Book The Second - Chapter 6 The Two Greatest Men in Venice

It must be superfluous to inform my readers that all Venice became
furious at this new insolence. Within the memory of man had no one
ever treated with such derision the celebrated Venetian police, or
set the Doge's power at defiance with such proud temerity. This
occurrence threw the whole city into confusion; every one was on the
look-out; the patrols were doubled; the sbirri extended their
researches on all sides; yet no one could see, or hear, or discover
the most distant trace of Abellino.

The priests in their sermons strove to rouse the slumbering
vengeance of Heaven to crush this insolent offender. The ladies
were ready to swoon at the very name of Abellino, for who could
assure them that, at some unexpected moment, he might not pay THEM
the same compliment which he had paid to Rosabella? As for the old
women, they unanimously asserted that Abellino had sold himself to
the Prince of Darkness, by whose assistance he was enabled to sport
with the patience of all pious Venetians, and deride the impotence
of their just indignation. The Cardinal and his associates were
proud of their terrible confederate, and looking forward with
confidence to the triumphant issue of their undertaking. The
deserted family of Conari called down curses on his murderer's head,
and wished that their tears might be changed into a sea of sulphur,
in whose waves they might plunge the monster Abellino; nor did
Conari's relations feel more grief for his loss than the Doge and
his two confidants, who swore never to rest till they had discovered
the lurking-place of this ruthless assassin, and had punished his
crime with tenfold vengeance.