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.
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