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〃Next; then; for Flodoardo!〃 shouted Parozzi。



〃Flodoardo!〃 muttered Abellino between his teeth; 〃humhumthat's

not so easy。〃









BOOK THE THIRD









CHAPTER I:  THE LOVERS。







Rosabella; the idol of all Venice; lay on the bed of sickness; a

sorrow; whose cause was carefully concealed from every one;

undermined her health; and destroyed the bloom of her beauty。  She

loved the noble Flodoardo; and who could have known Flodoardo and

not have loved him?  His majestic stature; his expressive

countenance; his enthusiastic glance; his whole being declared

aloudFlodoardo is Nature's favourite; and Rosabella had been

always a great admirer of Nature。



But if Rosabella was ill; Flodoardo was scarcely better。  He

confined himself to his own apartment; he shunned society; and

frequently made long journeys to different cities of the Republic;

in hopes of distracting his thoughts by change of place from that

object which; wherever he went; still pursued him。  He had now been

absent for three whole weeks。  No one knew in what quarter he was

wandering; and it was during this absence that the so…long expected

Prince of Monaldeschi arrived at Venice to claim Rosabella as his

bride。



His appearance; to which a month before Andreas looked forward with

such pleasing expectation; now afforded but little satisfaction to

the Doge。  Rosabella was too ill to receive her suitor's visits; and

he did not allow her much time to recover her health; for six days

after his arrival at Venice the Prince was found murdered in a

retired part of one of the public gardens。  His sword lay by him

unsheathed and bloody; his tablets were gone; but one leaf had been

torn from them and fastened on his breast。  It was examined; and

found to contain the following lines; apparently written in blood:…





〃Let no one pretend to Rosabella's hand; who is not prepared to

share the fate of Monaldeschi。

〃The Bravo;

〃ABELLINO。〃





〃Oh; where shall I now fly for comfort? for protection?〃 exclaimed

the Doge in despair; when this dreadful news was announced。  〃Why;

why; is Flodoardo absent?〃



Anxiously did he now desire the youth's return; to support him under

the weight of these heavy misfortunes; nor was it long before that

desire was gratified。  Flodoardo returned。



〃Welcome; noble youth!〃 said the Doge; when he saw the Florentine

enter his apartment。  〃You must not in future deprive me of your

presence for so long。  I am now a poor forsaken old man。  You have

heard that Lomellinothat Manfrone〃



〃I know all;〃 answered Flodoardo; with a melancholy air。



〃Satan has burst his chains; and now inhabits Venice under the name

of Abellino; robbing me of all that my soul holds precious。

Flodoardo; for Heaven's love; be cautious; often; during your

absence; have I trembled lest the miscreant's dagger should have

deprived me too of YOU。  I have much to say to you; my young friend;

but I must defer it till the evening。  A foreigner of consequence

has appointed this hour for an audience; and I must hasten to

receive himbut in the evening〃



He was interrupted by the appearance of Rosabella; who; with

tottering steps and pale cheeks; advanced slowly into the apartment。

She saw Flodoardo; and a faint blush overspread her countenance。

Flodoardo rose from his seat; and welcomed her with an air of

distant respect。



〃Do not go yet;〃 said the Doge; 〃perhaps in half an hour I may be at

liberty:  in the meanwhile I leave you to entertain my poor

Rosabella。  She has been very ill during your absence; and I am

still uneasy about her health。  She kept her bed till yesterday; and

truly I think she has left it too soon。〃



The venerable Doge quitted the apartment; and the lovers once more

found themselves alone。  Rosabella drew near the window; Flodoardo

at length ventured to approach it also。



〃Signora;〃 said he; 〃are you still angry with me?〃



〃I am not angry with you;〃 stammered out Rosabella; and blushed as

she recollected the garden scene。



〃And you have quite forgiven my transgression?〃



〃Your transgression?〃 repeated Rosabella; with a faint smile; 〃yes;

if it was a transgression; I have quite forgiven it。  Dying people

ought to pardon those who have trespassed against them; in order

that they; in their turn; may be pardoned their trespasses against

Heavenand I am dying; I feel it。〃



〃Signora!〃



〃Nay; 'tis past a doubt。  It's true; I have quitted my sick…bed

since yesterday; but I know well that I am soon to return to it;

