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'By the house at Loretto, I think you have a mind to moralise, Abellino ?"

"Hark ye, Matteo, only one question; at the day of judgment, which think you will hold his head highest, the thief or the assassin ?"

"Ha! ha ha!"

"Think not that Abellino speaks thus from want of resolution. Speak but the word, and I murder half the senators of Venice; but still

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"Fool! know, the bravo must be above crediting the nurse's antiquated tales of vice and virtue. What is virtue? what is vice? Nothing, but such things as forms of government, custom, manners, and education have made sacred; and that which men are able to make honourable at one time, it is in their power to make dishonourable at another, whenever the humour takes them. Had not the senate forbidden us to give opinions freely respecting the politics of Venice, there would have been nothing wrong in giving such opinions; and were the senate to declare that it is right to give such opinions, that which to-day is thought a crime would be thought meritorious to-morrow. Then, prithee, let us have no more of such doubts as these. We are men, as much as are the doge and his senators, and have reason as much as they have to lay down the law of right and wrong, and to alter the law of right and wrong; and to decree what shall be vice, and what shall be virtue."

Abellino laughed: Matteo proceeded with increased animation.

"Perhaps you will tell me, that our trade is dishonourable! And what, then, is the thing called honour? 'Tis a word; an empty sound; a mere fantastic creature of the imagination! Ask, as you traverse some frequented street, in what honour consists ? The usurer will answer, To be honourable is to be rich; and he has most honour who can heap up the greatest quantity of sequins.'—' By no means,' cries the voluptuary: honour consists in being beloved by every handsome woman, and finding no virtue proof against your attacks.' 'How mistaken!' interrupts the general; to conquer whole cities, to de

stroy whole armies, to ruin whole provinces, that, indeed, brings real honour!' The man of learning places his renown in the number of pages which he has either written or read; the tinker, in the number of pots and kettles which he has made or mended; the nun, in the number of good things which she has done, or bad things which she has resisted. The coquette, in the list of her admirers; the republic, in the extent of her provinces; and thus, my friend, every one thinks that honour consists in something different from the rest; and why, then, should not the bravo think that honour consists in reaching the perfection of his trade; and in guiding a dagger to the heart of an enemy with unerring aim?”

"By my life, 't is a pity, Matteo, that you should be a bravo; the schools have lost an excellent teacher of philosophy!"

"Do you think so? Why, the fact is thus, Abellino: I was educated in a monastery; my father was a dignified prelate in Lucca, and my mother a nun of the Ursuline order, greatly respected for her chastity and devotion. Now, signor, it was thought fitting that I should apply closely to my studies: my father, good man, would fain have made me a light of the church; but I soon found, that I was better qualified for an incendiary's torch. I followed the bent of my genius; yet count I not my studies thrown away, since they taught me more philosophy than to tremble at phantoms created by my own imagination. Follow my example, friend; and so farewell."

CHAPTER V.

SOLITUDE.

ABELLINO had already passed six weeks in Venice, and yet (either from want of opportunity or of inclination) he had suffered his daggers to remain idle in their sheaths. This proceeded partly from his not being as yet sufficiently ac

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quainted with the windings and turnings, the by-lanes and private alleys of the town; and, partly, because he had hitherto found no customers whose murderous designs stood in need of his helping hand.

This want of occupation was irksome to him in the extreme: he panted for action, and was condemned to indolence.

With a melancholy heart did he roam through Venice, and number every step with a sigh. He frequented the public places, the taverns, gardens, and every scene which was dedicated to amusement. But nowhere could he find

what he sought-tranquillity.

One evening, he had loitered beyond the other visitants in a public garden, situated on one of the most beautiful of the Venetian islands. He strolled from arbour to arbour, threw himself down on the sea-shore, and watched the play of the waves as they sparkled in the moonshine.

"Four years ago," said he, with a sigh, "just such a heavenly evening was it, that I stole from Valeria's lips the first kiss, and heard from Valeria's lips, for the first time, the avowal that she loved me."

He was silent, and abandoned himself to the melancholy recollections which thronged before his mind's eye.

