the bravo of venice-第11节
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the city who can resist him。
Parozzi。And I should doubt it too； if women had as little sense as
you have； and looked only at the shell without minding the kernel …
Memmo。Which unluckily is exactly the thing which women always do …
Falieri。The old Lomellino seems to be extremely intimate with this
Flodoardo。 They say he was well acquainted with his father。
Memmo。It was he who presented him to the Doge。
Parozzi。Hark！Surely some one knocked at the palace door？
Memmo。It can be none but Contarino。 Now； then； we shall hear
whether he has discovered the banditti。
Falieri （starting from his chair）。I'll swear to that footstep；
it's Contarino。
The doors were thrown open。 Contarino entered hastily； enveloped in
his cloak。
〃Good evening； sweet gentlemen；〃 said he； and threw his mantle
aside。 And Memmo； Parozzi； and Falieri started back in horror。
〃Good God！〃 they exclaimed； 〃what has happened？ You are covered
with blood？〃
〃A trifle！〃 cried Contarino； 〃is that wine？ quick； give me a goblet
of it； I expire with thirst。〃
Falieri （while he gives him a cup）。But； Contarino； you bleed？
Contarino。You need not tell me that。 I did not do it myself； I
promise you。
Parozzi。First let us bind up your wounds； and then tell us what
has happened to you。 It is as well that the servants should remain
ignorant of your adventure； I will be your surgeon myself。
Contarino。What has happened to me； say you？ Oh！ a joke；
gentlemen； a mere joke。 Here； Falieri； fill the bowl again。
Memmo。I can scarcely breathe for terror。
Contarino。Very possibly； neither should I； were I Memmo instead of
being Contarino。 The wound bleeds plenteously it's true； but it's
by no means dangerous （he tore open his doublet； and uncovered his
bosom）。 There； look； comrades； you see it's only a cut of not more
than two inches deep。
Memmo （shuddering）。Mercy on me！ the very sight of it makes my
blood run cold。
Parozzi brought ointments and linen； and bound up the wound of his
associate。
Contarino。Old Horace is in the right。 A philosopher can be
anything he pleases； a cobbler； a king； or a physician。 Only
observe with what dignified address the philosopher Parozzi spreads
that plaster for me。 I thank you； friend； that's enough： and now；
comrades； place yourselves in a circle round me； and listen to the
wonders which I am going to relate。
Falieri。Proceed。
Contarino。As soon as it was twilight； I stole out； wrapped in my
cloak； determined if possible to discover some of the banditti。 I
knew not their persons； neither were they acquainted with mine。 An
extravagant undertaking； perhaps； you will tell me； but I was
resolved to convince you that everything which a man DETERMINES to
do； may be done。 I had some information respecting the rascals；
though it was but slight； and on these grounds I proceeded。 I
happened by mere accident to stumble upon a gondolier； whose
appearance excited my curiosity。 I fell into discourse with him。 I
was soon convinced that he was not ignorant of the lurking…place of
the bravoes； and by means of some gold and many fair speeches； I at
length brought him to confess that though not regularly belonging to
the band； he had occasionally been employed by them。 I immediately
made a bargain with him； he conducted me in his gondola through the
greatest part of Venice； sometimes right； sometimes left； till I
lost every idea as to the quarter of the town in which I found
myself。 At length he insisted on binding my eyes with his
handkerchief； and I was compelled to submit。 Half an hour elapsed
before the gondola stopped。 He told me to descend； conducted me
through a couple of streets； and at length knocked at a door； where
he left me still blindfolded。 The door was opened； my business was
inquired with great caution； and after some demur I was at length
admitted。 The handkerchief was now withdrawn from my eyes； and I
found myself in a small chamber； surrounded by four men of not the
most creditable appearance； and a young woman； who （it seems） had
opened the door for me。
Falieri。You are a daring fellow； Contarino。
Contarino。Here was no time to be lost。 I instantly threw my purse
on the table； promised them mountains of gold； and fixed on
particular days； hours； and signals which were necessary to
