the bravo of venice-第2节
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〃What can this mean？〃 thought our mendicant。 〃Is yon eavesdropper
one of death's unlicensed ministers？ Has he received the retaining
fee of some impatient heir； who pants to possess the wealth of the
unlucky knave who comes strolling along yonder； so careless and
unconscious？ Be not so confident； honest friend！ I'm at your
elbow。〃
He retired further into the shade； and silently and slowly drew near
the lurker； who stirred not from his place。 The stranger had
already passed them by； when the concealed villain sprang suddenly
upon him； raised his right hand in which a poniard was gleaming； and
before he could give the blow； was felled to the earth by the arm of
the mendicant。
The stranger turned hastily towards them； the bravo started up and
fled； the beggar smiled。
〃How now？〃 cried the stranger； 〃what does all this mean？〃
〃Oh； 'tis a mere jest； signor； which has only preserved your life。〃
〃What？ my life？ How so？〃
〃The honest gentleman who has just taken to his heels stole behind
you with true cat…like caution； and had already raised his dagger；
when I saw him。 You owe your life to me； and the service is richly
worth one little piece of money！ Give me some alms； signor； for on
my soul I am hungry； thirsty； cold。〃
〃Hence； scurvy companion！ I know you and your tricks too well。
This is all a concerted scheme between you； a design upon my purse；
an attempt to procure both money and thanks； and under the lame
pretence of having saved me from an assassin。 Go； fellow； go！
practise these dainty devices on the Doge's credulity if you will；
but with Buonarotti you stand no chance； believe me。〃
The wretched starving beggar stood like one petrified； and gazed on
the taunting stranger。
〃No； as I have a soul to save； signor； 'tis no lie I tell you！'tis
the plain truth； have compassion； or I die this night of hunger。〃
〃Begone this instant； I say； or by Heaven〃
The unfeeling man here drew out a concealed pistol； and pointed it
at his preserver。
〃Merciful Heaven！ and is it thus that services are acknowledged in
Venice？〃
〃The watch is at no great distance； I need only raise my voice and
〃
〃Hell and confusion！ do you take me for a robber； then？〃
〃Make no noise； I tell you。 Be quietyou had better。〃
〃Hark you； signor。 Buonarotti is your name； I think？ I will write
it down as belonging to the second scoundrel with whom I have met in
Venice。〃
He paused for a moment； then continuing in a dreadful voice； 〃And
when；〃 said he； 〃thou； Buonarotti； shalt hereafter hear the name of
ABELLINOTREMBLE！〃
Abellino turned away； and left the hard…hearted Venetian。
CHAPTER II： THE BANDITTI。
And now rushed the unfortunate wildly through the streets of Venice。
He railed at fortune； he laughed and cursed by turns； yet sometimes
he suddenly stood still； seemed as pondering on some great and
wondrous enterprise； and then again rushed onwards； as if hastening
to its execution。
Propped against a column of the Signoria； he counted over the whole
sum of his misfortunes。 His wandering eyeballs appeared to seek
comfort； but they found it not。
〃Fate；〃 he at length exclaimed in a paroxysm of despair； 〃Fate has
condemned me to be either the wildest of adventurers； or one at the
relation of whose crimes the world must shudder。 To astonish is my
destiny。 Rosalvo can know no medium； Rosalvo can never act like
common men。 Is it not the hand of fate which has led me hither？
Who could ever have dreamt that the son of the richest lord in
Naples should have depended for a beggar's alms on Venetian charity？
II； who feel myself possessed of strength of body and energy of
soul fit for executing the most daring deeds； behold me creeping in
rags through the streets of this inhospitable city； and torturing my
wits in vain to discover some means by which I may rescue life from
the jaws of famine！ Those men whom my munificence nourished； who at
my table bathed their worthless souls in the choicest wines of
Cyprus； and glutted themselves with every delicacy which the globe's
four quarters could supply； these very men now deny to my necessity
even a miserable crust of mouldy bread。 Oh； that is dreadful；
cruelcruel of mencruel of Heaven！〃
He paused； folded his arms； and sighed。
〃Yet will I bear itI will submit to my destiny。 I will traverse
