Mortadello

OR, THE ANGEL OF VENICE 93 Will the day after suit your highness ? Then we’ll dine With but her light to shoot its silver through the wine. MORTADELLO. Her light and love’s ! My friend, I feared that we should fight : But—look toward the end ! fate sets us all to right. Deserve as you’ve deserved till now, and you may be The greatest man that’s served in Venice after me. ALESSANDRO. My lord, you are too good. At first I did not know you. But now I’ve understood the service we all owe you. MORTADELLO. Well, shall we go to the boat ? ALESSANDRO. At my lord’s service, I. MORTADELLO. We shall be fanned afloat. ALESSANDRO. The gondola shall fly. [Exeunt. SCENE II. A small room in the Palace. The furniture, prin- cipally three thrones, is all of ebony ; the hangings and curtains are of black. A small square table in the middle of the room holds four candles in iron candlesticks ; the candles themselves are of black wax. Two of the thrones are occupied by masked men ; the third is empty. Near the table stands ALESSANDRO, gorgeously dressed in white velvet, with a great crimson cloak. He is toying with his hat and rapier. ALESSANDRO. I am here, my lords. Disclose : why have you summoned me ? THE 1ST MASK. [In the side throne.] Where do you stand ? ALESSANDRO. God knows. 1ST MASK. You stand before the Three.