the bravo of venice-第19节
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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 invited …
Falieri。Down with every man of them！
Memmo。Aye； aye！ Fine talking； but suppose it should turn out to
be down with ourselves？
Falieri。Thou white…livered wretch！ Stay at home； then； and take
care of your worthless existence。 But if our attempt succeeds； come
not to us to reimburse you for the sums which you have already
advanced。 Not a sequin shall be paid you back； depend on't。
Memmo。You wrong me； Falieri； if you wish to prove my courage； draw
your sword and measure it against mine。 I am as brave as yourself；
but； thank Heaven； I am not quite so hot…headed。
Gonzaga。Nay； even suppose that the event should not answer our
expectations？ Andreas once dead； let the populace storm as it
pleases； the protection of his Holiness will sanction our
proceedings。
Memmo。The Pope？ May we count on his protection？
Gonzaga （throwing him a letter）。Read there； unbeliever。 The Pope；
I tell you； must protect us； since one of our objects is professed
to be the assertion of the rights of St。 Peter's Chair in Venice。
Prithee； Memmo； tease us no more with such doubts； but let
Contarino's proposal be adopted at once。 Our confederates must be
summoned to Parozzi's palace with all diligence； and there furnished
with such weapons as are necessary。 Let the stroke of midnight be
the signal for Contarino's quitting the ball…room； and hastening to
seize the arsenal。 Salviati； who commands there； is in our
interest； and will throw open the gates at the first summons。
Falieri。The admiral Adorna； as soon as he hears the alarm…bell；
will immediately lead his people to our assistance。
Parozzi。Oh； our success is certain。
Contarino。Only let us take care to make the confusion as general
as possible。 Our adversaries must be kept in the dark who are their
friends and who their foes； and all but our own party must be left
ignorant as to the authors； the origin； and the object of the
uproar。
Parozzi。Heaven； I am delighted at finding the business at length
so near the moment of execution！
Falieri。Parozzi； have you distributed the white ribbons by which
we are to recognise our partisans？
Parozzi。That was done some days ago。
Contarino。Then there is no more necessary to be said on the
subject。 Comrades； fill your goblets。 We will not meet again
together till our work has been completed。
Memmo。And yet methinks it would not be unwise to consider the
matter over again coolly。
Contarino。Pshaw！ consideration and prudence have nothing to do
with a rebellion； despair and rashness in this case are better
counsellors。 The work once begun； the constitution of Venice once
boldly overturned； so that no one can tell who is master and who is
subject； then consideration will be of service in instructing us how
far it may be necessary for our interest to push the confusion。
Come； friends！ fill； fill； I say。 I cannot help laughing when I
reflect that； by giving this entertainment to…morrow； the Doge
himself kindly affords us an opportunity of executing our plans。
Parozzi。As to Flodoardo； I look upon him already as in his grave；
yet before we go to…morrow to the Doge's； it will be as well to have
a conference with Abellino。
Contarino。That care we will leave to you； Parozzi； and in the
meanwhile here's the health of Abellino。
All。Abellino！
Gonzaga。And success to our enterprise to…morrow。
Memmo。I'll drink THAT toast with all my heart。
All。Success to to…morrow's enterprise！
Parozzi。The wine tastes well； and every face looks gay； pass
eight…and…forty hours； and shall we look as gaily？ We separate
smiling； shall we smile when two nights hence we meet again？ No
matter。
CHAPTER IV。THE DECISIVE DAY。
The next morning everything in Venice seemed as tranquil as if
nothing more than ordinary was on the point of taking place； and
yet； since her first foundation； never had a more important day
risen on the Republic。
The inhabitants of the ducal palace were in motion early。 The
impatient Andreas forsook the couch on which he had passed a
sleepless and anxious night； as soon as the first sunbeams
penetrated through the lattice of his chamber。 Rosabella had
employed the hours of rest in dreams of Flodoardo； and she still
seemed to be dreaming of him； even after sleep was fled。 Camilla's