Every thing around him was so calm, so silent! Not a single zephyr sighed among the blades of grass; but a storm raged in the bosom of Abellino.

"Four years ago could I have believed that a time would come when I should play the part of a bravo in Venice? Oh, where are they flown, the golden hopes and plans of glory which smiled upon me in the happy days of my youth? I am a bravo; to be a beggar were to be something better.

"When my good old father, in the enthusiasm of paternal vanity, so oft threw his arms around my neck, and cried, My boy! thou wilt render the name of Rosalvo glorious!' God, as I listened, how was my blood on fire! What thought I not; what felt I not; what that was good and great did I not promise myself to do? The father is dead; and the son is a Venetian bravo! When my preceptors praised and admired me, and, car

ried away by the warmth of their feelings, clapped my shoulder, and exclaimed, Count, thou wilt immortalise the ancient race of Rosalvo!' Ha! in those blessed moments of sweet delirium, how bright and beauteous stood futurity before me! When, happy in the performance of some good deed, I returned home, and saw Valeria hasten to receive me with open arms; and when, while she clasped me to her bosom, I heard her whisper, 'Oh, who could forbear to love the great Rosalvo ?' God! oh, God! Away, away, glorious visions of the past! to look on you drives me mad!"

He was again silent: he bit his lip in fury, raised one emaciated hand to heaven, and struck his forehead violently with the other.

"An assassin! the slave of cowards and rascals! the ally of the greatest villains whom the Venetian sun ever shines upon! Such is now the great Rosalvo. Fie! oh, fie on 't! and yet to this wretched lot hath fatality condemned me."

Suddenly he sprang from the ground, after a long silence. His eyes sparkled; his countenance was changed; he drew his breath easier.

"Yes! by Heaven, yes! Great as Count Rosalvo, tha can I be no longer; but from being great as a Venetian bravo, what prevents me? Souls in bliss!" he exclaimed, and sank on his knee, while he raised his folded hands to heaven, as if about to pronounce the most awful oath,— "spirit of my father! spirit of Valeria! I will not become unworthy of you. Hear me, if your ghosts are permitted to wander near me; hear me swear, that the Bravo shall not disgrace his origin, nor render vain the hopes which soothed you in the bitterness of death. No! sure as I live, I will be the only dealer in this miserable trade, and posterity shall be compelled to honour that name which my actions shall render illustrious."

He bowed his forehead till it touched the earth, and his tears flowed plenteously. Vast conceptions swelled his soul: he dwelt on wondrous views till their extent bewildered his brain; yet another hour elapsed, and he sprang from the earth to realise them.

"I will enter into no compact against human naturé with five miserable cut-throats. Alone will I make the republic tremble; and, before eight days are flown, these murderous knaves shall swing upon a gibbet. Venice shall no longer harbour five banditti; one - and one only-shall inhabit here: and that one shall beard the doge himself; shall watch over right and over wrong; and, according as he judges, shall reward and punish. Before eight days are flown, the state shall be purified from the presence of these outcasts of humanity; and then shall I stand here alone. Then must every villain in Venice, who hitherto has kept the daggers of my companions in employment, have recourse to me: then shall I know the names and persons of all those cowardly murderers — of all those illustrious profligates-with whom Matteo and his companions carry on the trade of blood; and then, Abellino! - Abellino ! - that is the name. Hear it, Venice ; hear it, and tremble!"

Intoxicated with the wildness of his hopes, he rushed out of the garden; he summoned a gondolier, threw himself into the boat, and hastened to the dwelling of Cinthia, where the inhabitants already were folded in the arms of sleep.

CHAPTER VI.

ROSABELLA, THE DOGE'S LOVELY NIECE.

"HARK, comrade," said Matteo the next morning to Abellino ; 66 to-day thou shalt make thy first step in our

profession."

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To-day?" hoarsely murmured Abellino;

whom am I to show my skill?"

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" and on

Nay, to say truth, 'tis but a woman; but one must not give too difficult a task to a young beginner. I will myself accompany you, and see how you conduct yourself in this first trial."