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this？
Abellino。Neither more nor less than that Abellino has discovered
and defeated a conspiracy against the constitution of Venice and the
life of its Doge！ The bravo； in return for your kind intention of
sending him to destruction in a few hours； has preserved you from
it。
Vitalba （to the accused）。Noble Venetians； you are silent under
this heavy charge。
Abellino。They are wise； for no defence can now avail them。 Their
troops are already disarmed； and lodged in separate dungeons of the
State prison； visit them there； and you will learn more。 You now
understand probably that I did not order the doors of this saloon to
be guarded for the purpose of seizing the terrible bravo Abellino；
but of taking those heroes into secure custody。
And now； Venetians； compare together YOUR conduct and MINE。 At the
hazard of my life have I preserved the State from ruin。 Disguised
as a bravo； I dared to enter the assembly of those ruthless
villains； whose daggers laid Venice waste。 I have endured for your
sakes storm； and rain； and frost； and heat； I have watched for your
safety while you were sleeping。 Venice owes to my care her
constitution and your lives； and yet are my services deserving of no
reward？ All this have I done for Rosabella of Corfu； and yet will
you withhold from me my promised bride？ I have saved you from
death； have saved the honour of your wives； and the throats of your
innocent children from the knife of the assassin。 Men！ men！ and yet
will you send me to the scaffold？
Look on this list！ See how many among you would have bled this
night； had it not been for Abellino； and see where the miscreants
stand by whom you would have bled！ Read you not in every feature
that they are already condemned by heaven and their own conscience？
Does a single mouth unclose itself in exculpation？ Does a single
movement of the head give the lie to my charge？ Yet the truth of
what I have advanced shall be made still more evident。
He turned himself to the conspirators
〃Mark me！〃 said he； 〃the first among you who acknowledges the truth
shall receive a free pardon。 I swear it； I； the bravo Abellino！〃
The conspirators remained silent。 Suddenly Memmo started forward
and threw himself trembling at the Doge's feet。
〃Venetians；〃 he exclaimed； 〃Abellino has told you true。〃
〃'Tis false； 'tis false！〃 exclaimed the accused altogether。
〃Silence！〃 cried Abellino； in a voice of thunder； while the
indignation which flamed in every feature struck terror into his
hearers： 〃Silence； I say； and hear me； or rather hear the ghosts of
your victims。 Appear； appear！〃 cried this dreadful man； in a tone
still louder： 〃'Tis time！〃
Again he sounded his whistle。 The folding doors were thrown open；
and there stood the Doge's much lamented friendsConari； Lomellino；
and Manfrone。
〃We are betrayed！〃 shouted Contarino； who drew out a concealed
dagger； and plunged it in his bosom up to the very hilt。
And now what a scene of rapture followed。 Tears streamed down the
silver beard of Andreas； as he rushed into the arms of his long…lost
companions； tears bedewed the cheeks of the venerable triumvirate；
as they once more clasped the knees of their prince； their friend；
their brother。 These excellent men； these heroes； never had Andreas
hoped to meet them again till they should meet in heaven； and
Andreas blessed heaven for permitting him to meet them once more on
earth。 These four men； who had valued each other in the first dawn
of YOUTH； who had fought by each other's sides in MANHOOD； were now
assembled in AGE； and valued each other more than ever。 The
spectators gazed with universal interest on the scene before them；
and the good old senators mingled tears of joy with those shed by
the re…united companions。 In the happy delirium of this moment；
nothing but Andreas and his friends were attended to； no one was
aware that the conspirators and the self…murderer Contarino were
removed by the guards from the saloon； no one but Camilla observed
Rosabella； who threw herself sobbing on the bosom of the handsome
bravo； and repeated a thousand times； 〃Abellino； then； is not a
murderer！〃
At length they began to recollect themselves they looked round them…
…and the first words which broke from every lip were〃Hail； saviour
of Venice！〃The roof rung with the name of Abellino； and unnumbered
blessings accompanied the name。
That very Abellino； who not an hour before had been doomed to the
scaffold by the whole assembly； now stood calm and dignified as a
god before the adoring spectators； and now he viewed with
complacency the men whose lives he had saved； and now his eye dwelt
with rapture on the woman whose love was the reward of all his
dangers。
〃Abellino！〃 said Andreas advancing to the bravo； and extending his
hand towards him。
〃I am not Abellino；〃 replied he； smiling； while he pressed the
Doge's hand respectfully to his lips 〃neither am I Flodoardo of
Florence。 I am by birth a Neapolitan； and by name Rosalvo。 The
death of my inveterate enemy the Prince of Monaldeschi makes it no
longer necessary to conceal who I really am。〃
〃Monaldeschi？〃 repeated Andreas； with a look of anxiety。
〃Fear not；〃 continued Rosalvo； 〃Monaldeschi； it is true； fell by my
hand； but fell in honourable combat。 The blood which stained his
sword flowed from my veins； and in his last moments conscience
asserted her empire in his bosom。 He died not till he had written
in his tablets the most positive declaration of my innocence as to
the crimes with which his hatred had contrived to blacken me； and he
also instructed me by what means I might obtain at Naples the
restoration of my forfeited estates and the re…establishment of my
injured honour。 Those means have been already efficacious； and all
Naples is by this time informed of the arts by which Monaldeschi
procured my banishment； and of the many plots which he laid for my
destruction； plots； which made it necessary for me to drop my own
character； and never to appear but in disguise。 After various
wanderings chance led me to Venice。 My appearance was so much
altered； that I dreaded not discovery； but I dreaded （and with
reason） perishing in your streets with hunger。 In this situation
accident brought me acquainted with the banditti； by whom Venice was
then infested。 I willingly united myself to their society； partly
with a view of purifying the Republic from the presence of these
wretches； and partly in the hope of discovering through them the
more illustrious villains by whom their daggers were employed。 I
was successful。 I delivered the banditti up to justice； and stabbed
their captain in Rosabella's sight。 I was now the only bravo in
Venice。 Every scoundrel was obliged to have recourse to me。 I
discovered the plans of the conspirators； and now you know them
also。 I found that the deaths of the Doge's three friends had been
determ