"Hum!" said Abellino, and measured Matteo with his eye from head to foot.

To-day about four o'clock thou shalt follow me to Dolabella's gardens, which are situated on the south side of Venice; we must both be disguised, you understand. In these gardens are excellent baths; and after using these baths, the doge's niece, the lovely Rosabella of Corfu, frequently walks without attendants. And then

ceive me?"

“And you will accompany me?"

you con..

"I will be a spectator of your first adventure; 't is thus I deal by every one."

"And how many inches deep must I plunge my dagger ?"

"To the hilt, boy, to the very hilt! Her death is required, and the payment will be princely; Rosabella in the grave, we are rich for life."

Every other point was soon adjusted. Noon was now past, the clock in the neighbouring church of the Benedictines struck four, and Matteo and Abellino were already forth.

They arrived at the gardens of Dolabella, which that day were unusually crowded. Every shady avenue was thronged with people of both sexes; every arbour was occupied by the persons most distinguished in Venice; in every corner sighed love-sick couples, as they waited for the wished approach of twilight; and on every side did strains of vocal and instrumental music pour their harmony on the enchanted ear.

Abellino mingled with the crowd. A most respectablelooking peruke concealed the repulsive ugliness of his features; he imitated the walk and manners of a gouty old man, and supported himself by a crutch, as he walked slowly through the assembly. His habit, richly embroidered, procured for him universally a good reception, and no one scrupled to enter into conversation with him respecting the weather, the commerce of the republic, or the designs of its enemies; and on none of these subjects was Abellino found incapable of sustaining the discourse.

By these means he soon contrived to gain intelligence that Rosabella was certainly in the gardens, how she was

habited, and in what quarter he was most likely to find her.

Thither he immediately bent his course; and hard at his heels followed Matteo.

Alone and in the most retired arbour sat Rosabella of Corfu, the fairest maid in Venice.

Abellino drew near the arbour; he tottered, as he passed its entrance, like one oppressed with sudden faintness, and attracted Rosabella's attention.

"Alas! alas!" cried he, " is there no one at hand, who will take compassion on the infirmity of a poor old man?"

The doge's fair niece quitted the arbour hastily, and flew to give assistance to the sufferer.

"What ails you, my good father?" she enquired in a melodious voice, and with a look of benevolent anxiety. Abellino pointed towards the arbour; Rosabella led him in, and placed him on a seat of turf.

"God reward you, lady!" stammered Abellino faintly; he raised his eyes; they met Rosabella's, and a blush crimsoned his pale cheeks.

Rosabella stood in silence before the disguised assassin, and trembled with tender concern for the old man's illness; and oh! that expression of interest ever makes a lovely woman look so much more lovely! She bent her delicate form over the man who was bribed to murder her, and after a while asked him in the gentlest tone, "Are you not better?"

you are the doge*

"Better?" stammered the deceiver with a feeble voice; “better? —oh, yes, yes, yes! You niece? the noble Rosabella of Corfu?" “The same, my good old man." "Oh, lady- I have somewhat to tell guard-start not-what I would say is of the utmost consequence, and demands the greatest prudence.-Ah! God, that there should live men so cruel- lady, your life is in danger."

you.

- Be on your

The maiden started back; the colour fled from her cheeks.

"Do you wish to behold your assassin ? die, but if you value your life, be silent."

You shall not

Rosabella knew not what to think; the presence of the old man terrified her.

"Fear nothing, lady, fear nothing; you have nothing to fear, while I am with you. Before you quit this arbour, you shall see the assassin expire at your feet.”

Rosabella made a movement, as if she would have fled; but suddenly the person who sat beside her was no longer an infirm old man. He, who a minute before had scarcely strength to mutter out a few sentences, and reclined against the arbour trembling like an aspen, sprang up with the force of a giant, and drew her back with one arm.

"For the love of Heaven," she cried, "release me! Let me fly."

"Lady, fear nothing; I protect you." Thus said, Abellino placed a whistle at his lips, and blew it shrilly.

