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him。 〃Stay； signor；〃 said she； coaxingly： 〃the dear signora is
not well；do not be angry with her； I will make her accept your
offer。〃
Glyndon stayed； and after a few moments spent in expostulation on
the part of Gionetta； and resistance on that of Viola； the offer
was accepted。 Gionetta and her charge entered the carriage； and
Glyndon was left at the door of the theatre to return home on
foot。 The mysterious warning of Zanoni then suddenly occurred to
him； he had forgotten it in the interest of his lover's quarrel
with Viola。 He thought it now advisable to guard against danger
foretold by lips so mysterious。 He looked round for some one he
knew： the theatre was disgorging its crowds； they hustled； and
jostled； and pressed upon him； but he recognised no familiar
countenance。 While pausing irresolute； he heard Mervale's voice
calling on him； and； to his great relief； discovered his friend
making his way through the throng。
〃I have secured you；〃 said he； 〃a place in the Count Cetoxa's
carriage。 Come along； he is waiting for us。〃
〃How kind in you！ how did you find me out？〃
〃I met Zanoni in the passage；'Your friend is at the door of the
theatre；' said he； 'do not let him go home on foot to…night； the
streets of Naples are not always safe。' I immediately remembered
that some of the Calabrian bravos had been busy within the city
the last few weeks； and suddenly meeting Cetoxabut here he is。〃
Further explanation was forbidden； for they now joined the count。
As Glyndon entered the carriage and drew up the glass； he saw
four men standing apart by the pavement； who seemed to eye him
with attention。
〃Cospetto！〃 cried one； 〃that is the Englishman！〃 Glyndon
imperfectly heard the exclamation as the carriage drove on。 He
reached home in safety。
The familiar and endearing intimacy which always exists in Italy
between the nurse and the child she has reared； and which the
〃Romeo and Juliet〃 of Shakespeare in no way exaggerates； could
not but be drawn yet closer than usual； in a situation so
friendless as that of the orphan…actress。 In all that concerned
the weaknesses of the heart； Gionetta had large experience； and
when； three nights before； Viola； on returning from the theatre；
had wept bitterly； the nurse had succeeded in extracting from her
a confession that she had seen one；not seen for two weary and
eventful years；but never forgotten； and who； alas！ had not
evinced the slightest recognition of herself。 Gionetta could not
comprehend all the vague and innocent emotions that swelled this
sorrow； but she resolved them all； with her plain； blunt
understanding； to the one sentiment of love。 And here； she was
well fitted to sympathise and console。 Confidante to Viola's
entire and deep heart she never could be；for that heart never
could have words for all its secrets。 But such confidence as she
could obtain； she was ready to repay by the most unreproving pity
and the most ready service。
〃Have you discovered who he is？〃 asked Viola； as she was now
alone in the carriage with Gionetta。
〃Yes； he is the celebrated Signor Zanoni； about whom all the
great ladies have gone mad。 They say he is so rich！oh！ so much
richer than any of the Inglesi！not but what the Signor
Glyndon〃
〃Cease！〃 interrupted the young actress。 〃Zanoni！ Speak of the
Englishman no more。〃
The carriage was now entering that more lonely and remote part of
the city in which Viola's house was situated； when it suddenly
stopped。
Gionetta； in alarm； thrust her head out of the window； and
perceived； by the pale light of the moon； that the driver； torn
from his seat； was already pinioned in the arms of two men； the
next moment the door was opened violently； and a tall figure；
masked and mantled； appeared。
〃Fear not； fairest Pisani；〃 said he； gently； 〃no ill shall befall
you。〃 As he spoke； he wound his arm round the form of the fair
actress； and endeavoured to lift her from the carriage。 But
Gionetta was no ordinary ally；she thrust back the assailant
with a force that astonished him； and followed the shock by a
volley of the most energetic reprobation。
The mask drew back； and composed his disordered mantle。
〃By the body of Bacchus！〃 said he； half laughing； 〃she is well
protected。 Here； Luigi； Giovanni！ seize the hag！quick！why
loiter ye？〃
The mask retired from the door； and another and yet taller form
presented itself。 〃Be calm； Viola Pisani；〃 said he； in a low
voice； 〃with me you are indeed safe！〃 He lifted his mask as he
spoke； and showed the noble features of Zanoni。
〃Be calm； be hushed；I can save you。〃 He vanished； leaving
Viola lost in surprise； agitation； and delight。 There were； in
all； nine masks： two were engaged with the driver； one stood at
the head of the carriage…horses； a fourth guarded the
well…trained steeds of the party； three others （besides Zanoni
and the one who had first accosted Viola） stood apart by a
carriage drawn to the side of the road。 To these three Zanoni
motioned； they advanced； he pointed towards the first mask； who
was in fact the Prince di ； and to his unspeakable astonishment
the prince was suddenly seized from behind。
〃Treason！〃 he cried。 〃Treason among my own men！ What means
this？〃
〃Place him in his carriage！ If he resist； his blood be on his
own head！〃 said Zanoni； calmly。
He approached the men who had detained the coachman。
〃You are outnumbered and outwitted；〃 said he； 〃join your lord；
you are three men；we six； armed to the teeth。 Thank our mercy
that we spare your lives。 Go！〃
The men gave way； dismayed。 The driver remounted。
〃Cut the traces of their carriage and the bridles of their
horses；〃 said Zanoni； as he entered the vehicle containing Viola；
which now drove on rapidly； leaving the discomfited ravisher in a
state of rage and stupor impossible to describe。
〃Allow me to explain this mystery to you；〃 said Zanoni。 〃I
discovered the plot against you；no matter how； I frustrated it
thus： The head of this design is a nobleman； who has long
persecuted you in vain。 He and two of his creatures watched you
from the entrance of the theatre； having directed six others to
await him on the spot where you were attacked； myself and five of
my servants supplied their place； and were mistaken for his own
followers。 I had previously ridden alone to the spot where the
men were waiting； and informed them that their master would not
require their services that night。 They believed me； and
accordingly dispersed。 I then joined my own band； whom I had
left in the rear； you know all。 We are at your door。〃
CHAPTER 2。III。
When most I wink； then do mine eyes best see；
For all the day they view things unrespected；
But when I sleep； in dreams they look on thee；
And； darkly bright； are bright in dark directed。
Shakespeare。
Zanoni followed the young Neapolitan into her house； Gionet