The Bravo of Venice Part 18

CHAPTER VI.--APPARITIONS.

Instantly a loud cry of terror resounded through the apartment.

Rosabella sank fainting at the bravo's feet; the conspirators were almost suffocated with rage, terror, and astonishment; the ladies made signs of the cross, and began in all haste to repeat their paternosters; the senators stood rooted to their places like so many statues; and the Doge doubted the information of his ears and eyes.

Calm and terrible stood the bravo before them, in all the pomp of his strange and awful ugliness, with his bravo's habit, his girdle filled with pistols and poniards, his distorted yellow countenance, his black and bushy eyebrows, his lips convulsed, his right eye covered by a large patch, and his left half buried among the wrinkles of flesh which swelled around it. He gazed around him for a few moments in silence, and then approached the stupefied Andreas.

"Ho! ho!" he roared in a voice like thunder, "you wish to see the bravo Abellino? Doge of Venice, here he stands, and is come to claim his bride."

Andreas gazed with looks of horror on this model for demons, and at length stammered out with difficulty, "It cannot be real; I must surely be the sport of some terrible dream."

"Without there, guards!" exclaimed the Cardinal Gonzaga, and would have hastened to the folding doors, when Abellino put his back against them, s.n.a.t.c.hed a pistol from his girdle, and pointed it at the Cardinal's bosom.

"The first," cried he, "who calls for the guard, or advances one step from the place on which he stands, expires that moment. Fools!

Do ye think I would have delivered myself up, and desired that guards might beset these doors, had I feared their swords, or intended to escape from your power? No; I am content to be your prisoner, but not through compulsion! I am content to be your prisoner; and it was with that intent that I came hither. No mortal should have the glory of seizing Abellino. If justice required him to be delivered up, it was necessary that he should be delivered up by himself! Or do ye take Abellino for an ordinary ruffian, who pa.s.ses his time in skulking from the sbirri, and who murders for the sake of despicable plunder? No, by heaven, no! Abellino was no such common villain. It's true I was a bravo; but the motives which induced me to become one were great and striking."

Andreas (clasping his hands together).--Almighty G.o.d! can all this be possible?

An awful silence again reigned through the saloon. All trembled while they listened to the voice of the terrible a.s.sa.s.sin, who strode through the chamber proud and majestic as the monarch of the infernal world.

Rosabella opened her eyes; their first look fell upon the bravo.

"Oh, G.o.d of mercy!" she exclaimed, "he is still there. Methought, too, that Flodoardo -. No, no; it could not be! I was deceived by witchcraft."

Abellino advanced towards her, and attempted to raise her. She shrunk from his touch with horror.

"No, Rosabella," said the bravo, in an altered voice, "what you saw was no illusion. Your favoured Flodoardo is no other than Abellino the bravo."

"It is false!" interrupted Rosabella, starting from the ground in despair, and throwing herself for refuge on Camilla's bosom.

"Monster! thou canst not be Flodoardo! such a fiend can never have been such a seraph. Flodoardo's actions were good and glorious as a demi-G.o.d's! 'Twas of him that I learned to love good and glorious actions, and 'twas he who encouraged me to attempt them myself; his heart was pure from all mean pa.s.sions, and capable of conceiving all great designs. Never did he scruple, in the cause of virtue, to endure fatigue and pain, and to dry up the tears of suffering innocence--that was Flodoardo's proudest triumph! Flodoardo and thou--! Wretch, whom many a bleeding ghost has long since accused before the throne of heaven, darest thou to profane the name of Flodoardo!"

Abellino (proud and earnest).--Rosabella, wilt thou forsake me?

Wilt thou retract thy promise? Look, Rosabella, and be convinced: I, the bravo, and thy Flodoardo are the same.

He said, removing the patch from his eye, and pa.s.sed a handkerchief over his face once or twice. In an instant his complexion was altered, his bushy eyebrows and straight black hair disappeared, his features were replaced in their natural symmetry, and lo! the handsome Florentine stood before the whole a.s.sembly, dressed in the habit of the bravo Abellino.

Abellino.--Mark me, Rosabella! Seven times over, and seven times again, will I change my appearance, even before your eyes, and that so artfully that, study me as you will, the transformation shall deceive you. But change as I may, of one thing be a.s.sured: I am the man whom you loved as Flodoardo.

The Doge gazed and listened without being able to recover from his confusion, but every now and then the words "Dreadful! dreadful!"

escaped from his lips, and he wrung his hands in agony. Abellino approached Rosabella, and said in the tone of supplication: "Rosabella, wilt thou break thy promise? Am I no longer dear to thee?"

Rosabella was unable to answer; she stood like one changed to a statue, and fixed her motionless eyes on the bravo.

Abellino took her cold hand and pressed it to his lips.

