登陆注册
4698100000042

第42章

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, snatched 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 passes 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 God! can all this be possible?

An awful silence again reigned through the saloon. All trembled while they listened to the voice of the terrible assassin, 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, God 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-god'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 passions, 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 passed 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 assembly, 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 assured: 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, Iwait 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?

同类推荐
  • 道行般若波罗蜜经

    道行般若波罗蜜经

    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。
  • 侣山堂类辩

    侣山堂类辩

    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。
  • 科试考

    科试考

    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。
  • The Adventures Of Tom Sawyer

    The Adventures Of Tom Sawyer

    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。
  • 心经

    心经

    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。
热门推荐
  • 逆世小邪妃

    逆世小邪妃

    “小东西,你已经勾起了本尊的兴趣,想这么就逃走吗!”他邪魅冷酷的看着她,语气冰冷而霸道。“不好意思,我对老年人没兴趣。”说完扭头就走。一场穿越,第一杀手变成了被妖魔追杀的十岁小娃娃!等等?!大魔头追杀她也就算了,为什么还喜欢她?【情节虚构,请勿模仿】
  • 傲夫美侍

    傲夫美侍

    她是瑶国最小的皇女,亦是天命之人,她的命运牵扯着国之兴衰,却为了她姐姐而甘愿收敛光芒,所做所做,只是想让她得到自由,不被权势地位所束缚。她是豪门大小姐,却被最爱的老公背叛,整日以泪洗面,过得生不如死也不肯放手,只为可爱的孩子,还有那微薄的脸面。但她无法忍受的是那小三不但睡她的老公,花她的钱,竟然还打她的孩子。如此蛇蝎之人她要是再忍,就愧为人母,她要与他们拼了。终于,她被前夫和小三害死了,芳魂飘到另一个命运多难的人身上。这一个个妖孽般的男人竟然将她视为耻辱,竟然没有一个是甘心嫁给她的,没有一个是她的真心人。罢了罢了,清然一笑,她褪去旧容,傲慢天下,谁想让她不快活,她便要更快活……世人皆说她:六夫连手,天下无敌!那,她只要一个个的休掉,前途自该逍遥无限!凌皓月——瑶国第一美男,墨黑美眸迷人心志,有桃花般的绝色容颜,五官精致诱人犯罪。…………温柔诱受君。北堂悠然——雪狼族少主,倾城绝美,肤白胜雪,桃花美眸魅人心魂,带着怨恨而来,却喜欢展现娇媚妖娆的一面,明明爱上了女主,却偏不肯坦承。…………傲娇鬼畜攻。轩辕无垢——独一无二的强大存在,只要有他在,那个城就永不沦陷。漆黑如墨的美眸犹如海底一般幽暗深邃,斯文又俊美,神色却淡漠冰冷,对任何人都没有感情,却唯独对女主不一样…………冰山帝王攻。冷寒——魔教余孽,剑眉星目,丰神俊朗,冷月般的俊颜上总是面无表情,气质清冷,非常酷。…………冰山诱攻步飞烟——毒门少主,俊雅出尘,那淡雅的眼神,不是孤傲,不是冷漠,不是轻蔑,而温和却疏远。以研究毒药并对人下毒为荣,算计别人看人出丑为乐,性情多变,内心狡猾腹黑,对女主却十分痴情。…………腹黑闷骚攻。初尘——纯净清透,绝美紫色眼眸我见犹怜,却是刀子嘴豆腐心,喜好唠叨不休,任王府总管,处理事情井井有条,操心奶爸的命。…………无邪笨拙攻。上官月璃——褐发琥珀眸,绝色天命皇女,命是这样的:日之尊,月之魂。逆鳞重生,异魂续命。困则亡,出则生,桃花非劫,蓝颜非祸,坎坷路,无归途。双珠合壁相辉映,成败无定,敌友无界,他朝乾坤倒转天地动,片刻芳华如烟随风舞,万千枯骨铺就巅峰路…………女王可逆受。希望多多支持!多多收藏!
  • 绝天狂帝

