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.
"Not so fast," said Abellino, laughing rudely, and he barred the
Doge's passage. "Accident seldom unites in so small a space as this
chamber a pair of such great men. Stay where you are, for I have
not done with you yet; we must have a little conversation.
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