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was now increased by two new…comers; who examined their unknown

guest from head to foot。



〃Now; then;〃 cried one of these; who had conducted Abellino to this

respectable society; 〃let us see what you are like。〃



As he said this he raised a burning lamp from the table; and the

light of its flame was thrown full upon Abellino's countenance。



〃Lord; forgive me my sins!〃 screamed Cinthia; 〃out upon him! what an

ugly hound it is!〃



She turned hastily round; and hid her face with her hands。  Dreadful

was the look with which Abellino repaid her compliment。



〃Knave;〃 said one of the banditti; 〃Nature's own hand has marked you

out for an assassincome; prithee be frank; and tell us how thou

hast contrived so long to escape the gibbet?  In what gaol didst

thou leave thy last fetters?  Or from what galley hast thou taken

thy departure; without staying to say adieu?〃



Abellino; folding his arms〃If I be such as you describe;〃 said he;

with an air of authority; and in a voice which made his hearers

tremble; 〃'tis for me all the better。  Whate'er may be my future

mode of life; Heaven can have no right to find fault with it; since

it was for that it formed and fitted me。〃



The five bravoes stepped aside; and consulted together。  The subject

of their conference is easy to be divined。  In the meanwhile

Abellino remained quiet and indifferent to what was passing。



After a few minutes they again approached him。  One; whose

countenance was the most ferocious; and whose form exhibited the

greatest marks of muscular strength; advanced a few paces before the

rest; and addressed Abellino as follows:…



〃Hear me; comrade。  In Venice there exist but five banditti; you see

them before you; wilt thou be the sixth?  Doubt not thou wilt find

sufficient employment。  My name is Matteo; and I am the father of

the band:  that sturdy fellow with the red locks is called Baluzzo;

he; whose eyes twinkle like a cat's; is Thomaso; an arch…knave; I

promise you; 'twas Pietrino whose bones you handled so roughly to…

night; and yon thick…lipped Colossus; who stands next to Cinthia; is

named Stuzza。  Now; then; you know us alland since you are a

penniless devil; we are willing to incorporate you in our society;

but we must first be assured that you mean honestly by us。〃



Abellino smiled; or rather grinned; and murmured hoarsely〃I am

starving。〃



〃Answer; fellow!  Dost thou mean honestly by us?〃



〃That must the event decide。〃



〃Mark me; knave; the first suspicion of treachery costs you your

life。  Take shelter in the Doge's palace; and girdle yourself round

with all the power of the Republicthough clasped in the Doge's

arms; and protected by a hundred cannons; still would we murder you!

Fly to the high altar; press the crucifix to your bosom; and even at

mid…day; still would we murder you。  Think on this well; fellow; and

forget not we are banditti!〃



〃You need not tell me that。  But give me some food; and then I'll

prate with you as long as you please。  At present I am starving。

Four…and…twenty hours have elapsed since I last tasted nourishment。〃



Cinthia now covered a small table with her best provisions; and

filled several silver goblets with delicious wine。



〃If one could but look at him without disgust;〃 murmured Cinthia;

〃if he had but the appearance of something human!  Satan must

certainly have appeared to his mother; and thence came her child

into the world with such a frightful countenance。  Ugh! it's an

absolute mask; only that I never saw a mask so hideous。〃



Abellino heeded her not; he placed himself at the table; and ate and

drank as if he would have satisfied himself for the next six months。

The banditti eyed him with looks of satisfaction; and congratulated

each other on such a valuable acquisition。



If the reader is curious to know what this same Abellino was like;

he must picture to himself a young; stout fellow; whose limbs

perhaps might have been thought not ill…formed; had not the most

horrible countenance that ever was invented by a caricaturist; or

that Milton could have adapted to the ugliest of his fallen angels;

entirely marred the advantages of his person。  Black and shining;

