He had now been
absent for three whole weeks. No one knew in what quarter he was
wandering; and it was during this absence that the so-long expected
Prince of Monaldeschi arrived at Venice to claim Rosabella as his
bride.
His appearance, to which a month before Andreas looked forward with
such pleasing expectation, now afforded but little satisfaction to
the Doge. Rosabella was too ill to receive her suitor's visits, and
he did not allow her much time to recover her health; for six days
after his arrival at Venice the Prince was found murdered in a
retired part of one of the public gardens. His sword lay by him
unsheathed and bloody; his tablets were gone, but one leaf had been
torn from them and fastened on his breast. It was examined, and
found to contain the following lines, apparently written in blood:-
"Let no one pretend to Rosabella's hand, who is not prepared to
share the fate of Monaldeschi.
"The Bravo,
"ABELLINO."
"Oh, where shall I now fly for comfort? for protection?" exclaimed
the Doge in despair, when this dreadful news was announced. "Why,
why, is Flodoardo absent?"
Anxiously did he now desire the youth's return, to support him under
the weight of these heavy misfortunes; nor was it long before that
desire was gratified. Flodoardo returned.
"Welcome, noble youth!" said the Doge, when he saw the Florentine
enter his apartment. "You must not in future deprive me of your
presence for so long.
Pages:
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105