“Neither more nor less than that our honest, hearty, brave Matteo is murdered.”
“What, murdered!” every one exclaimed, and gazed with looks of terror on the bearer of this unwelcome news; while Cinthia gave a loud scream, and, clasping her hands together, sank almost breathless into a chair.
A general silence prevailed for some time.
“Murdered!” at length repeated Thomaso, “and by whom?”
Baluzzo.—Where?
Pietrino.—What? this forenoon?
Abellino.—In the gardens of Dolabella, where he was found bleeding at the feet of the Doge’s niece. Whether he fell by her hand, or by that of one of her admirers, I cannot say.
Cinthia (weeping).—Poor dear Matteo.
Abellino.—About this time to-morrow you will see his corpse exhibited on the gibbet.
Pietrino.—What! Did any one recognise him?