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！
my blood on fire？ What thought I not； what that was good and great
did I not promise myself to do！ The father is dead； and the son is
a Venetian bravo！ When my preceptors praised and admired me； and；
carried away by the warmth of their feelings； clapped my shoulder；
and exclaimed； 'Count； thou wilt immortalise the ancient race of
Rosalvo！' Ha； in those blessed moments of sweet delirium； how
bright and beauteous stood futurity before me！ When； happy in the
performance of some good deed； I returned home； and saw Valeria
hasten to receive me with open arms； and when； while she clasped me
to her bosom I heard her whisper 'Oh； who could forbear to love the
great Rosalvo？' God！ oh； God！ Away； away； glorious visions of the
past。 To look on you drives me mad！〃
He was again silent； he bit his lips in fury； raised one emaciated
hand to heaven； and struck his forehead violently with the other。
〃An assassin； the slave of cowards and rascals； the ally of the
greatest villains that the Venetian sun ever shines upon； such is
now the great Rosalvo。 Fie； ah； fie on't； and yet to this wretched
lot hath fatality condemned me。〃
Suddenly he sprang from the ground after a long silence； his eyes
sparkled； his countenance was changed； he drew his breath easier。
〃Yes； by Heaven； yes。 Great as Count Rosalvo； that can I be no
longer； but from being great as a Venetian bravo； what prevents me？
Souls in bliss；〃 he exclaimed； and sank on his knee； while he raised
his folded hands to heaven； as if about to pronounce the most awful
oath； 〃Spirit of my father； spirit of Valeria； I will not become
unworthy of you。 Hear me； if your ghosts are permitted to wander
near me； hear me swear that the bravo shall not disgrace the origin；
nor render vain the hopes which soothed you in the bitterness of
death。 No； sure as I live； I will be the only dealer in this
miserable trade； and posterity shall be compelled to honour that
name； which my actions shall render illustrious。〃
He bowed his forehead till it touched the earth； and his tears
flowed plenteously。 Vast conceptions swelled his soul； he dwelt on
wondrous views； till their extent bewildered his brain； yet another
hour elapsed； and he sprang from the earth to realise them。
〃I will enter into no compact against human nature with five
miserable cut…throats。 ALONE will I make the Republic tremble； and
before eight days are flown； these murderous knaves shall swing upon
a gibbet。 Venice shall no longer harbour FIVE banditti； ONE and ONE
only shall inhabit here； and that one shall beard the Doge himself；
shall watch over right and wrong； and according as he judges； shall
reward and punish。 Before eight days are flown； the State shall be
purified from the presence of these outcasts of humanity； and then
shall I stand here alone。 Then must every villain in Venice； who
hitherto has kept the daggers of my companions in employment； have
recourse to me； then shall I know the names and persons of all those
cowardly murderers； of all those illustrious profligates； with whom
Matteo and his companions carry on the trade of blood。 And then
Abellino！ Abellino； that is the name。 Hear it； Venice； hear it；
and tremble。〃
Intoxicated with the wildness of his hopes； he rushed out of the
garden。 He summoned a gondolier； threw himself into the boat； and
hastened to the dwelling of Cinthia； where the inhabitants already
were folded in the arms of sleep。
CHAPTER VI： ROSABELLA； THE DOGE'S LOVELY NIECE。
〃Hark； comrade；〃 said Matteo the next morning to Abellino； 〃to…day
thou shalt make thy first step in our profession。〃
〃To…day！〃 hoarsely murmured Abellino； 〃and on whom am I to show my
skill？〃
〃Nay； to say truth； 'tis but a woman； but one must not give too
difficult a task to a young beginner。 I will myself accompany you；
and see how you conduct yourself in the first trial。〃
〃Hum！〃 said Abellino； and measured Matteo with his eye from head to
foot。
〃To…day； about four o'clock； thou shalt follow me to Dolabella's
gardens； which are situated on the south side of Venice。 We must
both be disguised； you understand。 In these gardens are excellent
baths； and after using the baths； the Doge's niece； the lovely
Rosabella of Corfu； frequently walks without attendants。 And then
you conceive me？〃
〃And you will accompany me？〃
〃I will be a spectator of your first adventure； 'tis thus I deal by
every one。〃
〃And how many inches deep must I plunge my dagger？〃
〃To the hilt； boy； to the very hilt！ Her death is required； and the
payment will be princely； Rosabella in the grave； we are rich for
life。〃
Every other point was soon adjusted。 Noon was now past； the clock
in the neighbouring church of the Benedictines struck four； and
Mattes and Abellino were already forth。 They arrived at the gardens
of Dolabella； which that day were unusually crowded。 Every shady
avenue was thronged with people of both sexes； every arbour was
occupied by persons most distinguished in Venice。 In every corner
sighed lovesick couples； as they waited for the wished approach of
twilight； and on every side did strains of vocal and instrumental
music pour their harmony on the enchanted ear。
Abellino mingled with the crowd。 A most respectable looking peruke
concealed the repulsive ugliness of his features； he imitated the
walk and manners of a gouty old man； and supported himself by a
crutch； as he walked slowly through the assembly。 His habit； richly
embroidered； procured for him universally a good reception； and no
one scrupled to enter into conversation with him respecting the
weather； the commerce of the Republic； or the designs of its
enemies； and on none of these subjects was Abellino found incapable
of sustaining the discourse。
By these means he soon contrived to gain intelligence that Rosabella
was certainly in the gardens； how she was habited； and in what
quarter he was most likely to find her。
Thither he immediately bent his course； and hard at his heels
followed Matteo。
Alone； and in the most retired arbour； sat Rosabella of Corfu； the
fairest maid in Venice。
Abellino drew near the arbour； he tottered； as he passed its
entrance； like one oppressed with sudden faintness； and attracted
Rosabella's attention。
〃Alas； alas！〃 cried he； 〃is there no one at hand who will take
compassion on the infirmity of a poor old man？〃
The Doge's fair niece quitted the arbour hastily； and flew to give
assistance to the sufferer。
〃What ails you； my good father？〃 she inquired in a melodious voice；
and with a look of benevolent anxiety。
Abellino pointed towards the arbour； Rosabella led him in； and
placed him on a seat of turf。
〃God reward you； lady；〃 stammered Abellino； faintly。 He raised his
eyes； they met Rosabella's； and a blush crimsoned her pale cheeks。
Rosabella stood in silence before the disguised a