facilitate our future intercourse。 For the present I only required
that Manfrone； Conari； and Lomellino should be removed with all
possible expedition。
All。Bravo。
Contarino。So far everything went exactly as we could have wished；
and one of my new associates was just setting out to guide me home；
when we were surprised by an unexpected visit。
Parozzi。Well？
Memmo （anxiously）。Go on； for God's sake！
Contarino。A knocking was heard at the door； the girl went to
inquire the cause。 In an instant she returned pale as a corpse； and
〃Fly！ fly！〃 cried she。
Falieri。What followed？
Contarino。Why then followed a whole legion of sbirri and police…
officers； and who should be at their head but the Florentine
stranger。
All。Flodoardo？ What； Flodoardo？
Contarino。Flodoardo。
Falieri。What demon could have guided him thither？
Parozzi。Hell and furies！ Oh； that I had been there。
Memmo。There； now； Parozzi； you see at least that Flodoardo is no
coward。
Falieri。Hush； let us hear the rest。
Contarino。We stood as if we had been petrified； not a soul could
stir a finger。 〃In the name of the Doge and the Republic；〃 cried
Flodoardo； 〃yield yourselves and deliver your arms。〃 〃The devil
shall yield himself sooner than we；〃 exclaimed one of the banditti；
and forced a sword from one of the officers。 The others snatched
their muskets from the walls； and as for me； my first care was to
extinguish the lamp so that we could not tell friends from foes。
But still the confounded moonshine gleamed through the window…
shutters； and shed a partial light through the room。 〃Look to
yourself； Contarino；〃 thought I； 〃if you are found here； you will be
hanged for company；〃 and I drew my sword and made a plunge at
Flodoardo； but； however well intended； my thrust was foiled by his
sabre； which he whirled around with the rapidity of lightning。 I
fought like a madman； but all my skill was without effect on this
occasion； and before I was aware of it； Flodoardo ripped open my
bosom。 I felt myself wounded； and sprang back。 At that moment two
pistols were fired； and the flash discovered to me a small side
door； which they had neglected to beset。 Through this I stole
unperceived into the adjoining chamber； burst open the grated
window； sprang below unhurt； crossed a courtyard； climbed two or
three garden walls； gained the canal； where a gondola fortunately
was waiting； persuaded the boatman to convey me with all speed to
the Place of St。 Mark； and thence hastened hither； astonished to
find myself still alive。 There's an infernal adventure for you。
Parozzi。I shall go mad。
Falieri。Everything we design is counteracted； the more trouble we
give ourselves； the further we are from the goal。
Memmo。I confess it seems to me as if Heaven gave us warning to
desist。 How say you？
Contarino。Pshaw； these are trifles！ Such accidents should only
serve to sharpen our wits。 The more obstacles I encounter； the
firmer is my resolution to surmount them。
Falieri。Do the banditti know who you are？
Contarino。No； they are not only ignorant of my name； but suppose
me to be a mere instrument of some powerful man； who has been
injured by the ducal confederates。
Memmo。Well； Contarino； in my mind you should thank Heaven that you
have escaped so well。
Falieri。But since he is an absolute stranger in Venice； how could
Flodoardo discover the lurking place of the banditti？
Contarino。I know not； probably by mere accident like myself； but
by the Power that made me； he shall pay dearly for this wound。
Falieri。Flodoardo is rather too hasty in making himself remarked。
Parozzi。Flodoardo must die。
Contarino （filling a goblet）。May his next cup contain poison。
Falieri。I shall do myself the honour of becoming better acquainted
with the gentleman。
Contarino。Memmo； we must needs have full purses； or our business
will hang on hand wofully。
When does your uncle take his departure to a better world？
Memmo。To…morrow evening； and yetugh； I tremble。
CHAPTER III： MORE CONFUSION。
Since Rosabella's birthday； no woman in Venice who had the slightest
pretensions to beauty； or the most remote expectations of making
conquests； had any subject of conversation except the handsome
Florentine。 He found employment for every female tongue； and she
who dared not to employ her tongue； made amends for the privation
with her thoughts。 Many a maiden now enjoyed less tranquil
slumbers； many an exp
