Book The First - Chapter 7 The Bravo's Bride

It was not without good reason that Abellino took his departure in
such haste. He had quitted the spot but a few minutes, when a large
party accidentally strolled that way, and discovered with
astonishment the corpse of Matteo, and Rosabella pale and trembling
in the arbour.

A crowd immediately collected itself round them. It increased with
every moment, and Rosabella was necessitated to repeat what had
happened to her for the satisfaction of every newcomer.

In the meanwhile some of the Doge's courtiers, who happened to be
among the crowd, hastened to call her attendants together; her
gondola was already waiting for her, and the terrified girl soon
reached her uncle's palace in safety.

In vain was an embargo laid upon every other gondola; in vain did
they examine every person who was in the gardens of Dolabella at the
time, when the murdered assassin was first discovered. No traces
could be found of Abellino.

The report of this strange adventure spread like wildfire through
Venice. Abellino, for Rosabella had preserved but too well in her
memory that dreadful name, and by the relation of her danger had
given it universal publicity, Abellino was the object of general
wonder and curiosity. Every one pitied the poor Rosabella for what
she had suffered, execrated the villain who had bribed Matteo to
murder her, and endeavoured to connect the different circumstances
together by the help of one hypothesis or other, among which it
would have been difficult to decide which was the most improbable.