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we can but obtain the assistance of the confessors; whose blessings

and curses pass with the multitude for current coin。  Now; then; to

work; comrades; and so farewell。







CHAPTER IX:  CINTHIA'S DWELLING。







Scarcely had Abellino achieved the bloody deed which employed every

tongue in Venice; when he changed his dress and whole appearance

with so much expedition and success as to prevent the slightest

suspicion of his being Matteo's murderer。  He quitted the gardens

unquestioned; nor left the least trace which could lead to a

discovery。



He arrived at Cinthia's dwelling。  It was already evening。  Cinthia

opened the door; and Abellino entered the common apartment。



〃Where are the rest?〃 said he in a savage tone of voice whose sound

made Cinthia tremble。



〃They have been asleep;〃 she answered; 〃since mid…day。  Probably

they mean to go out on some pursuit to…night。〃  Abellino threw

himself into a chair; and seemed to be lost in thought。



〃But why are you always so gloomy; Abellino?〃 said Cinthia; drawing

near him; 〃it's that which makes you so ugly。  Prithee away with

those frowns; they make your countenance look worse than nature made

it?〃



Abellino gave no answer。



〃Really; you are enough to frighten a body!  Come; now; let us be

friends; Abellino; I begin not to dislike you; and to endure your

appearance; and I don't know but〃



〃Go; wake the sleepers!〃 roared the bravo。



 〃The sleepers?  Pshaw; let them sleep on; the stupid rogues。  Sure

you are not afraid to be alone with me?  Mercy on me; one would

think I looked as terrible as yourself?  Do I?  Nay; look on me;

Abellino。〃



Cinthia; to say the truth; was by no means an ill…looking girl; her

eyes were bright and expressive; the hair fell in shining ringlets

over her bosom; her lips were red and full; and she bowed them

towards Abellino's。  But Abellino's were still sacred by the touch

of Rosabella's cheek。  He started from his seat; and removed; yet

gently; Cinthia's hand; which rested on his shoulder。



〃Wake the sleepers; my good girl;〃 said he; 〃I must speak with them

this moment。〃



Cinthia hesitated。



〃Nay; go;〃 said he; in a fierce voice。



Cinthia retired in silence; yet as she crossed the threshold; she

stopped for an instant and menaced him with her finger。



Abellino strode through the chamber with hasty steps; his head

reclining on his shoulder; his arms folded over his breast。



〃The first step is taken;〃 said he to himself。  〃There is one moral

monster the less on earth。  I have committed no sin by this murder;

I have but performed a sacred duty。  Aid me; thou Great and Good;

for arduous is the task before me。  Ah; should that task be gone

through with success; and Rosabella be the reward of my labours

Rosabella?  What; shall the Doge's niece bestow on the outcast

Abellino?  Oh; madman that I am to hope it; never can I reach the

goal of my wishes!  No; never was there frenzy to equal mine。  To

attach myself at first sight toYet Rosabella alone is capable of

thus enchanting at first sightRosabella and Valeria?  To be

beloved by two such womenYet; though 'tis impossible to attain;

the striving to attain such an end is glorious。  Illusions so

delightful will at least make me happy for a moment; and alas; the

wretched Abellino needs so many illusions that for a moment will

make him happy!  Oh; surely; knew the world what I gladly would

accomplish; the world would both love and pity me。〃



Cinthia returned; the four bravoes followed her; yawning; grumbling;

and still half asleep。



〃Come; come!〃 said Abellino; 〃rouse yourselves; lads。  Before I say

anything; be convinced that you are wide awake; for what I am going

to tell you is so strange that you would scarce believe it in a

dream。〃



They listened to him with an air of indifference and impatience。



〃Why; what's the matter now?〃 said Thomaso; while he stretched

himself。



〃Neither more nor less than that our honest; hearty; brave Matteo is

murdered。〃



〃What; murdered!〃 every one exclaimed; and gazed with looks of

terror on the bearer of this unwelcome news; while Cinthia gave a

loud scream; and; clasping her hands together; sank almost

breathless into a chair。



A general silence prevailed for some time。



〃Murdered〃' at length repeated Thomaso; 〃and by whom?〃



Baluzzo。Where?



Pietrino。What? this forenoon?



