the bravo of venice-第20节
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Parozzi （smiling contemptuously）。It's very likely that Abellino
should suffer himself to be caught！
Contarino。Pray inform me； signors； have any of you ever met this
Abellino face to face？
Several Noblemen at once。Not I。 Never。
A Senator。He is a kind of spectre； who only appears now and then；
when he is least expected and desired。
Rosabella。I saw him once； never again shall I forget the monster。
Andreas。And my interview with him is too well known to make it
needful for me to relate it。
Memmo。I have heard a thousand stories about this miscreant； the
one more wonderful than the other； and for my own part I verily
believe that he is Satan himself in a human form。 I must say that I
think it would be wiser not to let him be brought in among us； for
he is capable of strangling us all as we stand here； one after
another； without mercy。
〃Gracious Heaven！〃 screamed several of the ladies； 〃you don't say
so？ What； strangle us in this very chamber？〃
Contarino。The principal point is； whether Flodoardo will get the
better of HIM； or HE of Flodoardo。 Now I would lay a heavy wager
that the Florentine will return without having finished the
business。
A Senator。And _I_ would engage； on the contrary； that there is but
one man in Venice who is capable of seizing Abellino； and that THAT
man is Flodoardo of Florence。 The moment that I became acquainted
with him； I prophesied that one day or other he would play a
brilliant part in the annals of history。
Another Senator。I think with you； signor。 Never was I so struck
with a man at first sight as I was with Flodoardo。
Contarino。A thousand sequins on Abellino's not being taken； unless
death should have taken him first。
The First Senator。A thousand sequins on Flodoardo seizing him …
Andreas。And delivering him up to me； either alive or dead。
Contarino。Illustrious signors； you are witnesses of the wager。 My
Lord Vitalba； there is my hand on it。 A thousand sequins！
The Senator。Done。
Contarino （smiling）。Many thanks for your gold； signor。 I look on
it as already in my purse。 Flodoardo is a clever gentleman； no
doubt； yet I would advise him to take good care of himself； for he
will find that Abellino knows a trick or two； or I am much mistaken。
Gonzaga。May I request your Highness to inform me whether Flodoardo
is attended by the sbirri？
Andreas。No； he is alone。 Near four…and…twenty hours have elapsed
since he set out in pursuit of the bravo。
Gonzaga （to Contarino； with a smile of triumph）。I wish you joy of
your thousand sequins； signor。
Contarino （bowing respectfully）。Since your Excellency prophesies
it I can no longer doubt my success。
Memmo。I begin to recover myself！ Well； well！ let us see the end。
Three…and…twenty hours had elapsed since Flodoardo had entered into
the rash engagement。 The four…and…twentieth now hastened to its
completion； and yet Flodoardo came not。
CHAPTER V。THE CLOCK STRIKES FIVE。
The Doge became uneasy。 The senator Vitalba began to tremble for
his thousand sequins； and the conspirators could not restrain their
spiteful laughter； when Contarino gravely declared that he would
gladly lose； not ONE thousand sequins； but twenty； if the loss of
his wager through Abellino's being captured might but secure the
general safety of the Republic。
〃Hark！〃 cried Rosabella； 〃the clock strikes five！〃
All listened to the chimes in the tower of St。 Mark's Church； and
trembled as they counted the strokes。 Had not Camilla supported
her； Rosabella would have sank upon the ground。 The destined hour
was past； and still Flodoardo came not！
The venerable Andreas felt a sincere affection for the Florentine；
he shuddered as he dwelt upon the probability that Abellino's dagger
had prevailed。
Rosabella advanced towards her uncle as if she would have spoken to
him； but anxiety fettered her tongue； and tears forced themselves
into her eyes。 She struggled for a while to conceal her emotions；
but the effort was too much for her。 She threw herself on a sofa；
wrung her hands； and prayed to the God of mercy for help and
comfort。
The rest of the company either formed groups of whisperers； or
strolled up and down the apartment in evident uneasiness。 They
would willingly have appeared gay and unconcerned； but they found it
