Two evenings had elapsed since the Doge's entertainment. On the

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.




readonlinefreebook.com Copyright 2016 - 2024