"Rosabella," said he, "art thou still mine?"

Rosabella.--Flodoardo, oh! that I had never loved, had never seen thee!

Abellino.--Rosabella wilt thou still be the bride of Flodoardo? wilt thou be "the Bravo's Bride?"

Love struggled with abhorrence in Rosabella's bosom, and painful was the contest.

Abellino.--Hear me, beloved one! It was for thee that I have discovered myself--that I have delivered myself into the hands of justice. For thee--oh, what would I not do for thee! Rosabella, I wait but to hear one syllable from your lips; speak but a decisive yes or no, and all is ended. Rosabella, dost thou love me still?

And still she answered not; but she threw upon him a look innocent and tender as ever beamed from the eye of an angel, and that look betrayed but too plainly that the miscreant was still master of her heart. She turned from him hastily, threw herself into Camilla's arms, and exclaimed, "G.o.d forgive you, man, for torturing me so cruelly!"

The Doge had by this time recovered from his stupor. He started from his chair, threats flashed from his eyes, and his lips trembled with pa.s.sion. He rushed towards Abellino; but the senators threw themselves in his pa.s.sage, and held him back by force. In the meanwhile the bravo advanced towards him with the most insolent composure, and requested him to calm his agitation.

"Doge of Venice," said he, "will you keep your promise? That you gave it to me, these n.o.ble lords and ladies can testify."

Andreas.--Monster! miscreant! Oh! how artfully has this plan been laid to ensnare me! Tell me, Venetians, to SUCH a creditor am I obliged to discharge my fearful debt? Long has he been playing a deceitful b.l.o.o.d.y part; the bravest of our citizens have fallen beneath his dagger, and it was the price of their blood which has enabled him to act the n.o.bleman in Venice. Then comes he to me in disguise of a man of honour, seduces the heart of my unfortunate Rosabella, obtains my promise by an artful trick, and now claims the maiden for his bride, in the hope that the husband of the Doge's niece will easily obtain an absolution for his crimes. Tell me, Venetians, ought I to keep my word with this miscreant?

All the Senators.--No, no, by no means.

Abellino (with solemnity).--If you have once pledged your word, you ought to keep it, though given to the Prince of Darkness. Oh, fie, fie! Abellino, how shamefully hast thou been deceived in thy reckoning. I thought I had to do with men of honour. Oh! how grossly have I been mistaken. (In a terrible voice.)--Once again, and for the last time, I ask you, Doge of Venice, wilt thou break thy princely word?

Andreas (in the tone of authority).--Give up your arms.

Abellino.--And you will really withhold from me my just reward?

Shall it be in vain that I delivered Abellino into your power?

Andreas.--It was to the brave Flodoardo that I promised Rosabella.

I never entered into any engagement with the murderer Abellino. Let Flodoardo claim my niece, and she is his; but Abellino can have no claim to her. Again I say lay down your arms.

Abellino (laughing wildly).--The murderer Abellino, say you? Ho!

ho! Be it your care to keep your own promises, and trouble not yourself about my murders, they are MY affair, and I warrant I shall find a word or two to say in defence of them, when the judgment day arrives.

Gonzaga (to the Doge).--What dreadful blasphemy.

Abellino.--Oh, good Lord Cardinal, intercede in my behalf, you know me well; I have always acted by you like a man of honour, that at least you cannot deny. Say a word in my favour, then, good Lord Cardinal.

Gonzaga (angrily, and with imperious dignity).--Address not thyself to ME, miscreant. What canst thou and I have to do together?

Venerable Andreas, delay no longer; let the guards be called in.

Abellino.--What? Is there then no hope for me? Does no one feel compa.s.sion for the wretched Abellino? What! NO ONE?--(a pause)--All are silent?--ALL! 'Tis enough. Then my fate is decided--call in your guards.

Rosabella (with a scream of agony, springing forward, and falling at the feet of the Doge).--Mercy, mercy! Pardon him--pardon ABELLINO!

Abellino (in rapture).--Sayest thou so? Ho! ho! then an angel prays for Abellino in his last moments.

Rosabella (clasping the Doge's knees).--Have mercy on him, my friend, my father, he is a sinner; but leave him to the justice of Heaven. He is a sinner, but oh, Rosabella loves him still.

Andreas (pushing her away with indignation).--Away, unworthy girl; you rave.

Abellino folded his arms, gazed with eagerness on what was pa.s.sing, and tears gushed into his brilliant eyes. Rosabella caught the Doge's hand, as he turned to leave her, kissed it twice, and said, "If you have no mercy on HIM, then have none on ME. The sentence which you pa.s.s on Abellino will be mine; 'tis for my own life that I plead as well as Abellino's. Father, dear father, reject not my suit, but spare him."