the bravo of venice-第12章
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second； Parozzi sat in his own apartment； with Memmo and Falieri。
Dimly burnt the lights； lowering and tempestuous were the skies
without； gloomy and fearful were the souls of the libertines within。
Parozzi （after a long silence）。What； are you both dreaming？ Ho；
there； Memmo； Falieri； fill your goblets。
Memmo （with indifference）。Well； to please you。 But I care not
for wine to…night。
Falieri。Nor I。 Methinks it tastes like vinegar： yet the wine
itself is good： 'tis our ill temper spoils it。
Parozzi。Confound the rascals。
Memmo。What； the banditti？
Parozzi。Not a trace of them can be found。 It is enough to kill
one with vexation。
Falieri。And in the meanwhile the time runs out； our projects will
get wind； and then we shall sit quietly in the State prisons of
Venice； objects of derision to the populace and ourselves。 I could
tear my flesh for anger。 （A universal silence。）
Parozzi （striking his hand against the table passionately）。
Flodoardo； Flodoardo。
Falieri。In a couple of hours I must attend the Cardinal Gonzaga；
and what intelligence shall I have to give him？
Memmo。Come； come； Contarino cannot have been absent so long
without cause； I warrant you he will bring some news with him when
he arrives。
Falieri。Pshaw； pshaw！ My life on't he lies at this moment at
Olympia's feet； and forgets us； the Republic； the banditti； and
himself。
Parozzi。And so neither of you know anything of this Flodoardo？
Memmo。No more than of what happened on Rosabella's birthday。
Falieri。Well； then； I know one thing more about him； Parozzi is
jealous of him。
Parozzi。I？ Ridiculous； Rosabella may bestow her hand on the
German Emperor； or a Venetian gondolier； without its giving me the
least anxiety。
Falieri。Ha！ ha！ ha！
Memmo。Well； one thing at least even envy must confess； Flodoardo
is the handsomest man in Venice。 I doubt whether there's a woman in
the city who can resist him。
Parozzi。And I should doubt it too； if women had as little sense as
you have； and looked only at the shell without minding the kernel …
Memmo。Which unluckily is exactly the thing which women always do …
Falieri。The old Lomellino seems to be extremely intimate with this
Flodoardo。 They say he was well acquainted with his father。
Memmo。It was he who presented him to the Doge。
Parozzi。Hark！Surely some one knocked at the palace door？
Memmo。It can be none but Contarino。 Now； then； we shall hear
whether he has discovered the banditti。
Falieri （starting from his chair）。I'll swear to that footstep；
it's Contarino。
The doors were thrown open。 Contarino entered hastily； enveloped in
his cloak。
〃Good evening； sweet gentlemen；〃 said he； and threw his mantle
aside。 And Memmo； Parozzi； and Falieri started back in horror。
〃Good God！〃 they exclaimed； 〃what has happened？ You are covered
with blood？〃
〃A trifle！〃 cried Contarino； 〃is that wine？ quick； give me a goblet
of it； I expire with thirst。〃
Falieri （while he gives him a cup）。But； Contarino； you bleed？
Contarino。You need not tell me that。 I did not do it myself； I
promise you。
Parozzi。First let us bind up your wounds； and then tell us what
has happened to you。 It is as well that the servants should remain
ignorant of your adventure； I will be your surgeon myself。
Contarino。What has happened to me； say you？ Oh！ a joke；
gentlemen； a mere joke。 Here； Falieri； fill the bowl again。
Memmo。I can scarcely breathe for terror。
Contarino。Very possibly； neither should I； were I Memmo instead of
being Contarino。 The wound bleeds plenteously it's true； but it's
by no means dangerous （he tore open his doublet； and uncovered his
bosom）。 There； look； comrades； you see it's only a cut of not more
than two inches deep。
Memmo （shuddering）。Mercy on me！ the very sight of it makes my
blood run cold。
Parozzi brought ointments and linen； and bound up the wound of his
associate。
Contarino。Old Horace is in the right。 A philosopher can be
anything he pleases； a cobbler； a king； or a physician。 Only
observe with what dignified address the philosopher Parozzi spreads
that plaster for me。 I thank you； friend； that's enough： and now；
comrades； place yourselves in a circle round me； and listen to the
wonders which I am going to relate。
Falieri。Proceed。
Contarino。As soon as it was twilight； I stole out； wrapped in my
cloak； determined if possible to discover some of the banditti。 I
knew not their persons； neither were they acquainted with mine。 An
extravagant undertaking； perhaps； you will tell me； but I was
resolved to convince you that everything which a man DETERMINES to
do； may be done。 I had some information respecting the rascals；
though it was but slight； and on these grounds I proceeded。 I
happened by mere accident to stumble upon a gondolier； whose
appearance excited my curiosity。 I fell into discourse with him。 I
was soon convinced that he was not ignorant of the lurking…place of
the bravoes； and by means of some gold and many fair speeches； I at
length brought him to confess that though not regularly belonging to
the band； he had occasionally been employed by them。 I immediately
made a bargain with him； he conducted me in his gondola through the
greatest part of Venice； sometimes right； sometimes left； till I
lost every idea as to the quarter of the town in which I found
myself。 At length he insisted on binding my eyes with his
handkerchief； and I was compelled to submit。 Half an hour elapsed
before the gondola stopped。 He told me to descend； conducted me
through a couple of streets； and at length knocked at a door； where
he left me still blindfolded。 The door was opened； my business was
inquired with great caution； and after some demur I was at length
admitted。 The handkerchief was now withdrawn from my eyes； and I
found myself in a small chamber； surrounded by four men of not the
most creditable appearance； and a young woman； who （it seems） had
opened the door for me。
Falieri。You are a daring fellow； Contarino。
Contarino。Here was no time to be lost。 I instantly threw my purse
on the table； promised them mountains of gold； and fixed on
particular days； hours； and signals which were necessary to
facilitate our future intercourse。 For the present I only required
that Manfrone； Conari； and Lomellino should be removed with all
possible expedition。
All。Bravo。
Contarino。So far everything went exactly as we could have wished；
and one of my new associates was just setting out to guide me home；
when we were surprised by an unexpected visit。
Parozzi。Well？
Memmo （anxiously）。Go on； for God's sake！
Contarino。A knocking was heard at the door； the girl went to
inquire the cause。 In an instant she returned pale as a corpse； and
〃Fly！ fly！〃 cried she。
Falieri。What followed？
Contarino。Why then followed a whole legion of sbirri and police…
officers； and who should be at their head but the Florentine
stranger。
All。Flodoardo？ What； Flodoardo？
Contarino。Flodoardo。
Falieri。What demon could have guided him thither？
Parozzi。Hell and furies！ Oh； that I had been there。
Memmo。There； now； Parozzi； you see at least that Flodoardo is no
coward。
Falieri。Hush； let us hear the rest。
Contarino。We stood as if we had been petrified； not a soul could
stir a finger。 〃In the name of the Doge and the Republic；〃 cried
Flodoardo； 〃yield yourselves and deliver your arms。〃 〃The devil
shall yield himself sooner than we；〃 exclaimed one of the banditti；
and forced a sword from one of the officers。 The others snatched
their muskets from the walls； and as for me； my first care was to
extinguish the lamp so that we could not tell friends from foes。
But still the confounded moonshine gleamed through the window…
shutters； and shed a partial light throu
