GIANETTINO. Poh! Poh! I know but one who might be dangerous, and he is taken care of.
LOMELLINO. His highness comes.
Enter ANDREAS--(both bow respectfully).
ANDREAS. Signor Lomellino, my niece wishes to take the air.
LOMELLINO. I shall have the honor of attending her.
[Exit LOMELLINO.
SCENE XIII.
ANDREAS and GIANETTINO.
ANDREAS. Nephew, I am much displeased with you.
GIANETTINO. Grant me a hearing, most gracious uncle!
ANDREAS. That would I grant to the meanest beggar in Genoa if he were worthy of it. Never to a villain, though he were my nephew. It is sufficient favor that I address thee as an uncle, not as a sovereign!
GIANETTINO. One word only, gracious sir!
ANDREAS. Hear first what thou hast done; then answer me. Thou hast pulled down an edifice which I have labored for fifty years to raise-- that which should have been thy uncle"s mausoleum, his only pyramid--the affections of his countrymen. This rashness Andreas pardons thee----
GIANETTINO. My uncle and my sovereign----
ANDREAS. Interrupt me not. Thou hast injured that most glorious work of mine, the const.i.tution, which I brought down from heaven for Genoa, which cost me so many sleepless nights, so many dangers, and so much blood.
Before all Genoa thou hast cast a stain upon my honor, in violating my inst.i.tutions. Who will hold them sacred if my own blood despise them?
This folly thy uncle pardons thee.
GIANETTINO (offended). Sir, you educated me to be the Duke of Genoa.
ANDREAS. Be silent. Thou art a traitor to the state, and hast attacked its vital principle. Mark me, boy! That principle is--subordination.
Because the shepherd retired in the evening from his labor, thoughtest thou the flock deserted? Because Andreas" head is white with age, thoughtest thou, like a villain, to trample on the laws?
GIANETTINO (insolently). Peace, Duke! In my veins also boils the blood of that Andreas before whom France has trembled.
ANDREAS. Be silent! I command thee. When I speak the sea itself is wont to pay attention. Thou hast insulted the majesty of justice in its very sanctuary. Rebel! dost thou know what punishment that crime demands? Now answer! (GIANETTINO appears struck, and fixes his eyes on the ground without speaking). Wretched Andreas! In thy own heart hast thou fostered the canker of thy renown. I built up a fabric for Genoa which should mock the lapse of ages, and am myself the first to cast a firebrand into it. Thank my gray head, which would be laid in the grave by a relation"s hand--thank my unjust love that, on the scaffold, I pour not out thy rebellious blood to satisfy the violated laws.
[Exit.
SCENE XIV.
GIANETTINO looks after the DUKE, speechless with anger, LOMELLINO entering, breathless and terrified.
LOMELLINO. What have I seen! What have I heard! Fly, prince! Fly quickly! All is lost.
GIANETTINO (with inward rage). What was there to lose?
LOMELLINO. Genoa, prince: I come from the market-place. The people were crowding round a Moor who was dragged along bound with cords. The Count of Lavagna, with above three hundred n.o.bles, followed to the criminal court. The Moor had been employed to a.s.sa.s.sinate Fiesco, and in the attempt was seized.
GIANETTINO (stamping violently on the ground). What, are all the devils of h.e.l.l let loose at once?
LOMELLINO. They questioned him most strictly concerning his employer.
The Moor confessed nothing. They tried the first degree of torture.
Still he confessed nothing. They put him to the second. Then he spoke-- he spoke. My gracious lord, how could you trust your honor to such a villain?
GIANETTINO (fiercely). Ask me no question?
LOMELLINO. Hear the rest! Scarcely was the word Doria uttered--I would sooner have seen my name inscribed in the infernal register than have heard yours thus mentioned--scarcely was it uttered when Fiesco showed himself to the people. You know the man--how winningly he pleads--how he is wont to play the usurer with the hearts of the mult.i.tude. The whole a.s.sembly hung upon his looks, breathless with indignation. He spoke little, but bared his bleeding arm. The crowd contended for the falling drops as if for sacred relics. The Moor was given up to his disposal-- and Fiesco--a mortal blow for us! Fiesco pardoned him. Now the confined anger of the people burst forth in one tumultuous clamor. Each breath annihilated a Doria, and Fiesco was borne home amidst a thousand joyful acclamations.
GIANETTINO (with a ferocious laugh). Let the flood of tumult swell up to my very throat. The emperor! That sound alone shall strike them to the earth, so that not a murmur shall be heard in Genoa.
LOMELLINO. Bohemia is far from hence. If the emperor come speedily he may perhaps be present at your funeral feast.
GIANETTINO (drawing forth a letter with a great seal). "Tis fortunate that he is here already. Art thou surprised at this? And didst thou think me mad enough to brave the fury of enraged republicans had I not known they were betrayed and sold?
LOMELLINO (with astonishment). I know not what to think!
GIANETTINO. But I have thought of something which thou couldst not know.
My plan is formed. Ere two days are past twelve senators must fall.
Doria becomes sovereign, and the Emperor Charles protects him. Thou seemest astonished----
LOMELLINO. Twelve senators! My heart is too narrow to comprehend a twelvefold murder.
GIANETTINO. Fool that thou art! The throne will absolve the deed. I consulted with the ministers of Charles on the strong party which France still has in Genoa, and by which she might a second time seize on it unless they should be rooted out. This worked upon the emperor--he approved my projects--and thou shalt write what I will dictate to thee.
LOMELLINO. I know not yet your purpose.
GIANETTINO. Sit down and write----
LOMELLINO. But what am I to write? (Seats himself.)
GIANETTINO. The names of the twelve candidates for death--Francis Zenturione.
LOMELLINO (writes). In grat.i.tude for his vote he leads the funeral procession.
GIANETTINO. Cornelio Calva.
LOMELLINO. Calva.
GIANETTINO. Michael Zibo.
LOMELLINO. To cool him after his disappointment in the procuratorship.