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Arabians holds that at that instant God is deciding the hour
either of your death； or of some one dear to you。 The African
savage； whose imagination is darkened by the hideous rites of his
gloomy idolatry； believes that the Evil Spirit is pulling you
towards him by the hair： so do the Grotesque and the Terrible
mingle with each other。〃
〃It is evidently a mere physical accident；a derangement of the
stomach； a chill of the blood；〃 said a young Neapolitan； with
whom Glyndon had formed a slight acquaintance。
〃Then why is it always coupled in all nations with some
superstitious presentiment or terror；some connection between
the material frame and the supposed world without us？ For my
part； I think〃
〃Ay； what do you think； sir？〃 asked Glyndon； curiously。
〃I think；〃 continued the stranger； 〃that it is the repugnance and
horror with which our more human elements recoil from something；
indeed； invisible； but antipathetic to our own nature； and from a
knowledge of which we are happily secured by the imperfection of
our senses。〃
〃You are a believer in spirits； then？〃 said Mervale； with an
incredulous smile。
〃Nay； it was not precisely of spirits that I spoke； but there may
be forms of matter as invisible and impalpable to us as the
animalculae in the air we breathe；in the water that plays in
yonder basin。 Such beings may have passions and powers like our
ownas the animalculae to which I have compared them。 The
monster that lives and dies in a drop of watercarnivorous；
insatiable； subsisting on the creatures minuter than himselfis
not less deadly in his wrath； less ferocious in his nature； than
the tiger of the desert。 There may be things around us that would
be dangerous and hostile to men； if Providence had not placed a
wall between them and us； merely by different modifications of
matter。〃
〃And think you that wall never can be removed？〃 asked young
Glyndon； abruptly。 〃Are the traditions of sorcerer and wizard；
universal and immemorial as they are； merely fables？〃
〃Perhaps yes；perhaps no；〃 answered the stranger； indifferently。
〃But who； in an age in which the reason has chosen its proper
bounds； would be mad enough to break the partition that divides
him from the boa and the lion；to repine at and rebel against
the law which confines the shark to the great deep？ Enough of
these idle speculations。〃
Here the stranger rose； summoned the attendant； paid for his
sherbet； and； bowing slightly to the company； soon disappeared
among the trees。
〃Who is that gentleman？〃 asked Glyndon； eagerly。
The rest looked at each other； without replying； for some
moments。
〃I never saw him before；〃 said Mervale； at last。
〃Nor I。〃
〃Nor I。〃
〃I know him well；〃 said the Neapolitan； who was； indeed； the
Count Cetoxa。 〃If you remember； it was as my companion that he
joined you。 He visited Naples about two years ago； and has
recently returned； he is very rich；indeed； enormously so。 A
most agreeable person。 I am sorry to hear him talk so strangely
to…night； it serves to encourage the various foolish reports that
are circulated concerning him。〃
〃And surely；〃 said another Neapolitan； 〃the circumstance that
occurred but the other day； so well known to yourself； Cetoxa；
justifies the reports you pretend to deprecate。〃
〃Myself and my countryman；〃 said Glyndon； 〃mix so little in
Neapolitan society； that we lose much that appears well worthy of
lively interest。 May I enquire what are the reports； and what is
the circumstance you refer to？〃
〃As to the reports； gentlemen；〃 said Cetoxa； courteously；
addressing himself to the two Englishmen； 〃it may suffice to
observe； that they attribute to the Signor Zanoni certain
qualities which everybody desires for himself； but damns any one
else for possessing。 The incident Signor Belgioso alludes to；
illustrates these qualities； and is； I must own； somewhat
startling。 You probably play； gentlemen？〃 （Here Cetoxa paused；
and as both Englishmen had occasionally staked a few scudi at
the public gaming…tables； they bowed assent to the conjecture。）
Cetoxa continued。 〃Well； then； not many days since； and on the
very day that Zanoni returned to Naples； it so happened that I
had been playing pretty high； and had lost considerably。 I rose
from the table； resolved no longer to tempt fortune； when I
suddenly perceived Zanoni； whose acquaintance I had before made
（and who； I may say； was under some slight obligation to me）；
standing by； a spectator。 Ere I could express my gratification
at this unexpected recognition； he laid his hand on my arm。 'You
have lost much；' said he； 'more than you can afford。 For my
part； I dislike play； yet I wish to have some interest in what is
going on。 Will you play this sum for me？ the risk is mine；the
half profits yours。' I was startled； as you may suppose； at such
an address； but Zanoni had an air and tone with him it was
impossible to resist； besides； I was burning to recover my
losses； and should not have risen had I had any money left about
me。 I told him I would accept his offer； provided we shared the
risk as well as profits。 'As you will；' said he； smiling； 'we
need have no scruple； for you will be sure to win。' I sat down；
Zanoni stood behind me； my luck rose；I invariably won。 In
fact； I rose from the table a rich man。〃
〃There can be no foul play at the public tables； especially when
foul play would make against the bank？〃 This question was put by
Glyndon。
〃Certainly not；〃 replied the count。 〃But our good fortune was；
indeed； marvellous；so extraordinary that a Sicilian （the
Sicilians are all ill…bred； bad…tempered fellows） grew angry and
insolent。 'Sir；' said he； turning to my new friend； 'you have no
business to stand so near to the table。 I do not understand
this； you have not acted fairly。' Zanoni replied； with great
composure； that he had done nothing against the rules；that he
was very sorry that one man could not win without another man
losing； and that he could not act unfairly； even if disposed to
do so。 The Sicilian took the stranger's mildness for
apprehension； and blustered more loudly。 In fact； he rose from
the table； and confronted Zanoni in a manner that； to say the
least of it； was provoking to any gentleman who has some
quickness of temper； or some skill with the small…sword。〃
〃And；〃 interrupted Belgioso； 〃the most singular part of the whole
to me was； that this Zanoni； who stood opposite to where I sat；
and whose face I distinctly saw； made no remark； showed no
resentment。 He fixed his eyes steadfastly on the Sicilian； never
shall I forget that look！ it is impossible to describe it；it
froze the blood in my veins。 The Sicilian staggered back as if
struck。 I saw him tremble； he sank on the bench。 And then〃
〃Yes； then；〃 said Cetoxa； 〃to my infinite surprise； our
gentleman； thus disarmed by a look from Zanoni； turned his whole