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！
length the women began to envy her for her share in the adventure。
The kiss which she had received from the bravo afforded them an
excellent opportunity for throwing out a few malicious insinuations。
〃She received a great service；〃 said one； 〃and there's no saying how
far the fair Rosabella in the warmth of gratitude may have been
carried in rewarding her preserver。〃 〃Very true；〃 observed another；
〃and for my part； I think it not very likely that the fellow； being
alone with a pretty girl； whose life he had just saved； should have
gone away contented with a single kiss。〃 〃Come； come；〃 interrupted
a third； 〃do not let us judge uncharitably； the fact may be exactly
as the lady relates it； though I MUST say； that gentlemen of
Abellino's profession are not usually so pretty…behaved； and that
this is the first time I ever heard of a bravo in the Platonics。〃
In short； Rosabella and the horrible Abellino furnished the indolent
and gossiping Venetians with conversation so long； that at length
the Doge's niece was universally known by the honourable appellation
of the 〃Bravo's Bride。〃
But no one gave himself more trouble about this affair than the
Doge； the good but proud Andreas。 He immediately issued orders that
every person of suspicious appearance should be watched more closely
than ever； the night patrols were doubled； and spies were employed
daily in procuring intelligence of Abellino； and yet all was in
vain。 Abellino's retreat was inscrutable。
CHAPTER VIII： THE CONSPIRACY。
〃Confusion！〃 exclaimed Parozzi； a Venetian nobleman of the first
rank； as he paced his chamber with a disordered air on the morning
after Matteo's murder； 〃now all curses light upon the villain's
awkwardness； yet it seems inconceivable to me how all this should
have fallen out so untowardly。 Has any one discovered my designs？
I know well that Verrino loves Rosabella。 Was it he who opposed
this confounded Abellino to Matteo； and charged him to mar my plans
against her？ That seems likely； and now； when the Doge inquires who
it was that employed assassins to murder his niece； what other will
be suspected than Parozzi； the discontented lover； to whom Rosabella
refused her hand； and whom Andreas hates past hope of
reconciliation？ And now； having once found the scentParozzi！
Parozzi！ should the crafty Andreas get an insight into your plans；
should he learn that you have placed yourself at the head of a troop
of hare…brained youthshare…brained may I well call childrenwho；
in order to avoid the rod； set fire to their paternal mansions。
Parozzi； should all this be revealed to Andreas？〃
Here his reflections were interrupted。 Memmo； Falieri； and
Contarino entered the room； three young Venetians of the highest
rank； Parozzi's inseparable companions； men depraved both in mind
and body； spendthrifts； voluptuaries； well known to every usurer in
Venice； and owing more than their paternal inheritance would ever
admit of their paying。
〃Why； how is this； Parozzi？〃 cried Memmo as he entered； a wretch
whose every feature exhibited marks of that libertinism to which his
life had been dedicated； 〃I can scarce recover myself from my
astonishment。 For Heaven's sake； is this report true？ Did you
really hire Matteo to murder the Doge's niece？〃
〃I？〃 exclaimed Parozzi； and hastily turned away to hide the deadly
paleness which overspread his countenance； 〃why should you suppose
that any such designssurely； Memmo； you are distracted。〃
Memmo。By my soul； I speak but the plain matter of fact。 Nay； only
ask Falieri； he can tell you more。
Falieri。Faith； it is certain； Parozzi； that Lomellino has declared
to the Doge as a truth beyond doubting that you； and none but you；
were the person who instigated Matteo to attempt Rosabella's life。
Parozzi。And I tell you again that Lomellino knows not what he
says。
Contarino。Well； well； only be upon your guard。 Andreas is a
terrible fellow to deal with。
Falieri。HE terrible。 I tell you he is the most contemptible
blockhead that the universe can furnish！ Courage perhaps he
possesses； but of brains not an atom。
Contarino。And _I_ tell you that Andreas is as brave as a lion； and
as crafty as a fox。
Falieri。Pshaw！ pshaw！ Everything would go to rack and ruin were
it not for the wiser heads of this triumvirate of counsellors； whom
Heaven confound！ Deprive him of Paolo Manfrone； Conari； and
Lomellino； and the Doge would stand there looking as foolish as a
schoolboy who was going to be examined and had forgotten his lesson。
Parozzi。Falieri is in the right。
Memmo。Quite； quite。
Falieri。And then Andreas is as proud as a beggar grown rich and
dressed in his first suit of embroidery。 By St。 Anthony； he is
become quite insupportable。 Do you not observe how he increases the
number of his attendants daily？
Memmo。Nay； that is an undoubted fact。
Contarino。And then； to what an unbounded extent has he carried his
influence。 The Signoria； the Quaranti； the Procurators of St。 Mark；
the Avocatori； all think and act exactly as it suits the Doge's
pleasure and convenience！ Every soul of them depends as much on
that one man's honour and caprices as puppets do who nod or shake
their wooden heads just as the fellow behind the curtain thinks
proper to move the wires。
Parozzi。And yet the populace idolises this Andreas。
Memmo。Ay； that is the worst part of the story。
Falieri。But never credit me again if he does not experience a
reverse of fortune speedily。
Contarino。That might happen would we but set our shoulders to the
wheel stoutly。 But what do we do？ We pass our time in taverns；
drink and game； and throw ourselves headlong into such an ocean of
debts； that the best swimmer must sink at last。 Let us resolve to
make the attempt。 Let us seek recruits on all sides； let us labour
with all our might and main。 Things must change； or if they do not；
take my word for it； my friends； this world is no longer a world for
us。
Memmo。Nay； it's a melancholy truth； that during the last half…year
my creditors have been ready to beat my door down with knocking。 I
am awakened out of my sleep in the morning； and lulled to rest again
at night with no other music than their eternal clamour。
Parozzi。Ha！ ha！ ha！ As for me； I need not tell you how I am
suited。
Falieri。Had we been less extravagant； we might at this moment have
been sitting quietly in our palaces； but as things stand now …
Parozzi。Well； as things stand nowI verily believe that Falieri
is going to moralise。
Contarino。That is ever the way with old sinners when they have
lost the power to sin any longer。 Then they are ready enough to
weep over their past life； and talk loudly about repentance and
reformation。 Now； for my own part； I am perfectly well satisfied
with my wanderings from the common beaten paths of morality and
prudence。 They serve to convince