OR, THE ANGEL OF VENICE 
51 
 
GABRIELE. 
 
Canonical ! 
Straight from the bridge, the merry men !  to the canal. 
MORTADELLO.  He’s drowned ? 
GABRIELE. 
 
They fished him like a lobster. 
MORTADELLO. 
 
Have I troops ? 
Is it not I that speak and strike ? 
GABRIELE. 
Your eagle swoops, 
But where’s the use ?  The lamb is hidden underground. 
MORTADELLO.  Is it your Doge or dupe I am ? 
GABRIELE. 
 
She shall be found. 
 
 
[He turns to go. 
 
 
SCENE III.  A Charnel-House beneath the Convent of the 
Ursulines.  It is a cellar piled with skulls and bones.  There 
is a truckle bed, above which is a wooden crucifix.  There is 
also a prie-Dicu and image of the Virgin, luxurious and 
decorative, a startling contrast to the simplicity of the rest. 
 
MONICA.  [Alone at the prie-Dieu.]  No news !  No word of 
Mortadello’s fate !  No hope. 
To bruise the head of the old snake, the State.  No scope 
To loose on him the white fangs of my hate.  I grope 
A night so dark, so trembling, so obscure, so fierce 
No light comes filtered from the dawn, so pure to pierce 
This web of woe.  Ah !  God, I ache for turn of tide 
At ebb.  Then let the moonrise kindle and burn beside 
The sunset.  God !  if I have loved thee in truth, adored 
As none before me, given all my youth, dear Lord, 
To Thee, now hear me, hear me, hear me this one breath ! 
Give me this Mortadello to my kiss—and death !