登陆注册
4698100000029

第29章

THE TWO GREATEST MEN IN VENICE.

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 THEMthe 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.

Abellino nodded to him with an air of familiar protection, and graciously condescended to grin upon him with a kind of half-friendly smile.

"Abellino," said the Doge, at length, endeavouring to recollect himself, "thou art a fearful--a detestable man.""Fearful?" answered the bravo; "dost thou think me so? Good, that glads me to the very heart! Detestable? that may be so, or it may not. I confess, the sign which I hang out gives no great promise of good entertainment within; but yet, Andreas, one thing is certain.

You and I stand on the same line, for at this moment we are the two greatest men in Venice; you in your way, I in mine."The Doge could not help smiling at the bravo's familiar tone.

"Nay, nay," continued Abellino, "no smiles of disbelief, if you please. Allow me, though a bravo, to compare myself to a Doge;truly, I think there's no great presumption in placing myself on a level with a man whom I hold in my power, and who therefore is in fact beneath me."The Doge made a movement, as he would have left him.

同类推荐
  • 佛说阿难七梦经

    佛说阿难七梦经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 熊龙峰小说四种

    熊龙峰小说四种

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 汉末英雄记

    汉末英雄记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 赠刘景擢第

    赠刘景擢第

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 少仪外传

    少仪外传

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 太平洋战场的胜利(下卷):杀向东京

    太平洋战场的胜利(下卷):杀向东京

    本书主要内容是关于硫磺岛战役和冲绳岛战役的,是美军在通往东京之路的战斗中遭遇到的最艰苦的两次战役。1944年,同盟国作出了攻击日本本土的重大战略决定。美军开始了通往东京之路的战斗。硫磺岛战役和冲绳岛战役,是美军在通往东京之路的战斗中遭遇到的最艰苦的两次战役。对美军而言,无论敌人置身于天然屏障还是迷宫般的地下城防工事,都战胜不了坚忍不拔的美军士兵。美国虽然成为了这两次战役的胜利者,但是他们同样付出了惨痛的代价。
  • 中华句源(超值金版)

    中华句源(超值金版)

    本书是对中华民族积淀传承下来的经典之作的深度总结提炼,涉及到修身、养性、学习、处世、心态等诸多方而,在每条经典诗句后均附有出处、释义及延伸阅读,以期在帮助读者了解每一句经典之作的来源及现代解释外,引导读者向更深的层次去探寻、去思考。好的诗句会给人如沐春风之感。《中华句源(超值金版)》能为每一位读者带来缕缕春风,感受中华文化的博大精深。
  • 羽雪恋

    羽雪恋

    青梅竹马,不离不弃,相爱情缠,屡试不爽。颖少羽:看着你很不乖的样子,我不得不教教你。韩依雪:少羽,你看我要有多乖就有多乖乖的了啦。颖:这次来一训,下次你才能更乖不是吗?
  • 墨宸咖啡店

    墨宸咖啡店

    这是一家咖啡店,我是这家咖啡店的老板。你好,我是墨宸,想要什么,寿命来换!
  • 沐浴清晨的微光

    沐浴清晨的微光

    云清晨,穆青集团CEO,隐藏土豪。童微光,烨光事务所中一名律师,社会小白领,长相清新脱俗,身材不可言说。当清新小白领撞上一肚子黑墨水的CEO会有怎样的火花?光:“离婚吧。”晨:“为什么?”光:“你不在意孩子。”晨:“有了孩子忘了老公。所以爱会消失,对不对”
  • 亲亲狐夫,彬彬有礼

    亲亲狐夫,彬彬有礼

    第一世,她是神女,他是妖尊,他为救她,带着她的一缕残魂堕入人道轮回。第二世,她是阁老之女,他是朝廷重臣,君上赐婚不得不结为姻缘,却不想他心中住着另一个女子。第三世,她是大龄剩女,他是娱乐界大佬,她自小对他胡搅蛮缠,他对她避之不及。因为一场绯闻一个孩子,他们一同扯证。
  • 苍天神木诀

    苍天神木诀

    有人问什么是永恒?佛经里说一瞬间即是永恒!有人问什么是极致?佛经里说一世界有千千万万劫,每一劫都是一个轮回,远古的世界,远古的文明在到达极致之时,是被上天所不能容忍的,所以有了毁灭,而后世界终归混沌,重新开始。…………没有时间的限制,没有距离的隔离;随心所欲,天地即在脚下,星空即在眼前;那是洪荒远古的世界,那是各族刀剑相向的争霸时代;没有了躯体,没有了灵魂,剩下的只是观望的眼睛。一道光束,一个声音,一段故事开始,一副画面闪现,一种灵感来袭!没有了黑色,没有了金色,没有了所曾出现过的任何颜色,他悟了,无所存在,无处不在,地久天长!一段记忆苏醒,一种力量回归,一个新的开始;就像孩子回到了妈妈的怀抱,他们不断的交融,不断的变化;渐渐的,所有人都被这道九彩光芒沐浴着,所有鸟儿都朝着这边飞舞鸣叫着;所有的兽类都匍匐在地仰头长啸着,萧寒在此刻睁开了双眼……………只要你能跟随小妖的脚部,你就会明白的。
  • 大方等大集经菩萨念佛三昧分卷第一

    大方等大集经菩萨念佛三昧分卷第一

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 一贯问答

    一贯问答

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 希利尔讲艺术史

    希利尔讲艺术史

    作者化繁为简,将艺术知识和艺术鉴赏变成孩子们熟悉的生活片段,以平实的方式,揭示出了伟大艺术最平易近人的一面。旨在为孩子们注入持续一生的对于真、善、美的热爱。