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.