the bravo of venice-第13章

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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。〃



〃Monsterwhat　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；　〃humhumthat'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

aloudFlodoardo　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　Lomellinothat　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　himbut　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

Heavenand　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　thereforetherefore；　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；　neverevery　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　doesmuch　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