never to leave it more。  And thereforetherefore; I now ask your

pardon; signor; for the vexation which I was obliged to cause to you

the last time we met。〃



Flodoardo replied not。



〃Will you not forgive me?  You must be very difficult to appease

very revengeful!〃



Flodoardo replied not。



〃Will you refuse my offered hand?  Shall all be forgotten?〃



〃Forgotten; lady?  Never; neverevery word and look of yours is

stamped on my memory; never to be effaced。  I cannot forget a

transaction in which YOU bore a part:  I cannot forget the scene

that passed between us; every circumstance is too precious and

sacred。  As to PARDON〃he took her extended hand and pressed it

respectfully to his lips〃I would to Heaven; dear lady; that you

had in truth injured me much; that I might have much to forgive you。

Alas! I have at present nothing to pardon。〃



Both were now silent。  At length Rosabella resumed the conversation

by saying〃You have made a long absence from Venice; did you travel

far?〃



〃I did。〃



〃And received much pleasure from your journey?〃



〃Much; for everywhere I heard the praises of Rosabella。〃



〃Count Flodoardo;〃 she interrupted him with a look of reprehension;

but in a gentle voice; 〃would you again offend me?〃



〃That will soon be out of my power。  Perhaps you can guess what are

my present intentions。〃



〃To resume your travels soon?〃



〃Exactly so; and the next time that I quit Venice; to return to it

no more。〃



〃No more?〃 she repeated; eagerly。  〃Oh; not so; Flodoardo!  Ah; can

you leave me?〃She stopped; ashamed of her imprudence。  〃Can you

leave my uncle?  I meant to say。  You do but jest; I doubt not。〃



〃By my honour; lady; I never was more in earnest。〃



〃And whither; then; do you mean to go?〃



〃To Malta; and assist the knights in their attacks upon the corsairs

of Barbary。  Providence; perhaps; may enable me to obtain the

command of a galley; then will I call my vessel 'Rosabella;' then

shall the war…cry be still 'Rosabella;' that name will render me

invincible。〃



〃Oh! this is a mockery; Count。  I have not deserved that you should

sport with my feelings so cruelly。〃



〃It is to SPARE your feelings; signora; that I am now resolved to

fly from Venice; my presence might cause you some uneasy moments。  I

am not the happy man whose sight is destined to give you pleasure; I

will; at least; avoid giving you pain。〃



〃And you really can resolve to abandon the Doge; whose esteem for

you is so sincere; whose friendship has always been so warm?〃



〃I value his friendship highly; but it is not sufficient to make me

happy; and could he lay kingdoms at my feet; still would his

friendship be insufficient to make me happy。〃



〃Does; then; your happiness require so much?〃



〃It doesmuch more than I have mentioned; infinitely more。  But one

boon can make me happy; I have begged for it on my knees。〃  He

caught her hand and pressed it eagerly to his lips。  〃I have begged

for it; Rosabella; and my suit has been rejected。〃



〃You are a strange enthusiast;〃 she said with difficulty; and

scarcely knew what she said; while Flodoardo drew her gently nearer

to him; and murmured in a supplicating voice; 〃Rosabella!〃



〃What would you of me?〃



〃My happiness!〃



She gazed upon him for a moment undecided; then hastily drew away

her hand; and exclaimed; 〃Leave me; this moment; I command you。

Leave me; for Heaven's sake!〃



Flodoardo clasped his hands together in despair and anguish。  He

bowed his head in token of obedience。  He left her with slow steps

and a melancholy air; and as he passed the threshold; turned to bid

her farewell for ever。  Suddenly she rushed towards him; caught his

hand; and pressed it to her heart。



〃Flodoardo;〃 she cried; 〃I am thine!〃 and sank motionless at his

feet。







CHAPTER II:  A DANGEROUS PROMISE。







And now who was so blessed as the fortunate Flodoardo?  The victory

was his own; he had heard the wished…for sentence pronounced by the

lips of Rosabella。  He raised her from the ground; and placed her on

a sofa。  Her blue eyes soon unclosed themselves once more; and the

first object which they beheld was Flodoardo kneeling at her feet;

while with one arm he encircled her waist。  Her head sank upon the

shoulder of the man for whom she had breathed so many sighs;

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