the bravo of venice-第23章
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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 terrors？ I shall tremble no
more at hearing Abellino named。 Rosabella shall now be called the
Bravo's Bride no longer。〃
Falieri。Is Abellino already in this palace？
Flodoardo。He is。
Vitalba。Then why do you not produce him？ Why do you trifle so
long with our impatience？
Flodoardo。Be patient。 It's now time that the play should begin。
Be seated； noble Andreas。 Let all the rest arrange themselves
behind the Doge。 Abellino's coming！
At that word both old and young； both male and female； with the
rapidity of lightning； flew to take shelter behind Andreas。 Every
heart beat anxiously； but as to the conspirators； while expecting
Abellino's appearance； they suffered the torments of the damned。
Grave and tranquil sat the Doge in his chair； like a judge appointed
to pass sentence on this King of the Banditti。 The spectators stood
around in various groups； all hushed and solemn； as if they were
waiting to receive their final judgment。 The lovely Rosabella； with
all the security of angels whose innocence have nothing to fear；
reclined her head on Camilla's shoulder and gazed on her heroic
lover with looks of adoration。 The conspirators； with pallid cheeks
and staring eyes； filled up the background； and a dead and awful
silence prevailed through the assembly； scarcely interrupted by a
single breath。
〃And now； then；〃 said Flodoardo； 〃prepare yourselves； for this
terrible Abellino shall immediately appear before you。 Do not
tremble； he shall do no one harm。〃
With these words he turned away from the company； advanced towards
the folding…doors。 He paused for a few moments； and concealed his
face in his cloak。
〃Abellino！〃 cried he at length； raising his head； and extending his
arm towards the door。 At that name all who heard it shuddered
involuntarily； and Rosabella advanced unconsciously a few steps
towards her lover。 She trembled more for Flodoardo than herself。
〃Abellino！〃 the Florentine repeated； in a loud and angry tone； threw
from him his mantle and barrette； and had already laid his hand on
the lock of the door to open it； when Rosabella uttered a cry of
terror。
〃Stay； Flodoardo！〃 she cried； rushing towards him； andHa！
Flodoardo was gone； and there； in his place； stood Abellino； and
shouted out； 〃Ho！ ho！〃
CHAPTER VI。APPARITIONS。
Instantly a loud cry of terror resounded through the apartment。
Rosabella sank fainting at the bravo's feet； the conspirators were
almost suffocated with rage； terror； and astonishment； the ladies
made signs of the cross； and began in all haste to repeat their
paternosters； the senators stood rooted to their places like so many
statues； and the Doge doubted the information of his ears and eyes。
Calm and terrible stood the bravo before them； in all the pomp of
his strange and awful ugliness； with his bravo's habit； his girdle
filled with pistols and poniards； his distorted yellow countenance；
his black and bushy eyebrows； his lips convulsed； his right eye
covered by a large patch； and his left half buried among the
wrinkles of flesh which swelled around it。 He gazed around him for
a few moments in silence； and then approached the stupefied Andreas。
〃Ho！ ho！〃 he roared in a voice like thunder； 〃you wish to see the
bravo Abellino？ Doge of Venice； here he stands； and is come to
claim his bride。〃
Andreas gazed with looks of horror on this model for demons； and at
length stammered out with difficulty； 〃It cannot be real； I must
surely be the sport of some terrible dream。〃
〃Without there； guards！〃 exclaimed the Cardinal Gonzaga； and would
have hastened to the folding doors； when Abellino put his back
against them； snatched a pistol from his girdle； and pointed it at
the Cardinal's bosom。
〃The first；〃 cried he； 〃who calls for the guard； or advances one
step from the place on which he stands； expires that moment。 Fool
