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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