    绝天狂帝

    “听说公子一语成丹,挥手成阵,降龙伏魔弹指间,毁天灭地仅一剑。这是真的吗?”“是!那不过是我,平生一些寻常的事迹而已。”绝世神皇叶天,被好兄弟暗算陨落,千年后,王者归来,觉醒无上武魂,一路高歌,笑傲诸天万界。
  • 北魏僧惠生使西域记

    北魏僧惠生使西域记

    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。
  • 快穿世界修炼手册

    快穿世界修炼手册

    【醒目:入坑谨慎,后期崩了】(所有群号作废)(玄幻+快穿,女主成长型)西小年从机甲世界穿越到快穿世界,于是各种花样玩法,抢积分废系统,已上天。众人:混蛋,这妹子太残暴了,求哪位大神收了这妖孽!西小年:要收也是我收人┑( ̄Д ̄)┍打酱油的男主:你开心就好_(:зゝ∠)_
  • 星空之下的尘埃

    星空之下的尘埃

    浩瀚的宇宙,故事即将收场的星际联邦美妙的“临界”,随处可见的高科技渐渐美好的环境,动物的大进化危险和友善共存的外星人,强大的星际舰队巨大的移动城市,严格的治安管理“存亡”过后,便对于人类又是一新纪元……第一次写,肯定会有问题,麻烦各位读者大大们积极反馈意见,谢谢(*°?°)=3PS:更新时间不定,高中生嘛,学业要紧(σ′▽‵)′▽‵)σ
  • 戴尔·卡耐基全传

    戴尔·卡耐基全传

    他生于贫苦农家,却积极乐观向上;他经常遭人嘲笑,却勇于挑战自我;他初涉职场举步维艰,却能得到老板的赏识重用;他曾腼腆自卑,却成享誉世界的演讲人。他是谁?他就是20世纪最伟大的成功学大师,美国现代成人教育之父戴尔·卡耐基!读透卡耐基这个人,学习他的演讲、推销、为人处世艺术!本书讲述了从草根少年到享誉世界的成功学大师、美国现代成人教育之父戴尔·卡耐基传奇的一生。
  • 王安石全传

    王安石全传

    王安石,以其非凡的才识和魄力,受命于北宋王朝的衰败之际,决心力挽狂澜,掀起了一场轰轰烈烈的熙宁变法。对于传统的封建思想和制度,王安石无疑进行了猛烈地抨击。他整饬朝纲、巩固边防等一系列措施却也让北宋王朝出现了短暂的生机。从这一点来说,他的功绩又是难以磨灭的。非凡的少年之路如何成就了王安石,平民出身的他又是如何在官场中独占鳌头进行改革的?历经变法失败和丧子之痛的他又是如何潜心向佛、抚慰伤痛的?对于这些问题本书将做详细的解答。
  • 爱上痞子女

    爱上痞子女

    当痞子女遇见纯情男,一首缠绵悱恻的爱情夜曲正在唱响……跋扈嚣张的痞子女莎遇见一个男孩在网吧狂摔键盘,以网管身份上前制止,不但敲了他一竹扛还大大方方地“赖”上了他。既情场失意又考场失利的纯情男石涛假戏真做爱上了莎,而莎的干妹妹—冷酷美艳的毛毛虫的加入使石涛的爱情彻底迷失……
  • 多了一个王祖岚

    多了一个王祖岚

    生活简单一点,人生美满一点,厨房近一点,小鸡炖蘑菇吃一点。去年被猴耍了一年,今年要抓住姬会。“你的人生格言是什么?”“格个锤子。”“...?你有小目标吗?”“有啊,1+1+1=60。”“年夜饭吃了吗?”“吃个鸡腿。”“...?准备去谁家拜年吗?”“谁家的鸡长大了去谁家拜年。”“...?兄弟,今年可是鸡年啊,想不开要去找小姐?”“我王祖岚给姬拜年,是我老王家的优良传统美德,不拜不行啊,那里有我的媳妇。”“...?先生的幽默真会哄人开心......”“不幽默不番茄炒蛋,我的负责就是你的选择,不管你信不信,反正我都开了微信。”.*.*.其实我只是想要有一个家。「劝语:没有痛苦的爱情经历,不建议入坑」