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the daughter that interested me。 Perhaps you would rather I
should have admired the singer？〃
〃No； oh； no！〃
〃Well； I believe you。 And now； since we have thus met； I will
pause to counsel you。 When next you go to the theatre； you will
have at your feet all the young gallants of Naples。 Poor infant！
the flame that dazzles the eye can scorch the wing。 Remember
that the only homage that does not sully must be that which these
gallants will not give thee。 And whatever thy dreams of the
future；and I see； while I speak to thee； how wandering they
are； and wild；may only those be fulfilled which centre round
the hearth of home。〃
He paused； as Viola's breast heaved beneath its robe。 And with a
burst of natural and innocent emotions； scarcely comprehending；
though an Italian； the grave nature of his advice； she
exclaimed；
〃Ah； Excellency； you cannot know how dear to me that home is
already。 And my father；there would be no home； signor； without
him！〃
A deep and melancholy shade settled over the face of the
cavalier。 He looked up at the quiet house buried amidst the
vine…leaves； and turned again to the vivid； animated face of the
young actress。
〃It is well；〃 said he。 〃A simple heart may be its own best
guide； and so； go on； and prosper。 Adieu； fair singer。〃
〃Adieu； Excellency； but；〃 and something she could not resistan
anxious； sickening feeling of fear and hope；impelled her to the
question； 〃I shall see you again； shall I not； at San Carlo？〃
〃Not； at least； for some time。 I leave Naples to…day。〃
〃Indeed！〃 and Viola's heart sank within her； the poetry of the
stage was gone。
〃And；〃 said the cavalier； turning back； and gently laying his
hand on hers；〃and； perhaps； before we meet； you may have
suffered： known the first sharp griefs of human life；known how
little what fame can gain； repays what the heart can lose； but be
brave and yield not；not even to what may seem the piety of
sorrow。 Observe yon tree in your neighbour's garden。 Look how
it grows up； crooked and distorted。 Some wind scattered the germ
from which it sprang； in the clefts of the rock； choked up and
walled round by crags and buildings； by Nature and man； its life
has been one struggle for the light；light which makes to that
life the necessity and the principle： you see how it has writhed
and twisted； how； meeting the barrier in one spot； it has
laboured and worked； stem and branches； towards the clear skies
at last。 What has preserved it through each disfavour of birth
and circumstances；why are its leaves as green and fair as those
of the vine behind you； which； with all its arms； can embrace the
open sunshine？ My child； because of the very instinct that
impelled the struggle；because the labour for the light won to
the light at length。 So with a gallant heart； through every
adverse accident of sorrow and of fate to turn to the sun； to
strive for the heaven； this it is that gives knowledge to the
strong and happiness to the weak。 Ere we meet again； you will
turn sad and heavy eyes to those quiet boughs； and when you hear
the birds sing from them； and see the sunshine come aslant from
crag and housetop to be the playfellow of their leaves； learn the
lesson that Nature teaches you； and strive through darkness to
the light！〃
As he spoke he moved on slowly； and left Viola wondering； silent；
saddened with his dim prophecy of coming evil； and yet； through
sadness； charmed。 Involuntarily her eyes followed him；
involuntarily she stretched forth her arms； as if by a gesture to
call him back； she would have given worlds to have seen him
turn；to have heard once more his low； calm； silvery voice； to
have felt again the light touch of his hand on hers。 As
moonlight that softens into beauty every angle on which it falls；
seemed his presence；as moonlight vanishes； and things assume
their common aspect of the rugged and the mean； he receded from
her eyes； and the outward scene was commonplace once more。
The stranger passed on； through that long and lovely road which
reaches at last the palaces that face the public gardens； and
conducts to the more populous quarters of the city。
A group of young； dissipated courtiers； loitering by the gateway
of a house which was open for the favourite pastime of the day；
the resort of the wealthier and more high…born gamesters；made
way for him； as with a courteous inclination he passed them by。
〃Per fede；〃 said one； 〃is not that the rich Zanoni； of whom the
town talks？〃
〃Ay； they say his wealth is incalculable！〃
〃THEY say；who are THEY？what is the authority？ He has not
been many days at Naples； and I cannot yet find any one who knows
aught of his birthplace； his parentage； or； what is more
important； his estates！〃
〃That is true； but he arrived in a goodly vessel； which THEY SAY
is his own。 See；no； you cannot see it here； but it rides
yonder in the bay。 The bankers he deals with speak with awe of
the sums placed in their hands。〃
〃Whence came he？〃
〃From some seaport in the East。 My valet learned from some of
the sailors on the Mole that he had resided many years in the
interior of India。〃
〃Ah； I am told that in India men pick up gold like pebbles； and
that there are valleys where the birds build their nests with
emeralds to attract the moths。 Here comes our prince of
gamesters； Cetoxa； be sure that he already must have made
acquaintance with so wealthy a cavalier； he has that attraction
to gold which the magnet has to steel。 Well； Cetoxa； what fresh
news of the ducats of Signor Zanoni？〃
〃Oh；〃 said Cetoxa； carelessly； 〃my friend〃
〃Ha！ ha！ hear him； his friend〃
〃Yes； my friend Zanoni is going to Rome for a short time； when he
returns； he has promised me to fix a day to sup with me； and I
will then introduce him to you； and to the best society of
Naples！ Diavolo！ but he is a most agreeable and witty
gentleman！〃
〃Pray tell us how you came so suddenly to be his friend。〃
〃My dear Belgioso； nothing more natural。 He desired a box at San
Carlo； but I need not tell you that the expectation of a new
opera （ah； how superb it is；that poor devil； Pisani； who would
have thought it？） and a new singer （what a face；what a voice！
ah！） had engaged every corner of the house。 I heard of Zanoni's
desire to honour the talent of Naples； and； with my usual
courtesy to distinguished strangers； I sent to place my box at
his disposal。 He accepts it；I wait on him between the acts； he
is most charming； he invites me to supper。 Cospetto； what a
retinue！ We sit late；I tell him all the news of Naples； we
grow bosom friends； he presses on me this diamond before we
part；is a trifle； he tells me： the jewellers value it at 5000
pistoles！the merriest evening I have passed these ten years。〃
The cavaliers crowded round to admire the diamond。
〃Signor Count Cetoxa；〃 said one grave…looking sombre man； who had
cro