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 through the room. "Look to

yourself, Contarino," thought I; "if you are found here, you will be

hanged for company," and I drew my sword and made a plunge at

Flodoardo; but, however well intended, my thrust was foiled by his

sabre, which he whirled around with the rapidity of lightning. I

fought like a madman, but all my skill was without effect on this

occasion, and before I was aware of it, Flodoardo ripped open my

bosom. I felt myself wounded, and sprang back. At that moment two

pistols were fired, and the flash discovered to me a small side

door, which they had neglected to beset. Through this I stole

unperceived into the adjoining chamber, burst open the grated

window, sprang below unhurt, crossed a courtyard, climbed two or

three garden walls, gained the canal, where a gondola fortunately

was waiting, persuaded the boatman to convey me with all speed to

the Place of St. Mark, and thence hastened hither, astonished to

find myself still alive. There's an infernal adventure for you.




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