the bravo of venice-第18节
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with attention。 I have discovered in you marks of a superior
genius； and therefore I am induced to make such a demand。 If any
one is able to cope with Abellino； thou art the man。 I wait your
answer。〃
Flodoardo paced the chamber in silence。 Dreadful was the enterprise
proposed。 Woe to him should Abellino discover his purpose。 But
Rosabella was the reward。 He cast a look on the beloved one； and
resolved to risk everything。
He advanced towards the Doge。
Andreas。Now； then； Flodoardoyour resolution？
Flodoardo。Should I deliver Abellino into your power； do you
solemnly swear that Rosabella shall be my bride？
Andreas。She shall！ and NOT TILL THEN。
Rosabella。Ah！ Flodoardo； I fear this undertaking will end
fatally。 Abellino is so crafty； so dreadful。 Oh！ look well to
yourself； for should you meet with the detested monster； whose
dagger …
Flodoardo （interrupting her hastily）。Oh！ silence； Rosabellaat
least allow me to hope。 Noble Andreas； give me your hand； and
pledge your princely word that； Abellino once in your power； nothing
shall prevent me from being Rosabella's husband。
Andreas。I swear it； deliver into my power； either alive or dead；
this most dangerous foe of Venice； and nothing shall prevent
Rosabella from being your wife。 In pledge of which I here give you
my princely hand。
Flodoardo grasped the Doge's hand in silence； and shook it thrice。
He turned to Rosabella； and seemed on the point of addressing her；
when he suddenly turned away； struck his forehead； and measured the
apartment with disordered and unsteady steps。 The clock in the
tower of St。 Mark's church struck five。
〃Time flies！〃 cried Flodoardo； 〃no more delay； then。 In four…and…
twenty hours will I produce in this very palace this dreaded bravo；
Abellino。〃
Andreas shook his head。 〃Young man；〃 said he； 〃be less confident in
your promises； I shall have more faith in your performance。〃
Flodoardo （serious and firm）。Let things terminate as they may；
either I will keep my word； or never again will cross the threshold
of your palace。 I have discovered some traces of the miscreant； and
I trust that I shall amuse you to…morrow； at this time and in this
place； with the representation of a comedy； but should it prove a
tragedy instead； God's will be done。
Andreas。Remember that too much haste is dangerous； rashness will
destroy even the frail hopes of success which you may reasonably
indulge at present。
Flodoardo。Rashness； my lord？ He who has lived as I have lived；
and suffered what I have suffered； must have been long since cured
of rashness。
Rosabella （taking his hand）。Yet be not too confident of your own
strength； I beseech you！ Dear Flodoardo； my uncle loves you； and
his advice is wise！ Beware of Abellino's dagger！
Flodoardo。The best way to escape his dagger is not to allow him
time to use it： within four…and…twenty hours must the deed be done；
or never。 Now； then； illustrious Prince； I take my leave of you。
To…morrow I doubt not to convince you that nothing is too much for
love to venture。
Andreas。Right； to venture： but to achieve？
Flodoardo。Ah； that must dependHe paused suddenly again his eyes
were fastened eagerly on those of Rosabella； and it was evident that
with every moment his uneasiness acquired fresh strength。 He
resumed his discourse to Andreas； with a movement of impatience。
〃Noble Andreas；〃 said he； 〃do not make me dispirited； rather let me
try whether I cannot inspire you with more confidence of my success。
I must first request you to order a splendid entertainment to be
prepared。 At this hour in the afternoon of to…morrow let me find
all the principal persons in Venice； both men and women； assembled
in this chamber； for should my hopes be realised； I would willingly
have spectators of my triumph。 Particularly let the venerable
members of the College of Ten he invited； in order that they may at
last he brought face to face with this terrible Abellino； against
whom they have so long been engaged in fruitless warfare。〃
Andreas （after eyeing him some time with a look of mingled surprise
and uncertainty）。They shall be present。
Flodoardo。I understand； also； that since Conari's death you have
been reconciled to the Cardinal Gonzaga； and that he has convinced
you how unjust were the prejudices with which Conari had inspired
