zanoni-第39章

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of　Louis　XIV。　　I　felt；　indeed；　half…inclined　to　seek　a　quarrel

with　one　whose　composure　was　almost　an　insult　to　our　disorder。

Nor　was　such　an　effect　of　this　irritating　and　mocking

tranquillity　confined　to　myself　alone。　　Several　of　the　party　have

told　me　since；　that　on　looking　at　Zanoni　they　felt　their　blood

yet　more　heated；　and　gayety　change　to　resentment。　　There　seemed

in　his　icy　smile　a　very　charm　to　wound　vanity　and　provoke　rage。

It　was　at　this　moment　that　the　prince　came　up　to　me；　and；　passing

his　arm　into　mine；　led　me　a　little　apart　from　the　rest。　　He　had

certainly　indulged　in　the　same　excess　as　ourselves；　but　it　did

not　produce　the　same　effect　of　noisy　excitement。　　There　was；　on

the　contrary；　a　certain　cold　arrogance　and　supercilious　scorn　in

his　bearing　and　language；　which；　even　while　affecting　so　much

caressing　courtesy　towards　me；　roused　my　self…love　against　him。

He　seemed　as　if　Zanoni　had　infected　him；　and　in　imitating　the

manner　of　his　guest；　he　surpassed　the　original。　　He　rallied　me　on

some　court　gossip；　which　had　honoured　my　name　by　associating　it

with　a　certain　beautiful　and　distinguished　Sicilian　lady；　and

affected　to　treat　with　contempt　that　which；　had　it　been　true；　I

should　have　regarded　as　a　boast。　　He　spoke；　indeed；　as　if　he

himself　had　gathered　all　the　flowers　of　Naples；　and　left　us

foreigners　only　the　gleanings　he　had　scorned。　　At　this　my　natural

and　national　gallantry　was　piqued；　and　I　retorted　by　some

sarcasms　that　I　should　certainly　have　spared　had　my　blood　been

cooler。　　He　laughed　heartily；　and　left　me　in　a　strange　fit　of

resentment　and　anger。　　Perhaps　（I　must　own　the　truth）　the　wine

had　produced　in　me　a　wild　disposition　to　take　offence　and　provoke

quarrel。　　As　the　prince　left　me；　I　turned；　and　saw　Zanoni　at　my

side。



〃'The　prince　is　a　braggart；'　said　he；　with　the　same　smile　that

displeased　me　before。　　'He　would　monopolize　all　fortune　and　all

love。　　Let　us　take　our　revenge。'



〃'And　how？'



〃'He　has　at　this　moment；　in　his　house；　the　most　enchanting　singer

in　Naples；the　celebrated　Viola　Pisani。　　She　is　here；　it　is

true；　not　by　her　own　choice；　he　carried　her　hither　by　force；　but

he　will　pretend　that　she　adores　him。　　Let　us　insist　on　his

producing　this　secret　treasure；　and　when　she　enters；　the　Duc　de

R　can　have　no　doubt　that　his　flatteries　and　attentions　will

charm　the　lady；　and　provoke　all　the　jealous　fears　of　our　host。

It　would　be　a　fair　revenge　upon　his　imperious　self…conceit。'



〃This　suggestion　delighted　me。　　I　hastened　to　the　prince。　　At

that　instant　the　musicians　had　just　commenced；　I　waved　my　hand；

ordered　the　music　to　stop；　and；　addressing　the　prince；　who　was

standing　in　the　centre　of　one　of　the　gayest　groups；　complained　of

his　want　of　hospitality　in　affording　to　us　such　poor　proficients

in　the　art；　while　he　reserved　for　his　own　solace　the　lute　and

voice　of　the　first　performer　in　Naples。　　I　demanded；

half…laughingly；　half…seriously；　that　he　should　produce　the

Pisani。　　My　demand　was　received　with　shouts　of　applause　by　the

rest。　　We　drowned　the　replies　of　our　host　with　uproar；　and　would

hear　no　denial。　　'Gentlemen；'　at　last　said　the　prince；　when　he

could　obtain　an　audience；　'even　were　I　to　assent　to　your

proposal；　I　could　not　induce　the　signora　to　present　herself

before　an　assemblage　as　riotous　as　they　are　noble。　　You　have　too

much　chivalry　to　use　compulsion　with　her；　though　the　Duc　de　R

forgets　himself　sufficiently　to　administer　it　to　me。'



