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"Now, then," cried one of these, who had conducted Abellino to this respectable society, "let us see what you are like." As he said this he raised a burning lamp from the table, and the light of its flame was thrown full upon Abellino's countenance. "Lord, forgive me my sins!" screamed Cinthia; "out upon him! what an ugly hound it is!" She turned hastily round, and hid her face with her hands.
"Neither more nor less than that our honest, hearty, brave Matteo is murdered." "What, murdered!" every one exclaimed, and gazed with looks of terror on the bearer of this unwelcome news; while Cinthia gave a loud scream, and, clasping her hands together, sank almost breathless into a chair. A general silence prevailed for some time. "Murdered" at length repeated Thomaso, "and by whom?" Baluzzo.
Cinthia, my life, are you not ashamed of being such a child? Come, let you and I renew that conversation which my sending you to wake these gentlemen interrupted. Sit down by me, sweetheart, and give me a kiss. Cinthia. Out upon you, monster. Abellino. What, have you altered your mind, my pretty dear?
Come, come, pluck up your spirits, comrades. Thomaso. That's easy to say, but quite out of my power. Pietrino. Mercy on me, how my teeth chatter. Baluzzo. Prithee, Abellino, be composed for a moment or two, your gaiety at a time like this is quite horrible. Cinthia. Oh, me! oh, me! Poor murdered Matteo. Abellino. Hey-day. Why, what is all this!
Cinthia opened the door, and Abellino entered the common apartment. "Where are the rest?" said he in a savage tone of voice whose sound made Cinthia tremble. "They have been asleep," she answered, "since mid-day. Probably they mean to go out on some pursuit to-night." Abellino threw himself into a chair, and seemed to be lost in thought.
"If one could but look at him without disgust," murmured Cinthia; "if he had but the appearance of something human! Satan must certainly have appeared to his mother, and thence came her child into the world with such a frightful countenance. Ugh! it's an absolute mask, only that I never saw a mask so hideous."
"Wake the sleepers, my good girl," said he, "I must speak with them this moment." Cinthia hesitated. "Nay, go," said he, in a fierce voice. Cinthia retired in silence; yet as she crossed the threshold, she stopped for an instant and menaced him with her finger. Abellino strode through the chamber with hasty steps, his head reclining on his shoulder, his arms folded over his breast.
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. "Hark, comrade," said Matteo the next morning to Abellino; "to-day thou shalt make thy first step in our profession."
It was then that Aunt Rhoda and Aunt Cinthia, matrons of portly frame and perilous foothold, engaged in a metrical dialogue concerning the robbing of a bird's nest, in which lively diversion they assumed to have participated. And Bachelor Lot rendered "My beautiful Annabel Lee" with unique effect; and Grandma Keeler spoke mysteriously though hopefully of
Three minutes elapsed ere the subdued bravoes could recover themselves. Loudly shouted Abellino, while the astonished Cinthia gazed and trembled at the terrible exhibition. "By the blood of St. Januarius!" cried Matteo at length, rubbing his battered joints, "the fellow is our master! Cinthia, take care to give him our best chamber."
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