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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 thi