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 women 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 gentlest tone, "Are you not better?""Better?" stammered the deceiver, with a feeble voice, "better--oh, yes, yes, yes. You--you are the Doge's niece--the noble Rosabella of Corfu?""The same, my good old man."
"Oh, lady, I have somewhat to tell you. Be on your guard, Start not! What I would say is of the utmost consequence, and demands the utmost prudence. Ah, God, that there should live men so cruel!
Lady, your life is in danger."
The maiden started back; the colour fled from her cheeks.
"Do you wish to behold your assassin? You shall not die, but if you value your life, be silent."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 Iam 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." This 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. Trembling, 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 thousand folds; her blue and melting eyes, whence beamed the expression of purest innocence; her forehead, white as ivory, overshadowed the ringlets of her bright dark hair; cheeks, whence terror had now stolen the roses; 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.
"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.