152 THK ADRIATIC B1UDE. 



tated ; " you would tear from me the tutelary genius which would 

 make me a father to the people ! What has Giovanna to do with the 

 crime of her unhappy parent? She is an angel sent me from 

 Heaven, and it is only by her side that I can fulfil my vow !" 



Malapiero soon perceived that he should lose the confidence of his 

 friend, if he urged the subject any farther. He therefore inquired 

 kindly after Giovanna's health. Ziani's heart now opened, and he 

 disclosed to him how near he was to the happiest moment of his life, 

 as that very night she would become his for ever. Malapiero 

 was startled, as he saw but too well, that by his rash act, the best 

 hopes of his country would be destroyed, and the throne for ever lost 

 to Ziani. He was silent, but quickly formed his resolution. 



Scarcely had Ziani left his palace to make the secret arrangements 

 for his marriage, when Malapiero went to old Daponte and his 

 daughter. He found Giovanna, her countenance lighted up with a 

 heavenly smile, forming her bridal wreath, while her father was 

 sitting in a corner of the room, absorbed in deep thought, his eyes 

 seemingly fixed on vacancy. She went cheerfully up to him, gave 

 him her hand, and asked : 



(( Are you coming to my wedding ? Will you now be my friend, 

 as you have ever been my Ziani's?" 



" Yes, that will I ever be 1 Lovely creature/' said he, much 

 affected, " I am come hither to prove to you and Ziani the sincerity 

 of my regard. But what is the matter with your father ? Does 

 your marriage not please him ?" 



" No !" said the old man : " No ! I shudder at the wedding. In 

 my breast, there is no longer place for joy, loaded as it is with the 

 consciousness of murder !" i ot 



" Oh, my unhappy father !" cried Giovanna, embracing him ; 

 " willingly would I sacrifice my existence, could I restore you to 

 your former peace of mind !" 



" Could you also sacrifice the wreath you have made yonder ?" 

 asked Malapiero significantly. 



Giovanna looked at it long, while her eyes filled with tears, and 

 then said : " Yes, I would also sacrifice that !" 



Malapiero now threw off all restraint, and candidly related to her 

 what had happened. He pointed out to her with enthusiasm, that 

 Ziani alone was capable of saving the Republic from destruction, and 

 that the country had the sacred right of requiring from him the 

 sacrifice of his love for Giovanna. 



" Has, then, his great heart not space sufficient for his country and 

 for me ?" asked Giovanna, trembling. 



" No !" cried Daponte, his eyes sparkling with unwonted anima- 

 tion. *' No ! you must not be his wife ! The people are right ; the 

 daughter of a murderer must not ascend the sacred steps of the 

 throne. In the frenzy of despair, I plunged a dagger in the heart of 

 the Doge, will you now, Giovanna, in the frenzy of love, destroy 

 the still greater hopes of your country?" 



Malapiero took advantage of the disposition of the old man : he 

 seized Giovanna by the hand, saying : " You would have sacrificed 

 your bridal wreath to the peace of your father ; the peace of your 



