The Bravo of Venice Part 17

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 G.o.d 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 a.s.sume 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, "G.o.d is merciful; G.o.d 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 a.s.sembly.

Every one crowded round him; every mouth was unclosed to question him; every eye was fixed on his face as if eager to antic.i.p.ate his answers.

"Holy Virgin!" exclaimed Memmo, "I am afraid that--"

"Be silent, signor!" interrupted Contarino, sternly; "there is nothing to be afraid of."

"Ill.u.s.trious 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 a.s.sembled. I come to put an end to your anxiety; but first, n.o.ble Andreas, I must once more receive the a.s.surance 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.--Ill.u.s.trious 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 power--is 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, n.o.ble 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."

"n.o.ble 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, n.o.ble 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 d.a.m.ned.

Grave and tranquil sat the Doge in his chair, like a judge appointed to pa.s.s 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 a.s.sembly, 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, rus.h.i.+ng towards him, and--Ha!

Flodoardo was gone, and there, in his place, stood Abellino, and shouted out, "Ho! ho!"