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from his chair； threats flashed from his eyes； and his lips trembled
with passion。 He rushed towards Abellino； but the senators threw
themselves in his passage； and held him back by force。 In the
meanwhile the bravo advanced towards him with the most insolent
composure； and requested him to calm his agitation。
〃Doge of Venice；〃 said he； 〃will you keep your promise？ That you
gave it to me； these noble lords and ladies can testify。〃
Andreas。Monster！ miscreant！ Oh！ how artfully has this plan been
laid to ensnare me！ Tell me； Venetians； to SUCH a creditor am I
obliged to discharge my fearful debt？ Long has he been playing a
deceitful bloody part； the bravest of our citizens have fallen
beneath his dagger； and it was the price of their blood which has
enabled him to act the nobleman in Venice。 Then comes he to me in
disguise of a man of honour； seduces the heart of my unfortunate
Rosabella； obtains my promise by an artful trick； and now claims the
maiden for his bride； in the hope that the husband of the Doge's
niece will easily obtain an absolution for his crimes。 Tell me；
Venetians； ought I to keep my word with this miscreant？
All the Senators。No； no； by no means。
Abellino （with solemnity）。If you have once pledged your word； you
ought to keep it； though given to the Prince of Darkness。 Oh； fie；
fie！ Abellino； how shamefully hast thou been deceived in thy
reckoning。 I thought I had to do with men of honour。 Oh！ how
grossly have I been mistaken。 （In a terrible voice。）Once again；
and for the last time； I ask you； Doge of Venice； wilt thou break
thy princely word？
Andreas （in the tone of authority）。Give up your arms。
Abellino。And you will really withhold from me my just reward？
Shall it be in vain that I delivered Abellino into your power？
Andreas。It was to the brave Flodoardo that I promised Rosabella。
I never entered into any engagement with the murderer Abellino。 Let
Flodoardo claim my niece； and she is his； but Abellino can have no
claim to her。 Again I say lay down your arms。
Abellino （laughing wildly）。The murderer Abellino； say you？ Ho！
ho！ Be it your care to keep your own promises； and trouble not
yourself about my murders； they are MY affair； and I warrant I shall
find a word or two to say in defence of them； when the judgment day
arrives。
Gonzaga （to the Doge）。What dreadful blasphemy。
Abellino。Oh； good Lord Cardinal； intercede in my behalf； you know
me well； I have always acted by you like a man of honour； that at
least you cannot deny。 Say a word in my favour； then； good Lord
Cardinal。
Gonzaga （angrily； and with imperious dignity）。Address not thyself
to ME； miscreant。 What canst thou and I have to do together？
Venerable Andreas； delay no longer； let the guards be called in。
Abellino。What？ Is there then no hope for me？ Does no one feel
compassion for the wretched Abellino？ What！ NO ONE？（a pause）All
are silent？ALL！ 'Tis enough。 Then my fate is decidedcall in
your guards。
Rosabella （with a scream of agony； springing forward； and falling at
the feet of the Doge）。Mercy； mercy！ Pardon himpardon ABELLINO！
Abellino （in rapture）。Sayest thou so？ Ho！ ho！ then an angel prays
for Abellino in his last moments。
Rosabella （clasping the Doge's knees）。Have mercy on him； my
friend； my father； he is a sinner； but leave him to the justice of
Heaven。 He is a sinner； but oh； Rosabella loves him still。
Andreas （pushing her away with indignation）。Away； unworthy girl；
you rave。
Abellino folded his arms； gazed with eagerness on what was passing；
and tears gushed into his brilliant eyes。 Rosabella caught the
Doge's hand； as he turned to leave her； kissed it twice； and said；
〃If you have no mercy on HIM； then have none on ME。 The sentence
which you pass on Abellino will be mine； 'tis for my own life that I
plead as well as Abellino's。 Father； dear father； reject not my
suit； but spare him。〃
Andreas （in an angry and decided tone）。Abellino dies。
Abellino。And can you look on with dry eyes while that innocent
dove bleeds at your feet？ Go； barbarian； you never loved Rosabella
as she deserved。 Now she is yours no longer。 She is mine； she is
Abellino's。
He raised her from the ground； and pressed her pale lips against his
own。
〃Rosabella； thou art mine； death alone can part us。 Thou lovest me
as I WOULD be loved； I am blest whate'er may happen； and can now set
fortune at defiance。 To business； then。〃
He replaced Rosabella； who was almost fainting； on the bosom of
Camilla； then advanced into the middle of the chamber； and addressed
the assembly with an undaunted air …
〃Venetians； you are determined to deliver me up to the axe of
justice； there is for me no hope of mercy。 'Tis well； act as you
please； but ere you sit in judgment over ME； signors； I shall take
the liberty of passing sentence upon some few of YOU。 Now mark me；
you see in me the murderer of Conari； the murderer of Paolo
Manfrone； the murderer of Lomellino。 I deny it not。 But would you
know the illustrious persons who paid me for the use of my dagger？〃
With these words he put a whistle to his lips； sounded it； and
instantly the doors flew open； the guards rushed in； and ere they
had time to recollect themselves； the chief conspirators were in
custody； and disarmed。
〃Guard them well；〃 said Abellino； in a terrible voice to the
sentinels； 〃you have your orders。 Noble Venetians； look on these
villains； it is to them that you are indebted for the loss of your
three citizens。 I accuse of those murders one； two； three； four；
and my good Lord Cardinal there has the honour to be the fifth。〃
Motionless and bewildered stood the accused； tale…telling confusion
spoke in every feature that the charge was true； and no one was bold
enough to contradict Abellino。
〃What can all this mean？〃 asked the senators of each other； in the
utmost surprise and confusion。
〃This is all a shameful artifice；〃 the Cardinal at length contrived
to say； 〃the villain； perceiving that he has no chance of escaping
punishment； is willing； out of mere resentment； to involve us in his
destruction。〃
Contarino （recovering himself ）。In the wickedness of his life he
has surpassed all former miscreants； and now he is trying to surpass
them in the wickedness of his death。
Abellino （with majesty）。Be silent。 I know your whole plot； have
seen your list of proscriptions； am well informed of your whole
arrangement； and at the moment that I speak to you the officers of
justice are employed； by my orders； in seizing the gentlemen with
the white ribbons round their arms； who this very night intended to
overturn Venice。 Be silent； for defence were vain。
Andreas （in astonishment）Abellino； what is the meaning of all
this？
Abellino。Neither more nor less than that Abellino has discovered
and defeated a conspiracy against the constitution of Venice and t