it down as belonging to the second scoundrel with whom I have met in
Venice."

He paused for a moment, then continuing in a dreadful voice, "And
when," said he, "thou, Buonarotti, shalt hereafter hear the name of
ABELLINO--TREMBLE!"

Abellino turned away, and left the hard-hearted Venetian.



CHAPTER II: THE BANDITTI.



And now rushed the unfortunate wildly through the streets of Venice.
He railed at fortune; he laughed and cursed by turns; yet sometimes
he suddenly stood still, seemed as pondering on some great and
wondrous enterprise, and then again rushed onwards, as if hastening
to its execution.

Propped against a column of the Signoria, he counted over the whole
sum of his misfortunes. His wandering eyeballs appeared to seek
comfort, but they found it not.

"Fate," he at length exclaimed in a paroxysm of despair, "Fate has
condemned me to be either the wildest of adventurers, or one at the
relation of whose crimes the world must shudder. To astonish is my
destiny. Rosalvo can know no medium; Rosalvo can never act like
common men. Is it not the hand of fate which has led me hither?