love for her fair pupil had broken her repose； she loved Rosabella
as had she been her daughter； and was aware that on this interesting
day depended the love…sick girl's whole future happiness。 For some
time Rosabella was unusually gay； she sang to her harp the most
lively airs； and jested with Camilla for looking so serious and so
uneasy； but when mid…day approached； her spirits began to forsake
her。 She quitted her instrument； and paced the chamber with
unsteady steps。 With every succeeding hour her heart palpitated
with greater pain and violence； and she trembled in expectation of
the scene which was soon to take place。
The most illustrious persons in Venice already filled her uncle's
palace； the afternoon so much dreaded； and yet so much desired； was
come； and the Doge now desired Camilla to conduct his niece to the
great saloon； where she was expected with impatience by all those
who were of most consequence in the Republic。
Rosabella sank on her knees before a statue of the Virgin。 〃Blessed
Lady！〃 she exclaimed； with lifted hands； 〃have mercy on me！ Let all
to…day end well！〃
Pale as death did she enter the chamber in which； on the day before；
she had acknowledged her love for Flodoardo； and Flodoardo had sworn
to risk his life to obtain her。 Flodoardo was not yet arrived。
The assembly was brilliant； the conversation was gay。 They talked
over the politics of the day； and discussed the various occurrences
of Europe。 The Cardinal and Contarino were engaged in a conference
with the Doge； while Memmo； Parozzi； and Falieri stood silent
together； and revolved the project whose execution was to take place
at midnight。
The weather was dark and tempestuous。 The wind roared among the
waters of the canal； and the vanes of the palace…towers creaked
shrilly and discordantly。 One storm of rain followed hard upon
another。
The clock struck four。 The cheeks of Rosabella； if possible； became
paler than before。 Andreas whispered something to his chamberlain。
In a few minutes the tread of armed men seemed approaching the doors
of the saloon； and soon after the clattering of weapons was heard。
Instantly a sudden silence reigned through the whole assembly。 The
young courtiers broke off their love…speeches abruptly； and the
ladies stopped in their criticisms upon the last new fashions。 The
statesmen dropped their political discussions； and gazed on each
other in silence and anxiety。
The Doge advanced slowly into the midst of the assembly。 Every eye
was fixed upon him。 The hearts of the conspirators beat painfully。
〃Be not surprised； my friends；〃 said Andreas； 〃at these unusual
precautions； they relate to nothing which need interfere with the
pleasures of this society。 You have all heard but too much of the
bravo Abellino； the murderer of the Procurator Conari； and of my
faithful counsellors Manfrone and Lomellino； and to whose dagger my
illustrious guest the Prince of Monaldeschi has but lately fallen a
victim。 This miscreant； the object of aversion to every honest man
in Venice； to whom nothing is sacred or venerable； and who has
hitherto set at defiance the whole vengeance of the Republicbefore
another hour expires； perhaps this outcast of hell may stand before
you in this very saloon。〃
All （astonished）。Abellino？ What； the bravo Abellino？
Gonzaga。Of his own accord！
Andreas。No； not of his own accord； in truth。 But Flodoardo of
Florence has undertaken to render this important service to the
Republic； to seize Abellino； cost what it may； and conduct him
hither at the risk of his life。
A Senator。The engagement will be difficult to fulfil。 I doubt
much Flodoardo's keeping his promise。
Another。But if he SHOULD perform it； the obligation which
Flodoardo will lay upon the Republic will not be trifling。
A Third。Nay； we shall be all his debtors； nor do I know how we can
reward Flodoardo for so important a service。
Andreas。Be that my task。 Flodoardo has demanded my niece in
marriage if he performs his promise。 Rosabella shall be his reward。
All gazed on each other in silence； some with looks expressing the
most heartfelt satisfaction； and others with glances of envy and
surprise。
Falieri （in a low voice）。Parozzi； how will this end？
Memmo。As I live； the very idea makes me shake as if I had a fever。
Parozzi （smiling contemptuou