Instantly sprang Matteo from his concealment in a neighbouring clump of trees, and rushed into the arbour. Abellino threw Rosabella on the bank of turf, advanced a few steps to meet Matteo, and plunged his dagger in his heart.

Without uttering a single cry sank the banditti-captain at the feet of Abellino; the death-rattle was heard in his throat, and after a few horrible convulsions all was over.

Now did Matteo's murderer look again towards the arbour, and beheld Rosabella half senseless, as she lay on the bank of turf.

"Your life is safe, beautiful Rosabella," said he ; "there lies the villain bleeding, who conducted me hither to murder you. Recover yourself; return to your uncle the doge, and tell him, that you owe your life to Abellino."

Rosabella could not speak. Tremblingly she stretched her arms towards him, grasped his hand, and pressed it to her lips in silent gratitude.

Abellino gazed with delight and wonder on the lovely sufferer; and in such a situation who could have beheld her without emotion? Rosabella had scarcely numbered seventeen summers; her light and delicate limbs, enveloped in a thin white garment which fell around her in a thou

sand folds; her blue and melting eyes, whence beamed the expression of purest innocence; her forehead, white as ivory, overshadowed by the ringlets of her bright dark hair ; cheeks, whence terror had now stolen the roses; lips, which a seducer had never poisoned with his kisses; such was Rosabella, a creature in whose formation partial nature seemed to have omitted nothing which might constitute the perfection of female loveliness.-Such was she and being such, the wretched Abellino may be forgiven, if for some few minutes he stood like one enchanted, and bartered for those few minutes the tranquillity of his heart for

ever.

66

By Him who made me,” cried he at length, “ oh, thou art fair, Rosabella; Valeria was not fairer !"

He bowed himself down to her, and imprinted a burning kiss on the pale cheeks of the beauty.

"Leave me, thou dreadful man!" she stammered in terror; oh, leave me!"

"Ah, Rosabella, why art thou so beauteous, and why am I-Knowest thou who kissed thy cheek, Rosabella? Go! tell thy uncle, the proud doge, 'Twas the bravo Abellino."

He said, and rushed out of the arbour.

CHAPTER VII.

THE BRAVO'S BRIDE.

It was not without good reason that Abellino took his departure in such haste. He had quitted the spot but a few minutes, when a large party accidentally strolled that way, and discovered with astonishment the corse of Matteo and Rosabella pale and trembling in the arbour.

A crowd immediately collected itself round them. It increased with every moment, and Rosabella was necessitated to repeat what had happened to her for the satisfac tion of every new comer.

In the mean while some of the doge's courtiers, who happened to be among the crowd, hastened to call her attendants together; her gondola was already waiting for her, and the terrified girl soon reached her uncle's palace in safety.

In vain was an embargo laid upon every other gondola in vain did they examine every person who was in th gardens of Dolabella at the time when the murdered assassin was first discovered-no traces could be found of Abellino.

The report of this strange adventure spread like wildfire through Venice. Abellino-for Rosabella had preserved but too well in her memory that dreadful name, and by the relation of her danger had given it universal publicity - Abellino was the object of general wonder and curiosity. Every one pitied the poor Rosabella for what she had suffered, execrated the villain who had bribed Matteo to murder her, and endeavoured to connect the different circumstances together by the help of one hypothesis or other, among which it would have been difficult to decide which was the most improbable.

Every one who heard the adventure told it again, and every one who told it added something of his own; till at length it was made into a complete romantic novel, which might have been entitled, with great propriety, "The Power of Beauty;" for the Venetian gentlemen and ladies had settled the point among themselves, completely to their own satisfaction, that Abellino would undoubtedly have assassinated Rosabella, had he not been prevented by her uncommon beauty. But though Abellino's interference had preserved her life, it was doubted much whether this adventure would be at all relished by her destined bridegroom, the Prince of Monaldeschi, a Neapolitan of the first rank, possessed of immense wealth and extensive influThe doge had for some time been secretly engaged in negotiating a match between his niece and this powerful nobleman, who was soon expected to make his appearance at Venice. The motive of his journey, in spite of all the doge's precautions, had been divulged, and it was no longer a secret to any but Rosabella, who had never seen

ence.