Falieri.--You are a daring fellow, Contarino.
Contarino.--Here was no time to be lost. I instantly threw my purse
on the table, promised them mountains of gold, and fixed on
particular days, hours, and signals which were necessary to
facilitate our future intercourse. For the present I only required
that Manfrone, Conari, and Lomellino should be removed with all
possible expedition.
All.--Bravo.
Contarino.--So far everything went exactly as we could have wished,
and one of my new associates was just setting out to guide me home,
when we were surprised by an unexpected visit.
Parozzi.--Well?
Memmo (anxiously).--Go on, for God's sake!
Contarino.--A knocking was heard at the door; the girl went to
inquire the cause. In an instant she returned pale as a corpse, and
"Fly! fly!" cried she.
Falieri.--What followed?
Contarino.--Why then followed a whole legion of sbirri and police-
officers, and who should be at their head but the Florentine
stranger.
All.--Flodoardo? What, Flodoardo?
Contarino.--Flodoardo.
Falieri.--What demon could have guided him thither?
Parozzi.--Hell and furies! Oh, that I had been there.
Memmo.--There, now, Parozzi, you see at least that Flodoardo is no
coward.
Falieri.--Hush, let us hear the rest.
Contarino.--We stood as if we had been petrified; not a soul could
stir a finger. "In the name of the Doge and the Republic," cried
Flodoardo, "yield yourselves and deliver your arms." "The devil
shall yield himself sooner than we," exclaimed one of the banditti,
and forced a sword from one of the officers. The others snatched
their muskets from the walls; and as for me, my first care was to
extinguish the lamp so that we could not tell friends from foes.
But still the confounded moonshine gleamed through the window-
shutters, and shed a partial light through the room. "Look to
yourself, Contarino," thought I; "if you are found here, you will be
hanged for company," and I drew my sword and made a plunge at
Flodoardo; but, however well intended, my thrust was foiled by his
sabre, which he whirled around with the rapidity of lightning. I
fought like a madman, but all my skill was without effect on this
occasion, and before I was aware of it, Flodoardo ripped open my
bosom. I felt myself wounded, and sprang back. At that moment two
pistols were fired, and the flash discovered to me a small side
door, which they had neglected to beset. Through this I stole
unperceived into the adjoining chamber, burst open the grated
window, sprang below unhurt, crossed a courtyard, climbed two or
three garden walls, gained the canal, where a gondola fortunately
was waiting, persuaded the boatman to convey me with all speed to
the Place of St. Mark, and thence hastened hither, astonished to
find myself still alive. There's an infernal adventure for you.