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Republic； a good and unsuspected citizen； who casts a desire on
any woman； maid or wife； has but to say； 'Be mine； or I denounce
you！' In a word； Viola must share our flight。〃
〃What so easy？ I see your passports provide for her。〃
〃What so easy？ What so difficult？ This Fillidewould that I
had never seen her！would that I had never enslaved my soul to
my senses！ The love of an uneducated； violent； unprincipled
woman； opens with a heaven； to merge in a hell！ She is jealous
as all the Furies； she will not hear of a female companion； and
when once she sees the beauty of Viola！I tremble to think of
it。 She is capable of any excess in the storm of her passions。〃
〃Aha； I know what such women are！ My wife； Beatrice Sacchini；
whom I took from Naples； when I failed with this very Viola；
divorced me when my money failed； and； as the mistress of a
judge； passes me in her carriage while I crawl through the
streets。 Plague on her！but patience； patience！ such is the lot
of virtue。 Would I were Robespierre for a day！〃
〃Cease these tirades！〃 exclaimed Glyndon； impatiently； 〃and to
the point。 What would you advise？〃
〃Leave your Fillide behind。〃
〃Leave her to her own ignorance； leave her unprotected even by
the mind； leave her in the Saturnalia of Rape and Murder？ No！ I
have sinned against her once。 But come what may； I will not so
basely desert one who； with all her errors； trusted her fate to
my love。〃
〃You deserted her at Marseilles。〃
〃True； but I left her in safety； and I did not then believe her
love to be so deep and faithful。 I left her gold； and I imagined
she would be easily consoled； but since THEN WE HAVE KNOWN DANGER
TOGETHER！ And now to leave her alone to that danger which she
would never have incurred but for devotion to me！no； that is
impossible。 A project occurs to me。 Canst thou not say that
thou hast a sister； a relative； or a benefactress； whom thou
wouldst save？ Can we nottill we have left Francemake Fillide
believe that Viola is one in whom THOU only art interested； and
whom； for thy sake only； I permit to share in our escape？〃
〃Ha； well thought of！certainly！〃
〃I will then appear to yield to Fillide's wishes； and resign the
project； which she so resents； of saving the innocent object of
her frantic jealousy。 You； meanwhile； shall yourself entreat
Fillide to intercede with me to extend the means of escape to〃
〃To a lady （she knows I have no sister） who has aided me in my
distress。 Yes； I will manage all； never fear。 One word more；
what has become of that Zanoni？〃
〃Talk not of him；I know not。〃
〃Does he love this girl still？〃
〃It would seem so。 She is his wife； the mother of his infant；
who is with her。〃
〃Wife！mother！ He loves her。 Aha！ And why〃
〃No questions now。 I will go and prepare Viola for the flight；
you； meanwhile； return to Fillide。〃
〃But the address of the Neapolitan？ It is necessary I should
know； lest Fillide inquire。〃
〃Rue M T； No。 27。 Adieu。〃
Glyndon seized his hat and hastened from the house。
Nicot； left alone； seemed for a few moments buried in thought。
〃Oho；〃 he muttered to himself； 〃can I not turn all this to my
account？ Can I not avenge myself on thee； Zanoni； as I have so
often sworn；through thy wife and child？ Can I not possess
myself of thy gold； thy passports； and thy Fillide； hot
Englishman； who wouldst humble me with thy loathed benefits； and
who hast chucked me thine alms as to a beggar？ And Fillide； I
love her： and thy gold； I love THAT more！ Puppets； I move your
strings！〃
He passed slowly into the chamber where Fillide yet sat； with
gloomy thought on her brow and tears standing in her dark eyes。
She looked up eagerly as the door opened； and turned from the
rugged face of Nicot with an impatient movement of
disappointment。
〃Glyndon；〃 said the painter； drawing a chair to Fillide's； 〃has
left me to enliven your solitude； fair Italian。 He is not
jealous of the ugly Nicot！ha； ha！yet Nicot loved thee well
once； when his fortunes were more fair。 But enough of such past
follies。〃
〃Your friend； then； has left the house。 Whither？ Ah； you look
away； you falter；you cannot meet my eyes！ Speak！ I implore； I
command thee； speak！〃
〃Enfant！ And what dost thou fear？〃
〃FEAR！yes； alas； I fear！〃 said the Italian； and her whole frame
seemed to shrink into itself as she fell once more back into her
seat。
Then； after a pause； she tossed the long hair from her eyes； and；
starting up abruptly； paced the room with disordered strides。 At
length she stopped opposite to Nicot； laid her hand on his arm；
drew him towards an escritoire； which she unlocked； and； opening
a well； pointed to the gold that lay within； and said； 〃Thou art
poor；thou lovest money； take what thou wilt； but undeceive me。
Who is this woman whom thy friend visits；and does he love her？〃
Nicot's eyes sparkled； and his hands opened and clenched； and
clenched and opened； as he gazed upon the coins。 But reluctantly
resisting the impulse； he said； with an affected bitterness；
〃Thinkest thou to bribe me？if so； it cannot be with gold。 But
what if he does love a rival； what if he betrays thee； what if；
wearied by thy jealousies； he designs in his flight to leave thee
behind；would such knowledge make thee happier？〃
〃Yes！〃 exclaimed the Italian； fiercely； 〃yes； for it would be
happiness to hate and to be avenged！ Oh； thou knowest not how
sweet is hatred to those who have really loved！〃
〃But wilt thou swear； if I reveal to thee the secret； that thou
wilt not betray me；that thou wilt not fall； as women do； into
weak tears and fond reproaches； when thy betrayer returns？〃
〃Tears； reproaches！ Revenge hides itself in smiles！〃
〃Thou art a brave creature！〃 said Nicot； almost admiringly。 〃One
condition more： thy lover designs to fly with his new love； to
leave thee to thy fate； if I prove this to thee； and if I give
thee revenge against thy rival； wilt thou fly with me？ I love
thee！I will wed thee！〃
Fillide's eyes flashed fire； she looked at him with unutterable
disdain； and was silent。
Nicot felt he had gone too far； and with that knowledge of the
evil part of our nature which his own heart and association with
crime had taught him； he resolved to trust the rest to the
passions of the Italian； when raised to the height to which he
was prepared to lead them。
〃Pardon me；〃 he said； 〃my love made me too presumptuous； and yet
it is only that love；my sympathy for thee； beautiful and
betrayed； that can induce me to wrong； with my revelations； one
whom I have regarded as a brother。 I can depend upon thine oath
to conceal all from Glyndon？〃
〃On my oath and my wrongs and my mountain blood！〃
〃Enough！ get thy hat and mantle； and follow me。〃
As Fillide left the room； Nicot's eyes again rested on the gold；
it was much；much more than he had da