but long and straight; his hair flew wildly about his brown neck and

yellow face。  His mouth so wide; that his gums and discoloured teeth

were visible; and a kind of convulsive twist; which scarcely ever

was at rest; had formed its expression into an internal grin。  His

eye; for he had but one; was sunk deep into his head; and little

more than the white of it was visible; and even that little was

overshadowed by the protrusion of his dark and bushy eyebrow。  In

the union of his features were found collected in one hideous

assemblage all the most coarse and uncouth traits which had ever

been exhibited singly in wooden cuts; and the observer was left in

doubt whether this repulsive physiognomy expressed stupidity of

intellect; or maliciousness of heart; or whether it implied them

both together。



〃Now; then; I am satisfied;〃 roared Abellino; and dashed the still

full goblet upon the ground。  〃Speak! what would you know of me?  I

am ready to give you answers。〃



〃The first thing;〃 replied Matteo; 〃the first thing necessary is to

give us a proof of your strength; for this is of material importance

in our undertakings。  Are you good at wrestling?〃



〃I know not; try me。〃



Cinthia removed the table。



〃Now; then; Abellino; which of us will you undertake?  Whom among us

dost thou think that thou canst knock down as easily as yon poor

dabbler in the art; Pietrino?〃



The banditti burst into a loud fit of laughter。



〃Now; then;〃 cried Abellino; fiercely; 〃now; then; for the trial。

Why come you not on?〃



〃Fellow;〃 replied Matteo; 〃take my advice; try first what you can do

with me alone; and learn what sort of men you have to manage。  Think

you; we are marrowless boys; or delicate signors?〃



Abellino answered him by a scornful laugh。  Matteo became furious。

His companions shouted aloud; and clapped their hands。



〃To business!〃 said Abellino; 〃I'm now in a right humour for sport!

Look to yourselves; my lads。〃  And in the same instant he collected

his forces together; threw the gigantic Matteo over his head as had

he been an infant; knocked Struzza down on the right hand; and

Pietrino on the left; tumbled Thomaso to the end of the room head

over heels; and stretched Baluzzo without animation upon the

neighbouring benches。



Three minutes elapsed ere the subdued bravoes could recover

themselves。  Loudly shouted Abellino; while the astonished Cinthia

gazed and trembled at the terrible exhibition。



〃By the blood of St。 Januarius!〃 cried Matteo at length; rubbing his

battered joints; 〃the fellow is our master!  Cinthia; take care to

give him our best chamber。〃



〃He must have made a compact with the devil!〃 grumbled Thomaso; and

forced his dislocated wrist back into its socket。



No one seemed inclined to hazard a second trial of strength。  The

night was far advanced; or rather the grey morning already was

visible over the sea。  The banditti separated; and each retired to

his chamber。







CHAPTER IV:  THE DAGGERS。







Abellino; this Italian Hercules; all terrible as he appeared to be;

was not long a member of this society before his companions felt

towards him sentiments of the most unbounded esteem。  All loved; all

valued him; for his extraordinary talents for a bravo's trade; to

which he seemed peculiarly adapted; not only by his wonderful

strength of body; but by the readiness of his wit; and his never…

failing presence of mind。  Even Cinthia was inclined to feel some

little affection for him; buthe really was too ugly。



Matteo; as Abellino was soon given to understand; was the captain of

this dangerous troop。  He was one who carried villainy to the

highest pitch of refinement; incapable of fear; quick and crafty;

and troubled with less conscience than a French financier。  The

booty and price of blood; which his associates brought in daily;

were always delivered up to him:  he gave each man his share; and

retained no larger portion for himself than was allotted to the

others。  The catalogue of those whom he had despatched into the

other world was already too long for him to have repeated it:  many

names had slipped his memory; but his greatest pleasure in his hour

of relaxation was to relate such of these murderous anecdotes as he

still remembered; in the benevolent intention of inspiring his

hearers with a desire to follow his example。  His weapons were kept

separate from the rest; and occupied a whole apartment。  Here were

to be found daggers of a thousand different fashions; WITH guards

and WITHOUT them; two; three; and four…edged。  Here were stored air…

guns; pistols; and blunderbusses; poisons of various kinds and

operating in various ways; garments fit for every p

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