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eyes； they met Rosabella's； and a blush crimsoned her pale cheeks。
Rosabella stood in silence before the disguised assassin； and
trembled with tender concern for the old man's illness； and oh； that
expression of interest ever makes a lovely women look so much more
lovely！ She bent her delicate form over the man who was bribed to
murder her； and after a while asked him； in gentlest tone； 〃Are you
not better？〃
〃Better？〃 stammered the deceiver； with a feeble voice； 〃betteroh；
yes； yes； yes。 Youyou are the Doge's niecethe noble Rosabella
of Corfu？〃
〃The same； my good old man。〃
〃Oh； lady； I have somewhat to tell you。 Be on your guard； Start
not！ What I would say is of the utmost consequence； and demands the
utmost prudence。 Ah； God； that there should live men so cruel！
Lady； your life is in danger。〃
The maiden started back； the colour fled from her cheeks。
〃Do you wish to behold your assassin？ You shall not die； but if you
value your life； be silent。〃
Rosabella knew not what to think； the presence of the old man
terrified her。
〃Fear nothing； lady； fear nothing； you have nothing to fear； while I
am with you。 Before you quit this arbour you shall see the assassin
expire at your feet。〃
Rosabella made a movement as if she would have fled； but suddenly
the person who sat beside her was no longer an infirm old man。 He
who a minute before had scarcely strength to mutter out a few
sentences； and reclined against the arbour trembling like an aspen；
sprang up with the force of a giant； and drew her back with one arm。
〃For the love of heaven！〃 she cried； 〃release me。 Let me fly！〃
〃Lady； fear nothing； _I_ protect you。〃 This said； Abellino placed a
whistle at his lips； and blew it shrilly。
Instantly sprang Matteo from his concealment in a neighbouring clump
of trees； and rushed into the arbour。 Abellino threw Rosabella on
the bank of turf； advanced a few steps to meet Matteo； and plunged
his dagger in his heart。
Without uttering a single cry； sank the banditti captain at the feet
of Abellino： the death…rattle was heard in his throat； and after a
few horrible convulsions all was over。
Now did Matteo's murderer look again towards the arbour； and beheld
Rosabella half senseless； as she lay on the bank of turf。
〃Your life is safe； beautiful Rosabella；〃 said he； 〃there lies the
villain bleeding； who conducted me hither to murder you。 Recover
yourself； return to your uncle； the Doge； and tell him that you owe
your life to Abellino。〃
Rosabella could not speak。 Trembling； she stretched her arms
towards him； grasped his hand； and pressed it to her lips in silent
gratitude。
Abellino gazed with delight and wonder on the lovely sufferer； and
in such a situation； who could have beheld her without emotion？
Rosabella had scarcely numbered seventeen summers； her light and
delicate limbs； enveloped in a thin white garment； which fell around
her in a thousand folds； her blue and melting eyes； whence beamed
the expression of purest innocence； her forehead； white as ivory；
overshadowed the ringlets of her bright dark hair； cheeks； whence
terror had now stolen the roses； such was Rosabella； a creature in
whose formation partial Nature seemed to have omitted nothing which
might constitute the perfection of female lovelinesssuch was she；
and being such； the wretched Abellino may be forgiven if for some
few minutes he stood like one enchanted； and bartered for those few
minutes the tranquillity of his heart for ever。
〃By Him who made me；〃 cried he at length； 〃oh！ thou art fair；
Rosabella； Valeria was not fairer。〃
He bowed himself down to her； and imprinted a burning kiss on the
pale cheeks of the beauty。
〃Leave me； thou dreadful man；〃 she stammered in terror； 〃oh； leave
me。〃
〃Ah； Rosabella； why art thou so beauteous； and why am IKnowest
thou who kissed thy cheek； Rosabella？ Go； tell thy uncle； the proud
Doge'TWAS THE BRAVO； ABELLINO；〃 he said； and rushed out of the
arbour。
CHAPTER VII： THE BRAVO'S BRIDE。
It was not without good reason that Abellino took his departure in
such haste。 He had quitted the spot but a few minutes； when a large
party accidentally strolled that way； and discovered with
astonishment the corpse of Matteo； and Rosabella pale and trembling
in the arbour。
A crowd immediately collected itself round them。 It increased with
every moment； and Rosabella was necessitated to repeat what had
happened to her for the satisfaction of every newcomer。
In the meanwhile some of the Doge's courtiers； who happened to be
among the crowd； hastened to call her attendants together； her
gondola was already waiting for her； and the terrified girl soon
reached her uncle's palace in safety。
In vain was an embargo laid upon every other gondola； in vain did
they examine every person who was in the gardens of Dolabella at the
time； when the murdered assassin was first discovered。 No traces
could be found of Abellino。
The report of this strange adventure spread like wildfire through
Venice。 Abellino； for Rosabella had preserved but too well in her
memory that dreadful name； and by the relation of her danger had
given it universal publicity； Abellino was the object of general
wonder and curiosity。 Every one pitied the poor Rosabella for what
she had suffered； execrated the villain who had bribed Matteo to
murder her； and endeavoured to connect the different circumstances
together by the help of one hypothesis or other； among which it
would have been difficult to decide which was the most improbable。
Every one who heard the adventure； told it again； and every one who
told it； added something of his own； till at length it was made into
a complete romantic novel； which might have been entitled with great
propriety； 〃The Power of Beauty；〃 for the Venetian gentlemen and
ladies had settled the point among themselves completely to their
own satisfaction； that Abellino would undoubtedly have assassinated
Rosabella； had he not been prevented by her uncommon beauty。 But
though Abellino's interference had preserved her life； it was
doubted much whether this adventure would be at all relished by her
destined bridegroom； the Prince of Monaldeschi； a Neapolitan of the
first rank； possessed of immense wealth and extensive influence。
The Doge had for some time been secretly engaged in negotiating a
match between his niece and this powerful nobleman； who was soon
expected to make his appearance at Venice。 The motive of his
journey； in spite of all the Doge's precautions； had been divulged；
and it was no longer a secret to any but Rosabella； who had never
seen the prince； and could not imagine why his expected visit should
excite such general curiosity。
Thus far the story had been told much to Rosabella's credit； but at
length the women began to envy her for her share in the adventure。
The kiss which she