every path and go through every degree of human wretchedness； and
whate'er may be my fate； I will still be myself； and whate'er may be
my fate； I will still act greatly！ Away； then； with the Count
Rosalvo； whom all Naples idolised； nownow； I am the beggar
Abellino。 A beggarthat name stands last in the scale of worldly
rank； but first in the list of the famishing； the outcast； and the
unworthy。〃
Something rustled near him。 Abellino gazed around。 He was aware of
the bravo； whom he struck to the ground that night； and whom two
companions of a similar stamp had now joined。 As they advanced；
they cast inquiring glances around them。 They were in search of
some one。
〃It is of me that they are in search；〃 said Abellino； then advanced
a few steps； and whistled。
The ruffians stood still； they whispered together； and seemed to be
undecided。
Abellino whistled a second time。
〃'Tis he；〃 he could hear one of them say distinctly； and in a moment
after they advanced slowly towards him。
Abellino kept his place； but unsheathed his sword。 The three
unknown （they were masked） stopped a few paces from him。
〃How now； fellow！〃 quoth one of them； 〃what is the matter？ Why
stand you on your guard？〃
Abellino。It is as well that you should be made to keep your
distance； for I know you； you are certain honest gentlemen； who live
by taking away the lives of others。
The First Ruffian。Was not your whistling addressed to us？
Abellino。It was。
A Ruffian。And what would you with us？
Abellino。Hear me！ I am a miserable wretch； and starving； give me
an alms out of your booty！
A Ruffian。An alms？ Ha！ ha！ ha！ By my soul that is whimsical！
Alms from us； indeed！Oh； by all means！ No doubt； you shall have
alms in plenty。
Abellino。Or else give me fifty sequins； and I'll bind myself to
your service till I shall have worked out my debt。
A Ruffian。Aye？ and pray； then； who may you be？
Abellino。A starving wretch； the Republic holds none more
miserable。 Such am I at present； but hereafterI have powers；
knaves。 This arm could pierce a heart； though guarded by three
breastplates； this eye； though surrounded by Egyptian darkness；
could still see to stab sure。
A Ruffian。Why； then； did you strike me down； even now？
Abellino。In the hope of being paid for it； but though I saved his
life； the scoundrel gave me not a single ducat。
A Ruffian。No？ So much the better。 But hark ye； comrade； are you
sincere？
Abellino。Despair never lies。
A Ruffian。Slave； shouldst thou be a traitor …
Abellino。My heart would be within reach of your hands； and your
daggers would be as sharp as now。
The three dangerous companions again whispered among themselves for
a few moments； after which they returned their daggers into the
sheath。
〃Come on； then；〃 said one of them； 〃follow us to our home。 It were
unwise to talk over certain matters in the open streets。〃
〃I follow you；〃 was Abellino's answer； 〃but tremble should any one
of you dare to treat me as a foe。 Comrade； forgive me that I gave
your ribs somewhat too hard a squeeze just now； I will be your sworn
brother in recompense。〃
〃We are on honour；〃 cried the banditti with one voice； 〃no harm
shall happen to you。 He who does you an injury shall be to us as a
foe。 A fellow of your humour suits us well； follow us； and fear
not。〃
And on they went； Abellino marching between two of them。 Frequent
were the looks of suspicion which he cast around him； but no ill
design was perceptible in the banditti。 They guided him onwards；
till they reached a canal； loosened a gondola； placed themselves in
it； and rowed till they had gained the most remote quarter of
Venice。 They landed； threaded several by…streets； and at length
knocked at the door of a house of inviting appearance。 It was
opened by a young woman； who conducted them into a plain but
comfortable chamber。 Many were the looks of surprise and inquiry
which she cast on the bewildered； half…pleased； half…anxious
Abellino； who knew not whither he had been conveyed； and still
thought it unsafe to confide entirely in the promises of the
banditti。
CHAPTER III： THE TRIAL OF STRENGTH。
Scarcely were the bravoes seated； when Cinthia （for that was the
young woman's name） was again summoned to the door； and the company
was now increased by two new…comers； who examined their unknown
guest from head to foot。
〃Now； then；〃 cried