you against the nobilityParozzi； Contarino； and the rest of that
society。 During my late excursions I have heard much in praise of
these young men； which makes me wish to show myself to them in a
favourable light。 If you have no objection； let me beg you to
invite them also。
Andreas。You shall be gratified。
Flodoardo。One thing more； which had nearly escaped my memory。 Let
no one know the motive of this entertainment till the whole company
is assembled。 Then let guards be placed around the palace； and；
indeed； it may be as well to place them even before the doors of the
saloon； for in truth this Abellino is such a desperate villain； that
too many precautions cannot be taken against him。 The sentinels
must have their pieces loaded； and； above all things； they must be
strictly charged； on pain of death； to let every one enter； but no
one quit the chamber。
Andreas。All this shall be done punctually。
Flodoardo。I have nothing more to say。 Noble Andreas； farewell。
Rosabella； to…morrow； when the clock strikes five； we shall meet
again； or never。
He said； and rushed out of the apartment。 Andreas shook his head；
while Rosabella sank upon her uncle's bosom； and wept bitterly。
CHAPTER III。THE MIDNIGHT MEETING。
〃Victory！〃 shouted Parozzi； as he rushed into the Cardinal Gonzaga's
chamber； where the chief conspirators were all assembled； 〃our work
goes on bravely。 Flodoardo returned this morning to Venice； and
Abellino has already received the required sum。〃
Gonzaga。Flodoardo does not want talents； I had rather he should
live and join our party。 He is seldom off his guard …
Parozzi。Such vagabonds may well be cautious； they must not forget
themselves； who have so much to conceal from others。
Falieri。Rosabella； as I understand； by no means sees this
Florentine with unfavourable eyes。
Parozzi。Oh； wait till to…morrow； and then he may make love to the
devil and his grandmother； if he likes it。 Abellino by that time
will have wrung his neck round； I warrant you。
Contarino。It is strange that； in spite of all inquiries； I can
learn but little at Florence respecting this Flodoardo。 My letters
inform me that some time ago there did exist a family of that name；
but it has been long extinct； or if any of its descendants are still
in being at Florence； their existence is quite a secret。
Gonzaga。Are you all invited to the Doge's tomorrow？
Contarino。All of us； without exception。
Gonzaga。That is well。 It seems that my recommendations have
obtained some weight with him； since his triumvirate has been
removed。 And in the evening a masked ball is to be given。 Did not
the Doge's chamberlain say so？
Falieri。He did。
Memmo。I only hope there is no trick in all this。 If he should
have been given a hint of our conspiracy！ Mercy on us！ my teeth
chatter at the thought。
Gonzaga。Absurd！ By what means should our designs have been made
known to him？ The thing is impossible。
Memmo。Impossible？ What； when there's scarce a cutpurse；
housebreaker； or vagabond in Venice who has not been enlisted in our
service； would it be so strange if the Doge discovered a little of
the business？ A secret which is known to so many； how should it
escape his penetration？
Contarino。Simpleton！ the same thing happens to him which happens
to betrayed husbands。 Everyone can see the horns except the man who
carries them。 And yet I confess it is full time that we should
realise our projects； and prevent the possibility of our being
betrayed。
Falieri。You are right； friend； everything is ready now。 The
sooner that the blow is struck the better。
Parozzi。Nay； the discontented populace； which at present sides
with us； would be perfectly well pleased if the sport began this
very night； delay the business longer； and their anger against
Andreas will cool； and render them unfit for our purpose。
Contarino。Then let us decide the game at once； be to…morrow the
important day。 Leave the Doge to my disposal。 I'll at least engage
to bury my poniard in his heart； and then let the business end as it
may； one of two things must happen： either we shall rescue
ourselves from all trouble and vexation； by throwing everything into
uproar and confusion； or else we shall sail with a full wind from
this cursed world to another。
Parozzi。Mark me； friends； we must go armed to the Doge's
entertainment。
Gonzaga。All the members of the College of Ten have been
particularly in
