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〃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 mem