“Wake the sleepers, my good girl,” said he, “I must speak with them this moment.”
Cinthia hesitated.
“Nay, go,” said he, in a fierce voice.
Cinthia retired in silence; yet as she crossed the threshold, she stopped for an instant and menaced him with her finger.
Abellino strode through the chamber with hasty steps, his head reclining on his shoulder, his arms folded over his breast.
“The first step is taken,” said he to himself. “There is one moral monster the less on earth. I have committed no sin by this murder; I have but performed a sacred duty. Aid me, thou Great and Good, for arduous is the task before me. Ah, should that task be gone through with success, and Rosabella be the reward of my labours—Rosabella? What, shall the Doge’s niece bestow on the outcast Abellino? Oh, madman that I am to hope it, never can I reach the goal of my wishes! No, never was there frenzy to equal mine. To attach myself at first sight to—Yet Rosabella alone is capable of thus enchanting at first sight—Rosabella and Valeria? To be beloved by two such women—Yet, though ’tis impossible to attain, the striving to attain such an end is glorious. Illusions so delightful will at least make me happy for a moment, and alas, the wretched Abellino needs so many illusions that for a moment will make him happy! Oh, surely, knew the world what I gladly would accomplish, the world would both love and pity me.”
Cinthia returned; the four bravoes followed her, yawning, grumbling, and still half asleep.
“Come, come!” said Abellino, “rouse yourselves, lads. Before I say anything, be convinced that you are wide awake, for what I am going to tell you is so strange that you would scarce believe it in a dream.”
They listened to him with an air of indifference and impatience.
“Why, what’s the matter now?” said Thomaso, while he stretched himself.