he dwelt on wondrous views, till their extent bewildered his brain; yet another hour elapsed; and he rose from the earth to realise them.

'I will enter into no compact against human nature with five miserable cutthroats. 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 harbor 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 past, 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 Abællino!... that is the name! Hear it, Venice, and tremble!'

...

Intoxicated with the wildness of his

hopes, he rushed out of the garden; he summoned a gondoleer, threw himself into the boat, and hastened to the dwelling of Cinthia, where the inhabitants were al ready folded in the arms of sleep.

CHAPTER VI.

Rosabella, the Doge's lovely Niece.

'HARK, comrade,' said

next morning to Abællino; shalt make thy first step in

sion.'

Matteo the

to-day thou our profes

'To-day,' hoarsely murmured Abællino--and on whom am I to try my skill?' ' Nay, to say truth, 'tis but a woman; but one must not give too difficult a task to a new beginner. I will myself accompany you, and observe how you conduct yourself in this first trial.”

'Hum!' said Abællino, and measured Matteo with his eyes 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, the Doge's niece, the lovely Rosabella of Corfu, fre

quently walks without attendants. And then... you conceive me?'

And you will accompany me?'

'I will be a spectator of your first adventure; 'tis 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 neighboring church of the Benedictines struck four, and Matteo and Abællino were already abroad.

They arrived at the gardens of Dolabel la, 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 instru mental music pour their harmony on the enchanted car.

Abællino mingled with the crowd. A most respectable looking 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 Abællino 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 the republic of Venice.

Abællino 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 fair Doge's niece quitted the ar