But let us for the moment turn from the sick chamber of Rosabella,
and visit the dwellings of the conspirators, who were now advancing
with rapid strides towards the execution of their plans; and who,
with every hour that passed over their heads, became more numerous,
more powerful, and more dangerous to Andreas and his beloved
Republic.
Parozzi, Memmo, Contarino, Falieri, the chiefs of this desperate
undertaking, now assembled frequently in the Cardinal Gonzaga's
palace, where different plans for altering the constitution of
Venice were brought forward and discussed. But in all different
schemes it was evident that the proposer was solely actuated by
considerations of private interest. The object of one was to get
free from the burden of enormous debts; another was willing to
sacrifice everything to gratify his inordinate ambition. The
cupidity of THIS man was excited by the treasures of Andreas and his
friends; while THAT was actuated by resentment of some fancied
offence, a resentment which could only be quenched with the
offender's blood.
These execrable wretches, who aimed at nothing less than the total
overthrow of Venice, or at least of her government, looked towards
the completion of their extravagant hopes with the greater
confidence, since a new but necessary addition to the already
existing taxes had put the Venetian populace out of humour with
their rulers.
Rich enough, both in adherents and in wealth, to realise their
projects, rich enough in bold, shrewd, desperate men, whose minds
were well adapted to the contrivance and execution of revolutionary
projects, they now looked down with contempt upon the good old Doge,
who as yet entertained no suspicion of their nocturnal meetings.
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