impossible to assume even an affectation of gaiety； and thus elapsed
another hour； and still Flodoardo came not。
At that moment the evening sun broke through the clouds； and a ray
of its setting glory was thrown full upon the countenance of
Rosabella。 She started from the sofa； extended her arms towards the
radiant orb； and exclaimed； while a smile of hope played round her
lips； 〃God is merciful； God will have mercy on me。〃
Contarino。Was it at five o'clock that Flodoardo engaged to produce
Abellino？ It is now a full hour beyond his time。
The Senator Vitalba。Let him only produce him at last； and he may
be a month beyond his time if he choose。
Andreas。Hark！ No。 Silence！ silence！ Surely I hear footsteps
approaching the saloon。
The words were scarcely spoken when the folding doors were thrown
open； and Flodoardo rushed into the room enveloped in his mantle。
His hair streamed on the air in wild disorder； a deep shade was
thrown over his face by the drooping plumes of his barrette； from
which the rain was flowing。 Extreme melancholy was impressed on all
his features； and he threw gloomy looks around him as he bowed his
head in salutation of the assembly。
Every one crowded round him； every mouth was unclosed to question
him； every eye was fixed on his face as if eager to anticipate his
answers。
〃Holy Virgin！〃 exclaimed Memmo； 〃I am afraid that〃
〃Be silent； signor！〃 interrupted Contarino； sternly； 〃there is
nothing to be afraid of。〃
〃Illustrious Venetians！〃it was thus that Flodoardo broke silence；
and he spoke with the commanding tone of a hero〃I conclude that
his Highness has already made known to you the object of your being
thus assembled。 I come to put an end to your anxiety； but first；
noble Andreas； I must once more receive the assurance that Rosabella
of Corfu shall become my bride； provided I deliver into your power
the bravo Abellino。〃
Andreas （examining his countenance with extreme anxiety）。
Flodoardo； have you succeeded？ Is Abellino your prisoner？
Flodoardo。If Abellino is my prisoner； shall Rosabella be my bride？
Andreas。Bring me Abellino； alive or dead； and she is yours。 I
swear it beyond the power of retracting； and also that her dowry
shall be royal！
Flodoardo。Illustrious Venetians； ye have heard the Doge's oath？
All。We are your witnesses。
Flodoardo （advancing a few paces with a bold air； and speaking in a
firm voice）。Well； then； Abellino is in my poweris in YOURS。
All （in confusion and a kind of uproar）。In ours？ Merciful heaven！
Where is he？ Abellino！
Andreas。Is he dead or living？
Flodoardo。He still lives。
Gonzaga （hastily）。He lives？
Flodoardo （bowing to the Cardinal respectfully）。He still lives；
signor。
Rosabella （pressing Camilla to her bosom）。 Didst thou hear that；
Camilla？ Didst thou hear it？ The villain still lives。 Not one
drop of blood has stained the innocent hand of Flodoardo。
The Senator Vitalba。Signor Contarino； I have won a thousand
sequins of you。
Contarino。So it should seem； signor。
Andreas。My son； you have bound the Republic to you for ever； and I
rejoice that it is to Flodoardo that she is indebted for a service
so essential。
Vitalba。And permit me； noble Florentine； to thank you for this
heroic act in the name of the Senate of Venice。 Our first care
shall be to seek out a reward proportioned to your merits。
Flodoardo （extending his arms towards Rosabella； with a melancholy
air）。There stands the only reward for which I wish。
Andreas （joyfully）。And that reward is your own。 But where have
you left the bloodhound？ Conduct him hither； my son； and let me
look at him once more。 When I last saw him； he had the insolence to
tell me； 〃Doge； I am your equal。 This narrow chamber now holds the
two greatest men in Venice。〃 Now； then； let me see how this other
great man looks in captivity。
Two or three Senators。Where is he？ Bring him hither。
Several of the ladies screamed at hearing this proposal。 〃For
heaven's sake；〃 cried they； 〃keep the monster away from us！ I shall
be frightened out of my senses if he comes here。〃
〃Noble ladies；〃 said Flodoardo； with a smile； expressing rather
sorrow than joy； 〃you have nothing to apprehend。 Abellino shall do
you no harm； but he needs must come hither to claim THE BRAVO'S
BRIDE。〃 And he pointed to Rosabella。
〃Oh； my best friend；〃 she answered； 〃how shall I express my thanks
to you for having thus put an end to my terr