〃I　was　stung　by　this　taunt；　however　well　deserved。　　'Prince；'

said　I；　'I　have　for　the　indelicacy　of　compulsion　so　illustrious

an　example　that　I　cannot　hesitate　to　pursue　the　path　honoured　by

your　own　footsteps。　　All　Naples　knows　that　the　Pisani　despises　at

once　your　gold　and　your　love；　that　force　alone　could　have　brought

her　under　your　roof；　and　that　you　refuse　to　produce　her；　because

you　fear　her　complaints；　and　know　enough　of　the　chivalry　your

vanity　sneers　at　to　feel　assured　that　the　gentlemen　of　France　are

not　more　disposed　to　worship　beauty　than　to　defend　it　from

wrong。'



〃'You　speak　well；　sir；'　said　Zanoni；　gravely。　　'The　prince　dares

not　produce　his　prize！'



〃The　prince　remained　speechless　for　a　few　moments；　as　if　with

indignation。　　At　last　he　broke　out　into　expressions　the　most

injurious　and　insulting　against　Signor　Zanoni　and　myself。　　Zanoni

replied　not；　I　was　more　hot　and　hasty。　　The　guests　appeared　to

delight　in　our　dispute。　　None；　except　Mascari；　whom　we　pushed

aside　and　disdained　to　hear；　strove　to　conciliate；　some　took　one

side；　some　another。　　The　issue　may　be　well　foreseen。　　Swords　were

called　for　and　procured。　　Two　were　offered　me　by　one　of　the

party。　　I　was　about　to　choose　one；　when　Zanoni　placed　in　my　hand

the　other；　which；　from　its　hilt；　appeared　of　antiquated

workmanship。　　At　the　same　moment；　looking　towards　the　prince；　he

said；　smilingly；　'The　duc　takes　your　grandsire's　sword。　　Prince；

you　are　too　brave　a　man　for　superstition；　you　have　forgot　the

forfeit！'　　Our　host　seemed　to　me　to　recoil　and　turn　pale　at　those

words；　nevertheless；　he　returned　Zanoni's　smile　with　a　look　of

defiance。　　The　next　moment　all　was　broil　and　disorder。　　There

might　be　some　six　or　eight　persons　engaged　in　a　strange　and

confused　kind　of　melee；　but　the　prince　and　myself　only　sought

each　other。　　The　noise　around　us；　the　confusion　of　the　guests；

the　cries　of　the　musicians；　the　clash　of　our　own　swords；　only

served　to　stimulate　our　unhappy　fury。　　We　feared　to　be

interrupted　by　the　attendants；　and　fought　like　madmen；　without

skill　or　method。　　I　thrust　and　parried　mechanically；　blind　and

frantic；　as　if　a　demon　had　entered　into　me；　till　I　saw　the　prince

stretched　at　my　feet；　bathed　in　his　blood；　and　Zanoni　bending

over　him；　and　whispering　in　his　ear。　　That　sight　cooled　us　all。

The　strife　ceased；　we　gathered；　in　shame；　remorse；　and　horror；

round　our　ill…fated　host；　but　it　was　too　late；his　eyes　rolled

fearfully　in　his　head。　　I　have　seen　many　men　die；　but　never　one

who　wore　such　horror　on　his　countenance。　　At　last　all　was　over！

Zanoni　rose　from　the　corpse；　and；　taking；　with　great　composure；

the　sword　from　my　hand；　said　calmly；　'Ye　are　witnesses；

gentlemen；　that　the　prince　brought　his　fate　upon　himself。　　The

last　of　that　illustrious　house　has　perished　in　a　brawl。'



