按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
the bravo； whom he struck to the ground that night； and whom two
companions of a similar stamp had now joined。 As they advanced；
they cast inquiring glances around them。 They were in search of
some one。
〃It is of me that they are in search；〃 said Abellino； then advanced
a few steps； and whistled。
The ruffians stood still； they whispered together； and seemed to be
undecided。
Abellino whistled a second time。
〃'Tis he；〃 he could hear one of them say distinctly； and in a moment
after they advanced slowly towards him。
Abellino kept his place； but unsheathed his sword。 The three
unknown （they were masked） stopped a few paces from him。
〃How now； fellow！〃 quoth one of them； 〃what is the matter？ Why
stand you on your guard？〃
Abellino。It is as well that you should be made to keep your
distance； for I know you； you are certain honest gentlemen； who live
by taking away the lives of others。
The First Ruffian。Was not your whistling addressed to us？
Abellino。It was。
A Ruffian。And what would you with us？
Abellino。Hear me！ I am a miserable wretch； and starving； give me
an alms out of your booty！
A Ruffian。An alms？ Ha！ ha！ ha！ By my soul that is whimsical！
Alms from us； indeed！Oh； by all means！ No doubt； you shall have
alms in plenty。
Abellino。Or else give me fifty sequins； and I'll bind myself to
your service till I shall have worked out my debt。
A Ruffian。Aye？ and pray； then； who may you be？
Abellino。A starving wretch； the Republic holds none more
miserable。 Such am I at present； but hereafterI have powers；
knaves。 This arm could pierce a heart； though guarded by three
breastplates； this eye； though surrounded by Egyptian darkness；
could still see to stab sure。
A Ruffian。Why； then； did you strike me down； even now？
Abellino。In the hope of being paid for it； but though I saved his
life； the scoundrel gave me not a single ducat。
A Ruffian。No？ So much the better。 But hark ye； comrade； are you
sincere？
Abellino。Despair never lies。
A Ruffian。Slave； shouldst thou be a traitor …
Abellino。My heart would be within reach of your hands； and your
daggers would be as sharp as now。
The three dangerous companions again whispered among themselves for
a few moments； after which they returned their daggers into the
sheath。
〃Come on； then；〃 said one of them； 〃follow us to our home。 It were
unwise to talk over certain matters in the open streets。〃
〃I follow you；〃 was Abellino's answer； 〃but tremble should any one
of you dare to treat me as a foe。 Comrade； forgive me that I gave
your ribs somewhat too hard a squeeze just now； I will be your sworn
brother in recompense。〃
〃We are on honour；〃 cried the banditti with one voice； 〃no harm
shall happen to you。 He who does you an injury shall be to us as a
foe。 A fellow of your humour suits us well； follow us； and fear
not。〃
And on they went； Abellino marching between two of them。 Frequent
were the looks of suspicion which he cast around him； but no ill
design was perceptible in the banditti。 They guided him onwards；
till they reached a canal； loosened a gondola； placed themselves in
it； and rowed till they had gained the most remote quarter of
Venice。 They landed； threaded several by…streets； and at length
knocked at the door of a house of inviting appearance。 It was
opened by a young woman； who conducted them into a plain but
comfortable chamber。 Many were the looks of surprise and inquiry
which she cast on the bewildered； half…pleased； half…anxious
Abellino； who knew not whither he had been conveyed； and still
thought it unsafe to confide entirely in the promises of the
banditti。
CHAPTER III： THE TRIAL OF STRENGTH。
Scarcely were the bravoes seated； when Cinthia （for that was the
young woman's name） was again summoned to the door； and the company
was now increased by two new…comers； who examined their unknown
guest from head to foot。
〃Now； then；〃 cried one of these； who had conducted Abellino to this
respectable society； 〃let us see what you are like。〃
As he said this he raised a burning lamp from the table； and the
light of its flame was thrown full upon Abellino's countenance。
〃Lord； forgive me my sins！〃 screamed Cinthia； 〃out upon him！ what an
ugly hound it is！〃
She turned hastily round； and hid her face with her hands。 Dreadful
was the look with which Abellino repaid her compliment。
〃Knave；〃 said one of the banditti； 〃Nature's own hand has marked you
out for an assassincome； prithee be frank； and tell us how thou
hast contrived so long to escape the gibbet？ In what gaol didst
thou leave thy last fetters？ Or from what galley hast thou taken
thy departure； without staying to say adieu？〃
Abellino； folding his arms〃If I be such as you describe；〃 said he；
with an air of authority； and in a voice which made his hearers
tremble； 〃'tis for me all the better。 Whate'er may be my future
mode of life； Heaven can have no right to find fault with it； since
it was for that it formed and fitted me。〃
The five bravoes stepped aside； and consulted together。 The subject
of their conference is easy to be divined。 In the meanwhile
Abellino remained quiet and indifferent to what was passing。
After a few minutes they again approached him。 One； whose
countenance was the most ferocious； and whose form exhibited the
greatest marks of muscular strength； advanced a few paces before the
rest； and addressed Abellino as follows：…
〃Hear me； comrade。 In Venice there exist but five banditti； you see
them before you； wilt thou be the sixth？ Doubt not thou wilt find
sufficient employment。 My name is Matteo； and I am the father of
the band： that sturdy fellow with the red locks is called Baluzzo；
he； whose eyes twinkle like a cat's； is Thomaso； an arch…knave； I
promise you； 'twas Pietrino whose bones you handled so roughly to…
night； and yon thick…lipped Colossus； who stands next to Cinthia； is
named Stuzza。 Now； then； you know us alland since you are a
penniless devil； we are willing to incorporate you in our society；
but we must first be assured that you mean honestly by us。〃
Abellino smiled； or rather grinned； and murmured hoarsely〃I am
starving。〃
〃Answer； fellow！ Dost thou mean honestly by us？〃
〃That must the event decide。〃
〃Mark me； knave； the first suspicion of treachery costs you your
life。 Take shelter in the Doge's palace； and girdle yourself round
with all the power of the Republicthough clasped in the Doge's
arms； and protected by a hundred cannons； still would we murder you！
Fly to the high altar； press the crucifix to your bosom； and even at
mid…day； still would we murder you。 Think on this well； fellow； and
forget not we are banditti！〃
〃You need not tell me that。 But give me some food； and then I'll
prate with you as long as you please。 At present I am starving。