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which will keep its quarters till the day of resurrection！ Lastly；
observe this metallic dagger； its cavity conceals a subtle poison；
which； whenever you touch this spring； will immediately infuse death
into the veins of him whom the weapon's point hath wounded。 Take
these daggers。 In giving them I present you with a capital capable
of bringing home to you most heavy and most precious interest。〃
Abellino received the instruments of death； but his hand shook as it
grasped them。
〃Possessed of such unfailing weapons； of what immense sums must your
robberies have made you master！〃
〃Scoundrel！〃 interrupted Matteo； frowning and offended； 〃amongst us
robbery is unknown。 What？ Dost take us for common plunderers； for
mere thieves； cut…purses； housebreakers； and villains of that low；
miserable stamp？〃
〃Perhaps what you wish me to take you for is something worse； for；
to speak openly； Matteo； villains of that stamp are contented within
plundering a purse or a casket； which can easily be filled again；
but that which we take from others is a jewel which a man never has
but once； and which stolen can never be replaced。 Are we not； then；
a thousand times more atrocious plunderers？〃
〃By the house at Loretto； I think you have a mind to moralise；
Abellino？〃
〃Hark ye； Matteo； only one question。 At the Day of Judgment； which
think you will hold his head highest； the thief or the assassin？〃
〃Ha！ ha！ ha！〃
〃Think not that Abellino speaks thus from want of resolution。 Speak
but the word； and I murder half the senators of Venice； but still〃
〃Fool！ know； the bravo must be above crediting the nurse's
antiquated tales of vice and virtue。 What is virtue？ What is vice？
Nothing but such things as forms of government； custom； manners； and
education have made sacred： and that which men are able to make
honourable at one time； it is in their power to make dishonourable
at another； whenever the humour takes them； had not the senate
forbidden us to give opinions freely respecting the politics of
Venice； there would have been nothing wrong in giving such opinions；
and were the senate to declare that it is right to give such
opinions； that which to…day is thought a crime would be thought
meritorious to…morrow。 Then； prithee； let us have no more of such
doubts as these。 We are men； as much as the Doge and his senators；
and have reasons as much as THEY have to lay down the law of right
and wrong； and to alter the law of right and wrong； and to decree
what shall be vice； and what shall be virtue。〃
Abellino laughed。 Matteo proceeded with increased animation …
〃Perhaps you will tell me that your trade is DISHONOURABLE！ And
what； then； is the thing called HONOUR！ 'Tis a word； an empty
sound； a mere fantastic creature of the imagination！ Ask； as you
traverse some frequented street； in what honour consists？ The
usurer will answer'To be honourable is to be rich； and he has most
honour who can heap up the greatest quantity of sequins。' 'By no
means；' cries the voluptuary； 'honour consists in being beloved by a
very handsome woman； and finding no virtue proof against your
attacks。' 'How mistaken！' interrupts the general； 'to conquer whole
cities； to destroy whole armies； to ruin all provinces； THAT indeed
brings REAL honour。' The man of learning places his renown in the
number of pages which he has either written or read； the tinker； in
the number of pots and kettles which he has made or mended； the nun；
in the number of GOOD things which she has done； or BAD things which
she has resisted； the coquette； in the list of her admirers； the
Republic； in the extent of her provinces； and thus； my friend； every
one thinks that honour consists in something different from the
rest。 And why； then； should not the bravo think that honour
consists in reaching the perfection of his trade； and in guiding a
dagger to the heart of an enemy with unerring aim？〃
〃By my life； 'tis a pity； Matteo； that you should be a bravo； the
schools have lost an excellent teacher of philosophy。〃
〃Do you think so？ Why； the fact is thus； Abellino。 I was educated
in a monastery； my father was a dignified prelate in Lucca； and my
mother a nun of the Ursuline order； greatly respected for her
chastity and devotion。 Now； Signor； it was thought fitting that I
should apply closely to my studies； my father； good man； would fain
have made me a light of the Church； but I soon found that I was
better qualified for an incendiary's torch。 I followed the bent of
my genius； yet count I not my studies thrown away； since they taught
me more philosophy than to tremble at phantoms created by my own
imagination。 Follow my example； friend； and so farewell。〃
CHAPTER V： SOLITUDE。
Abellino had already passed six weeks in Venice； and yet； either
from want of opportunity； or of inclination； he had suffered his
daggers to remain idle in their sheaths。 This proceeded partly from
his not being as yet sufficiently acquainted with the windings and
turnings； the bye…lanes and private alleys of the town； and partly
because he had hitherto found no customers； whose murderous designs
stood in need of his helping hand。
This want of occupation was irksome to him in the extreme； he panted
for action； and was condemned to indolence。
With a melancholy heart did he roam through Venice； and number every
step with a sigh。 He frequented the public places； the taverns； the
gardens； and every scene which was dedicated to amusement。 But
nowhere could he find what ho soughttranquillity。
One evening he had loitered beyond the other visitants in a public
garden； situated on one of the most beautiful of the Venetian
islands。 He strolled from arbour to arbour； threw himself down on
the sea…shore； and watched the play of the waves as they sparkled in
the moonshine。
〃Four years ago；〃 said he； with a sigh； 〃just such a heavenly
evening was it； that I stole from Valeria's lips the first kiss； and
heard from Valeria's lips for the first time the avowal that she
loved me。〃
He was silent； and abandoned himself to the melancholy recollections
which thronged before his mind's eye。
Everything around him was so calm； so silent！ Not a single zephyr
sighed among the blades of grass； but a storm raged in the bosom of
Abellino。
〃Four years ago could I have believed that a time would come when I
should play the part of a bravo in Venice！ Oh； where are they
flown； the golden hopes and plans of glory which smiled upon me in
the happy days of my youth？ I am a bravo： to be a beggar were to
be something better。〃
〃When my good old father； in the enthusiasm of paternal vanity； so
oft threw his arms around my neck； and cried； 'My boy； thou wilt
render the name of Rosalvo glorious！' God； as I listened； how was
my blood on fire？ What thought I not； what that was good and great
did I not promise myself to do！ The fat