〃I　saw　no　more　of　Zanoni。　　I　hastened　to　our　envoy　to　narrate　the

event；　and　abide　the　issue。　　I　am　grateful　to　the　Neapolitan

government；　and　to　the　illustrious　heir　of　the　unfortunate

nobleman；　for　the　lenient　and　generous；　yet　just；　interpretation

put　upon　a　misfortune　the　memory　of　which　will　afflict　me　to　the

last　hour　of　my　life。



（Signed）　〃Louis　Victor；　Duc　de　R。〃



In　the　above　memorial；　the　reader　will　find　the　most　exact　and

minute　account　yet　given　of　an　event　which　created　the　most

lively　sensation　at　Naples　in　that　day。



Glyndon　had　taken　no　part　in　the　affray；　neither　had　he

participated　largely　in　the　excesses　of　the　revel。　　For　his

exemption　from　both　he　was　perhaps　indebted　to　the　whispered

exhortations　of　Zanoni。　　When　the　last　rose　from　the　corpse；　and

withdrew　from　that　scene　of　confusion；　Glyndon　remarked　that　in

passing　the　crowd　he　touched　Mascari　on　the　shoulder；　and　said

something　which　the　Englishman　did　not　overhear。　　Glyndon

followed　Zanoni　into　the　banquet…room；　which；　save　where　the

moonlight　slept　on　the　marble　floor；　was　wrapped　in　the　sad　and

gloomy　shadows　of　the　advancing　night。



〃How　could　you　foretell　this　fearful　event？　　He　fell　not　by　your

arm！〃　said　Glyndon；　in　a　tremulous　and　hollow　tone。



〃The　general　who　calculates　on　the　victory　does　not　fight　in

person；〃　answered　Zanoni；　〃let　the　past　sleep　with　the　dead。

Meet　me　at　midnight　by　the　sea…shore；　half　a　mile　to　the　left　of

your　hotel。　　You　will　know　the　spot　by　a　rude　pillarthe　only

one　nearto　which　a　broken　chain　is　attached。　　There　and　then；

if　thou　wouldst　learn　our　lore；　thou　shalt　find　the　master。　　Go；

I　have　business　here　yet。　　Remember；　Viola　is　still　in　the　house

of　the　dead　man！〃



Here　Mascari　approached；　and　Zanoni；　turning　to　the　Italian；　and

waving　his　hand　to　Glyndon；　drew　the　former　aside。　　Glyndon

slowly　departed。



〃Mascari；〃　said　Zanoni；　〃your　patron　is　no　more；　your　services

will　be　valueless　to　his　heir；a　sober　man　whom　poverty　has

preserved　from　vice。　　For　yourself；　thank　me　that　I　do　not　give

you　up　to　the　executioner；　recollect　the　wine　of　Cyprus。　　Well；

never　tremble；　man；　it　could　not　act　on　me；　though　it　might　react

on　others；　in　that　it　is　a　common　type　of　crime。　　I　forgive　you；

and　if　the　wine　should　kill　me；　I　promise　you　that　my　ghost　shall

not　haunt　so　worshipful　a　penitent。　　Enough　of　this；　conduct　me

to　the　chamber　of　Viola　Pisani。　　You　have　no　further　need　of　her。

The　death　of　the　jailer　opens　the　cell　of　the　captive。　　Be　quick；

I　would　be　gone。〃



Mascari　muttered　some　inaudible　words；　bowed　low；　and　led　the　way

to　the　chamber　in　which　Viola　was　confined。





CHAPTER　3。XVIII。



Merc：　　Tell　me；　therefore；　what　thou　seekest　after；　and　what　thou

wilt　have。　　What　dost　thou　desire　to　make？



Alch：　　The　Philosopher's　Stone。



Sandivogius。



It　wanted　several　minutes　of　midnight；　and　Glyndon　repaired　to

the　appointed　spot。　　The　mysterious　empire　which　Zanoni　had

acquired　over　him；　was　still　more　solemnly　confirmed　by　the

events　of　the　last　few　hours；　the　sudden　fate　of　the　prince；　so

deliberately　foreshadowed；　and　yet　so　seemingly　accidental；

brought　out　by　causes　the　most　commonplace；　and　yet　associated

with　words　the　most　prophetic；　impressed　him　with　the　deepest

sentiments　of　admiration　and　awe。　　It　was　as　if　this　dark　and

wondrous　being　could　convert　the　most　ordinary　events　and　the

meanest　instruments　into　the　agencies　of　his　inscrutable　will；

yet；　if　so；　why　have　permitted　the　capture　of　Viola？　　Why　not

have　prevented　the　crime　rather　than　punish　the　criminal？　　And

did　Zanoni　really　feel　love　for　Viola？　　Love；　and　yet　offer　to

resign　her　to　himself；to　a　rival　whom　his　arts　could　not　have

failed　to　baffle。　　He　no　longer　reverted　to　the　belief　that

Zanoni　or　Viola　had　sought　to　dupe　him　into　marriage。　　His　fear

and　reverence　for　the　former　now　forbade　the　notion　of　so　poor　an

imposture。　　Did　he　any　longer　love　Viola　himself？　　No；　when　that

morning　he　had　heard　of　her　danger；　he　had；　it　is　true；　returned

to　the　sympathies　and　the　fears　of　affection；　but　with　the　death

of　the　prince　her　image　faded　from　his　heart；　and　he　felt　no

jealous　pang　at　the　thought　that　she　had　been　saved　by　Zanoni；

that　at　that　moment　she　was　perhaps　beneath　his　roof。　　Whoever

has；　in　the　course　of　his　life；　indulged　the　absorbing　passion　of

the　gamester；　will　remember　how　all　other　pursuits　and　objects

vanished　from　his　mind；　how　solely　he　was　wrapped　in　the　one　wild

delusion；　with　what　a　sceptre　of　magic　power　the　despot…demon

ruled　every　feeling　and　ever