment, +nothing but Andreas and his friends were attended to; no one was +aware that the conspirators and the self-murderer Contarino were +removed by the guards from the saloon; no one but Camilla observed +Rosabella, who threw herself sobbing on the bosom of the handsome +bravo, and repeated a thousand times, "Abellino, then, is not a +murderer!" + +At length they began to recollect themselves they looked round them- +-and the first words which broke from every lip were--"Hail, saviour +of Venice!"--The roof rung with the name of Abellino, and unnumbered +blessings accompanied the name. + +That very Abellino, who not an hour before had been doomed to the +scaffold by the whole assembly, now stood calm and dignified as a +god before the adoring spectators; and now he viewed with +complacency the men whose lives he had saved, and now his eye dwelt +with rapture on the woman whose love was the reward of all his +dangers. + +"Abellino!" said Andreas advancing to the bravo, and extending his +hand towards him. + +"I am not Abellino," replied he, smiling, while he pressed the +Doge's hand respectfully to his lips "neither am I Flodoardo of +Florence. I am by birth a Neapolitan, and by name Rosalvo. The +death of my inveterate enemy the Prince of Monaldeschi makes it no +longer necessary to conceal who I really am." + +"Monaldeschi?" repeated Andreas, with a look of anxiety. + +"Fear not," continued Rosalvo; "Monaldeschi, it is true, fell by my +hand, but fell in honourable combat. The blood which stained his +sword flowed from my veins, and in his last moments conscience +asserted her empire in his bosom. He died not till he had written +in his tablets the most positive declaration of my innocence as to +the crimes with which his hatred had contrived to blacken me; and he +also instructed me by what means I might obtain at Naples the +restoration of my forfeited estates and the re-establishment of my +injured honour. Those means have been already efficacious, and all +Naples is by this time informed of the arts by which Monaldeschi +procured my banishment, and of the many plots which he laid for my +destruction; plots, which made it necessary for me to drop my own +character, and never to appear but in disguise. After various +wanderings chance led me to Venice. My appearance was so much +altered, that I dreaded not discovery, but I dreaded (and with +reason) perishing in your streets with hunger. In this situation +accident brought me acquainted with the banditti, by whom Venice was +then infested. I willingly united myself to their society, partly +with a view of purifying the Republic from the presence of these +wretches, and partly in the hope of discovering through them the +more illustrious villains by whom their daggers were employed. I +was successful. I delivered the banditti up to justice, and stabbed +their captain in Rosabella's sight. I was now the only bravo in +Venice. Every scoundrel was obliged to have recourse to me. I +discovered the plans of the conspirators, and now you know them +also. I found that the deaths of the Doge's three friends had been +determined on; and in order to obtain full confidence with the +confederates, it was necessary to persuade them that these men had +fallen beneath my dagger. No sooner had my plan been formed than I +imparted it to Lomellino. He, and he only, was my confidant in this +business. He presented me to the Doge as the son of a deceased +friend; he assisted me with his advice; he furnished me with keys to +those doors to the public gardens, which none were permitted to pass +through except Andreas and his particular friends, and which +frequently enabled me to elude pursuit; he showed me several private +passages in the palace by which I could penetrate unobserved even +into the Doge's very bed-chamber. When the time for his +disappearance arrived, he not only readily consented to lie +concealed in a retreat known only to ourselves, but was also the +means of inducing Manfrone and Conari to join him in his retirement, +till the fortunate issue of this day's adventure permitted me to set +them once more at liberty. The banditti exist no longer; the +conspirators are in chains; my plans are accomplished; and now, +Venetians, if you still think him deserving of it, here stands the +bravo Abellino, and you may lead him to the scaffold when you will." + +"To the scaffold!" exclaimed at once the Doge, the senators, and the +whole crowd of nobility; and every one burst into enthusiastic +praises of the dauntless Neapolitan. + +"Oh, Abellino," exclaimed Andreas, while he wiped away a tear, "I +would gladly give my ducal bonnet to be such a bravo as thou hast +been. 'Doge,' did thou once say to me, 'thou and I are the two +greatest men in Venice,' but oh, how much greater is the bravo than +the Doge! Rosabella is that jewel, than which I have nothing in the +world more precious; Rosabella is dearer to me than an emperor's +crown; Rosabella is thine." + +"Abellino," said Rosabella, and extended her hand to the handsome +Bravo. + +"Triumph!" cried he, "Rosabella is the Bravo's Bride," and he +clasped the blushing maid to his bosom. + + + +CHAPTER VII.--CONCLUSION. + + + +And now it would not be at all amiss to make Count Rosalvo sit down +quietly between the good old Doge and his lovely niece; and then +cause him to relate the motive of Monaldeschi's hatred, in what +manner he lost Valeria, what crimes were imputed to him, and how he +escaped from the assassins sent in pursuit of him by his enemy; how +he had long wandered from place to place, and how he had at length +learned, during his abode in Bohemia with a gang of gipsies, such +means of disguising his features as enabled him to defy the keenest +penetration to discover in the beggar Abellino the once admired +Count Rosalvo; how in this disguise he had returned to Italy; and +how Lomellino, having ascertained that he was universally believed +at Naples to have long since perished by shipwreck, and therefore +that neither the officers of the Inquisition, nor the assassins of +his enemies were likely to trouble themselves any more about him, he +had ventured to resume, with some slight alterations, his own +appearance at Venice; how the arrival of Monaldeschi had obliged him +to conceal himself, till an opportunity offered of presenting +himself to the Prince when unattended, and of demanding satisfaction +for his injuries; how he had been himself wounded in several places +by his antagonist, though the combat finally terminated in his +favour; how he had resolved to make use of Monaldeschi's death to +terrify Andreas still further, and of Parozzi's conspiracy to obtain +Rosabella's hand of the Doge; how he had trembled lest the heart of +his mistress should have been only captivated by the romantic +appearance of the adventurer Flodoardo, and have rejected him when +known to be the bravo Abellino; how he had resolved to make use of +the terror inspired by the assassin to put her love to the severest +trial; and how, had she failed in that trial, he had determined to +renounce the inconstant maid for ever; with many other HOWS, WHYS, +and WHEREFORES, which, not being explained, will, I doubt, leave +much of this tale involved in mystery: but before I begin Rosalvo's +history, I must ask two questions--First--do my readers like the +manner in which I relate adventures? + +Secondly--If my readers DO like my manner of relating adventures, +can I employ my time better than in relating them? + +When these questions are answered, I may probably resume my pen. In +the meanwhile, gentlemen and ladies, good-night, and pleasant dreams +attend you. + + + + + +End of The Project Gutenberg Etext The Bravo of Venice, by M. G. Lewis + diff --git a/old/brven10.zip b/old/brven10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..6ed30a3 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/brven10.zip |