Falieri.--Thou white-livered wretch! Stay at home, then, and take care of your worthless existence. But if our attempt succeeds, come not to us to reimburse you for the sums which you have already advanced. Not a sequin shall be paid you back, depend on't.
Memmo.--You wrong me, Falieri; if you wish to prove my courage, draw your sword and measure it against mine. I am as brave as yourself;but, thank Heaven, I am not quite so hot-headed.
Gonzaga.--Nay, even suppose that the event should not answer our expectations? Andreas once dead, let the populace storm as it pleases; the protection of his Holiness will sanction our proceedings.
Memmo.--The Pope? May we count on his protection?
Gonzaga (throwing him a letter).--Read there, unbeliever. The Pope, I tell you, must protect us, since one of our objects is professed to be the assertion of the rights of St. Peter's Chair in Venice.
Prithee, Memmo, tease us no more with such doubts, but let Contarino's proposal be adopted at once. Our confederates must be summoned to Parozzi's palace with all diligence, and there furnished with such weapons as are necessary. Let the stroke of midnight be the signal for Contarino's quitting the ball-room, and hastening to seize the arsenal. Salviati, who commands there, is in our interest, and will throw open the gates at the first summons.
Falieri.--The admiral Adorna, as soon as he hears the alarm-bell, will immediately lead his people to our assistance.
Parozzi.--Oh, our success is certain.
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 Ireflect 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!
Gonzaga.--And success to our enterprise to-morrow.
Memmo.--I'll drink THAT toast with all my heart.
All.--Success to to-morrow's enterprise!
Parozzi.--The wine tastes well, and every face looks gay; pass eight-and-forty hours, and shall we look as gaily? We separate smiling; shall we smile when two nights hence we meet again? No matter.