Andreas (pushing her away with indignation).—Away, unworthy girl; you rave.
Abellino folded his arms, gazed with eagerness on what was passing, and tears gushed into his brilliant eyes. Rosabella caught the Doge’s hand, as he turned to leave her, kissed it twice, and said, “If you have no mercy on him, then have none on me. The sentence which you pass on Abellino will be mine; ’tis for my own life that I plead as well as Abellino’s. Father, dear father, reject not my suit, but spare him.”
Andreas (in an angry and decided tone).—Abellino dies.
Abellino.—And can you look on with dry eyes while that innocent dove bleeds at your feet? Go, barbarian; you never loved Rosabella as she deserved. Now she is yours no longer. She is mine, she is Abellino’s.
He raised her from the ground, and pressed her pale lips against his own.
“Rosabella, thou art mine; death alone can part us. Thou lovest me as I would be loved; I am blest whate’er may happen, and can now set fortune at defiance. To business, then.”
He replaced Rosabella, who was almost fainting, on the bosom of Camilla, then advanced into the middle of the chamber, and addressed the assembly with an undaunted air—
“Venetians, you are determined to deliver me up to the axe of justice; there is for me no hope of mercy. ’Tis well, act as you please; but ere you sit in judgment over me, signors, I shall take the liberty of passing sentence upon some few of you. Now mark me, you see in me the murderer of Conari, the murderer of Paolo Manfrone, the murderer of Lomellino. I deny it not. But would you know the illustrious persons who paid me for the use of my dagger?”
With these words he put a whistle to his lips, sounded it, and instantly the doors flew open, the guards rushed in, and ere they had time to recollect themselves, the chief conspirators were in custody, and disarmed.
“Guard them well,” said Abellino, in a terrible voice to the sentinels; “you have your orders. Noble Venetians, look on these villains; it is to them that you are indebted for the loss of your three citizens. I accuse of those murders one, two, three, four, and my good Lord Cardinal there has the honour to be the fifth.”