Abellino。In the gardens of Dolabella; where he was found bleeding

at the feet of the Doge's niece。  Whether he fell by her hand; or by

that of one of her admirers; I cannot say。



Cinthia (weeping)。Poor dear Matteo。



Abellino。About this time to…morrow you will see his corpse

exhibited on the gibbet。



Pietrino。What!  Did any one recognise him?



Abellino。Yes; yes! there's no doubt about his trade; you may

depend on't。



Cinthia。The gibbet!  Poor dear Matteo!



Thomaso。This is a fine piece of work。



Baluzzo。Confound the fellow; who would have thought of anything

happening so unlucky?



Abellino。Why; how now?  You seem to be overcome。



Struzza。I cannot recover myself; surprise and terror have almost

stupefied me。



Abellino。Indeed!  By my life; when I heard the news I burst into

laughter。  〃Signor Matteo;〃 said I; 〃I wish your worship joy of your

safe arrival。〃



Thomaso。What?



Struzza。You laughed?  Hang me if I can see what there is to laugh

at。



Abellino。Why; surely you are not afraid of receiving what you are

so ready to bestow on others?  What is your object?  What can we

expect as our reward at the end of our labours except the gibbet or

the rock?  What memorials of our actions shall we leave behind us;

except our skeletons dancing in the air; and the chains which rattle

round them?  He who chooses to play the bravo's part on the great

theatre of the world must not be afraid of death; whether it comes

at the hands of the physician or the executioner。  Come; come; pluck

up your spirits; comrades。



Thomaso。That's easy to say; but quite out of my power。



Pietrino。Mercy on me; how my teeth chatter。



Baluzzo。Prithee; Abellino; be composed for a moment or two; your

gaiety at a time like this is quite horrible。



Cinthia。Oh; me! oh; me!  Poor murdered Matteo。



Abellino。Hey…day。  Why; what is all this! Cinthia; my life; are

you not ashamed of being such a child?  Come; let you and I renew

that conversation which my sending you to wake these gentlemen

interrupted。  Sit down by me; sweetheart; and give me a kiss。



Cinthia。Out upon you; monster。



Abellino。What; have you altered your mind; my pretty dear?  Well;

well; with all my heart; when YOU are in the humour; perhaps _I_ may

not have the inclination。



Baluzzo。Death and the devil; Abellino; is this a time for talking

nonsense?  Prithee keep such trash for a fitter occasion; and let us

consider what we are to do just now。



Pietrino。Nay; this is no season for trifling。



Struzza。Tell us; Abellino; you are a clever fellow; what course is

it best for us to take?



Abellino (after a pause)。Nothing must be done; or a great deal。

One of two things we must choose。  Either we must remain WHERE we

are; and WHAT we are; murder honest men to please any rascal who

will give us gold and fair words; and make up our minds to be hung;

broken on the wheel; condemned to the galleys; burnt alive;

crucified; or beheaded; at the long run; just as it may seem best to

the supreme authority; or else …



Thomaso。Or else?  Well?



Abellino。Or else we must divide the spoils which are already in

our possession; quit the Republic; begin a new and better life; and

endeavour to make our peace with Heaven。  We have already wealth

enough to make it unnecessary for us to ask how shall we get our

bread?  You may either buy an estate in some foreign country; or

keep Osteria; or engage in commerce; or set up some trade; or; in

short; do whatever you like best; so that you do but abandon the

profession of an assassin。  Then we may look out for a wife among

the pretty girls of our own rank in life; become the happy fathers

of sons and daughters may eat and drink in peace and security; and

make amends by the honesty of our future lives for the offences of

our past。



Thomaso。Ha! ha! ha!



Abellino。What YOU do; that will _I_ do too; I will either hang or

be broken on the wheel along with you; or become an honest man; just

as you please。  Now; then; what is your decision?



Thomaso。Was there ever such a stupid counsellor。



Pietrino。Our decision?  Nay; the point's not very difficult to

decide。



Abellino。I should have thought it HAD been。



Thomaso。Without more words; then; I vote for our remaining as we

are; and carrying on our old trade; that will bring us plenty of

gold; and enable us to lead a jolly life。



Pietrino。Right; lad; you speak my thoughts exactly。



Thomaso。We are bra

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