Part 3 (1/2)
”If you choose to trust me,” said Zorzi calmly, ”I will not betray you. But of course it must seem safer for you to kill me. I quite understand.”
”If anything, he is cooler than Venier,” observed one of the company.
”He does not believe that we are in earnest,” said Contarini.
”I am,” answered Venier. ”Now, my man,” he said, addressing Zorzi again, ”if there is anything I can do for you or your family after your death, without risking my neck, I will do it with pleasure.”
”I have no family, but I thank you for your offer. In return for your courtesy, I warn you that my master's skiff is fast to the step of the house. It might be recognised. When you have killed me, you had better cast it off-it will drift away with the tide.”
Venier, who had let the point of his long dagger rest against Zorzi's collar, suddenly dropped it.
”Contarini,” he said, ”I take back what I said. It would be an abominable shame to murder a man as brave as he is.”
A murmur of approval came from all the company; but Contarini, whose vacillating nature showed itself at every turn, was now inclined to take the other side.
”He may ruin us all,” he said. ”One word-”
”It seems to me,” interrupted a big man who had not yet spoken, and whose beard was as black as his mask, ”that we could make use of just such a man as this, and of more like him if they are to be found.”
”You are right,” said Venier. ”If he will take the oath, and bear the tests, let him be one of us. My friend,” he said to Zorzi, ”you see how it is. You have proved yourself a brave man, and if you are willing to join our company we shall be glad to receive you among us. Do you agree?”
”I must know what the purpose of your society is,” answered Zorzi as calmly as before.
”That is well said, my friend, and I like you the better for it. Now listen to me. We are a brotherhood of gentlemen of Venice sworn together to restore the original freedom of our city. That is our main purpose. What Tiepolo and Faliero failed to do, we hope to accomplish. Are you with us in that?”
”Sirs,” answered Zorzi, ”I am a Dalmatian by birth, and not a Venetian. The Republic forbids me to learn the art of gla.s.s-working. I have learned it. The Republic forbids me to set up a furnace of my own. I hope to do so. I owe Venice neither allegiance nor grat.i.tude. If your revolution is to give freedom to art as well as to men, I am with you.”
”We shall have freedom for all,” said Venier. ”We take, moreover, an oath of fellows.h.i.+p which binds us to help each other in all circ.u.mstances, to the utmost of our ability and fortune, within the bounds of reason, to risk life and limb for each other's safety, and most especially to respect the wives, the daughters and the betrothed brides of all who belong to our fellows.h.i.+p. These are promises which every true and honest man can make to his friends, and we agree that whoso breaks any one of them, shall die by the hands of the company. And by G.o.d in heaven, it were better that you should lose your life now, before taking the oath, than that you should be false to it.”
”I will take that oath, and keep it,” said Zorzi.
”That is well. We have few signs and no ceremonies, but our promises are binding, and the forfeit is a painful death-so painful that even you might flinch before it. Indeed, we usually make some test of a man's courage before receiving him among us, though most of us have known each other since we were children. But you have shown us that you are fearless and honourable, and we ask nothing more of you, except to take the oath and then to keep it.”
He turned to the company, still speaking in his languid way.
”If any man here knows good reason why this new companion should not be one of us, let him show it now.”
Then all were silent, and uncovered their heads, but they still kept their masks on their faces. Zorzi stood out before them, and Venier was close beside him.
”Make the sign of the Cross,” said Venier in a solemn tone, quite different from his ordinary voice, ”and repeat the words after me.”
And Zorzi repeated them steadily and precisely, holding his hand stretched out before him.
”In the name of the Holy Trinity, I promise and swear to give life and fortune in the good cause of restoring the original liberty of the people of Venice, obeying to that end the decisions of this honourable society, and to bear all sufferings rather than betray it, or any of its members. And I promise to help each one of my companions also in the ordinary affairs of life, to the best of my ability and fortune, within the bounds of reason, risking life and limb for the safety of each and all. And I promise most especially to honour and respect the wives, the daughters and the betrothed brides of all who belong to this fellows.h.i.+p, and to defend them from harm and insult, even as my own mother. And if I break any promise of this oath, may my flesh be torn from my limbs and my limbs from my body, one by one, to be burned with fire and the ashes thereof scattered abroad. Amen.”
When Zorzi had said the last word, Venier grasped his hand, at the same time taking off the mask he wore, and he looked into the young man's face.
”I am Zuan Venier,” he said, his indolent manner returning as he spoke.
”I am Jacopo Contarini,” said the master of the house, offering his hand next.