The Venetian. Frank J. Morlock

      That was her name—it brings back some memory—?

      BRAVO

      I, too, I loved a woman named Violetta—

      SALFIERI

      You—!

      BRAVO

      For her I left Venice. Venice that I never expected to see again and that to my misfortune I have seen—Oh! But that was sixteen years ago—and that woman is dead—it’s the first time in sixteen years I’ve heard that name mentioned—and it seized my heart—continue—

      SALFIERI

      I went up the stairs—I entered her room. I called excitedly. I ran to the room of the old man at risk of meeting him—it was deserted like that of Violetta—fragments of torn letters half burned were on the ground—I put them together. I found an order—given by, I don’t know whom—to this man—to immediately escort the young girl who was confided to him—where? The name of the city wasn’t there—she was gone. The old man had taken her away. I came back to Violetta’s room—furious, desperate—asking loudly for indications, a trace—suddenly my eyes were fixed on a mirror—and Violetta’s hand had written with a diamond the sole word, “Venice”—then I forgot everything: proscriptions, arrest, death—the scaffold—I left and here I am.

      BRAVO

      And now what you are counting on doing with the weak information that you possess—in an immense city where you cannot show your face—in the midst of an incessantly active police—with all their eyes opened—some agent of whom perhaps already knows of your arrival—?

      SALFIERI

      Yes, yes, I know all that—thus my plan resembles my position—desperate—Listen, I have only told you I was coming to Venice to pursue a woman and to seek a man—the woman that I am pursing is—Violetta.

      BRAVO

      And the man you are seeking?

      SALFIERI

      It’s the Bravo.

      BRAVO

      Huh!

      SALFIERI

      Do you know him?

      BRAVO

      And who in Venice does not know this man? Only the Council of Ten can reply to that question.

      SALFIERI

      Where can one meet him?

      BRAVO

      On the Piazetta—everyday—at the foot of the Lion column—sad, black and motionless, a type of living scaffold—eternally executed on the public square of Venice.

      SALFIERI

      And what do they say about this man?

      BRAVO

      A thousand different things.

      SALFIERI

      But what is the truth on his account?

      BRAVO

      God alone and he could tell it—all others are mistaken.

      SALFIERI

      But in your opinion?

      BRAVO

      I don’t have one about him.

      SALFIERI

      That’s well enough. I will find him. I always have three ways of making a man do what I wish.

      BRAVO

      Which are?

      SALFIERI

      Prayer: an appeal to his humanity; money: an appeal to his avarice; threat: an appeal to his weakness.

      BRAVO

      Prayer—the Bravo has heard more prayers than Saint Ambrose who is the patron of the city—and I don’t know of a single one that has softened him—money—the Bravo has received enough from the Republic to purchase a palace if he was ambitious to sleep in a marble chamber—threats—the Bravo—by force of making them has lost the habit of hearing them—

      SALFIERI

      But does nothing human remain in the heart of that man?

      BRAVO

      Nothing.

      SALFIERI

      Doesn’t he even have a mother?

      BRAVO

      He had one, and God took her from him in an hour of wrath.

      SALFIERI

      No mistress?

      BRAVO

      He had one, and he killed her in a moment of jealousy.

      SALFIERI

      No father?

      (Bravo lowers his head on his breast and his face takes on an expression of sorrow and somber reverie.)

      SALFIERI

      (continuing)

      Well! I will adjure him in the name of his father—yes, tonight—this very night, I must see him.

      BRAVO

      And what will you ask on seeing him?

      SALFIERI

      That, my host—that’s my secret.

      BRAVO

      Nothing can dissuade you from searching for this man?

      SALFIERI

      Nothing—for I have no hope except in him.

      BRAVO

      You will see him then.

      SALFIERI

      Who will make me see him?

      BRAVO

      I will.

      SALFIERI

      And when will that be?

      (Three raps on the door.)

      BRAVO

      Wait, I am going to tell you.

      (He goes to the door and finds the order of the Council that’s just been nailed there. He comes forward holding it in his hand, examines it, then takes his cloak and hides his mask and dagger under it.)

      BRAVO

      (aside)

      They signed it.

      SALFIERI

      Well—

      BRAVO

      In an hour—

      SALFIERI

      And where will I find him?

      BRAVO

      Behind the bridge of La Paglia—facing the house of the Gondolier Luigi.

      SALFIERI

      In an hour—?

      BRAVO

      In an hour.

      SALFIERI

      That’s fine—I will be there.

      (The Bravo leaves and Salfieri follows him with his eyes.)

      C U R T A I N