Contarino.—Only let us take care to make the confusion as general as possible. Our adversaries must be kept in the dark who are their friends and who their foes, and all but our own party must be left ignorant as to the authors, the origin, and the object of the uproar.
Parozzi.—Heaven, I am delighted at finding the business at length so near the moment of execution!
Falieri.—Parozzi, have you distributed the white ribbons by which we are to recognise our partisans?
Parozzi.—That was done some days ago.
Contarino.—Then there is no more necessary to be said on the subject. Comrades, fill your goblets. We will not meet again together till our work has been completed.
Memmo.—And yet methinks it would not be unwise to consider the matter over again coolly.
Contarino.—Pshaw! consideration and prudence have nothing to do with a rebellion; despair and rashness in this case are better counsellors. The work once begun, the constitution of Venice once boldly overturned, so that no one can tell who is master and who is subject, then consideration will be of service in instructing us how far it may be necessary for our interest to push the confusion. Come, friends! fill, fill, I say. I cannot help laughing when I reflect that, by giving this entertainment to-morrow, the Doge himself kindly affords us an opportunity of executing our plans.
Parozzi.—As to Flodoardo, I look upon him already as in his grave; yet before we go to-morrow to the Doge’s, it will be as well to have a conference with Abellino.
Contarino.—That care we will leave to you, Parozzi, and in the meanwhile here’s the health of Abellino.
All.—Abellino!