按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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 toYet Rosabella alone is capable of
thus enchanting at first sightRosabella and Valeria？ To be
beloved by two such womenYet； 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 t