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?
