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.
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