It must be superfluous to inform my readers that all Venice became

furious at this new insolence. Within the memory of man had no one

ever treated with such derision the celebrated Venetian police, or

set the Doge's power at defiance with such proud temerity. This

occurrence threw the whole city into confusion; every one was on the

look-out; the patrols were doubled; the sbirri extended their

researches on all sides; yet no one could see, or hear, or discover

the most distant trace of Abellino.

The priests in their sermons strove to rouse the slumbering

vengeance of Heaven to crush this insolent offender. The ladies

were ready to swoon at the very name of Abellino, for who could

assure them that, at some unexpected moment, he might not pay THEM

the same compliment which he had paid to Rosabella? As for the old

women, they unanimously asserted that Abellino had sold himself to

the Prince of Darkness, by whose assistance he was enabled to sport

with the patience of all pious Venetians, and deride the impotence

of their just indignation. The Cardinal and his associates were

proud of their terrible confederate, and looking forward with

confidence to the triumphant issue of their undertaking. The

deserted family of Conari called down curses on his murderer's head,

and wished that their tears might be changed into a sea of sulphur,

in whose waves they might plunge the monster Abellino; nor did

Conari's relations feel more grief for his loss than the Doge and

his two confidants, who swore never to rest till they had discovered

the lurking-place of this ruthless assassin, and had punished his

crime with tenfold vengeance.

"Yet, after all," said Andreas one evening, as he sat alone in his

private chamber, "after all, it must be confessed that this Abellino

is a singular man. He who can do what Abellino has done must

possess both such talents and such courage as, stood he at the head

of an army, would enable him to conquer half the world. Would that

I could once get a sight of him!"

"Look up, then!" roared Abellino, and clapped the Doge on the

shoulder. Andreas started from his seat. A colossal figure stood

before him, wrapped in a dark mantle above which appeared a

countenance so hideous and forbidding, that the universe could not

have produced its equal.

"Who art thou?" stammered out the Doge.

"Thou seest me, and canst doubt? Well, then, I am Abellino, the

good friend of your murdered Conari, the Republic's most submissive

slave."

The brave Andreas, who had never trembled in fight by land or by

sea, and for whom no danger had possessed terrors sufficient to

shake his undaunted resolution, the brave Andreas now forgot for a

few moments his usual presence of mind. Speechless did he gaze on

the daring assassin, who stood before him calm and haughty,

unappalled by the majesty of the greatest man in Venice.




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