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phrases and these mystical assumptions。 You may have powers
which I cannot comprehend or emulate； or you may be but a keen
imposter。〃
〃Well； proceed！〃
〃I mean； then；〃 continued Glyndon； resolutely； though somewhat
disconcerted；〃I mean you to understand； that； though I am not
to be persuaded or compelled by a stranger to marry Viola Pisani；
I am not the less determined never tamely to yield her to
another。〃
Zanoni looked gravely at the young man； whose sparkling eyes and
heightened colour testified the spirit to support his words； and
replied； 〃So bold！ well； it becomes you。 But take my advice；
wait yet nine days； and tell me then if you will marry the
fairest and the purest creature that ever crossed your path。〃
〃But if you love her； whywhy〃
〃Why am I anxious that she should wed another？to save her from
myself！ Listen to me。 That girl； humble and uneducated though
she be； has in her the seeds of the most lofty qualities and
virtues。 She can be all to the man she loves；all that man can
desire in wife。 Her soul； developed by affection； will elevate
your own； it will influence your fortunes； exalt your destiny；
you will become a great and a prosperous man。 If； on the
contrary； she fall to me； I know not what may be her lot； but I
know that there is an ordeal which few can pass； and which
hitherto no woman has survived。〃
As Zanoni spoke； his face became colourless； and there was
something in his voice that froze the warm blood of the listener。
〃What is this mystery which surrounds you？〃 exclaimed Glyndon；
unable to repress his emotion。 〃Are you； in truth； different
from other men？ Have you passed the boundary of lawful
knowledge？ Are you； as some declare； a sorcerer； or only a〃
〃Hush！〃 interrupted Zanoni； gently； and with a smile of singular
but melancholy sweetness； 〃have you earned the right to ask me
these questions？ Though Italy still boast an Inquisition； its
power is rivelled as a leaf which the first wind shall scatter。
The days of torture and persecution are over； and a man may live
as he pleases； and talk as it suits him； without fear of the
stake and the rack。 Since I can defy persecution； pardon me if I
do not yield to curiosity。〃
Glyndon blushed； and rose。 In spite of his love for Viola； and
his natural terror of such a rival； he felt himself irresistibly
drawn towards the very man he had most cause to suspect and
dread。 He held out his hand to Zanoni； saying； 〃Well； then； if
we are to be rivals； our swords must settle our rights； till then
I would fain be friends。〃
〃Friends！ You know not what you ask。〃
〃Enigmas again！〃
〃Enigmas！〃 cried Zanoni； passionately； 〃ay！ can you dare to solve
them？ Not till then could I give you my right hand； and call you
friend。〃
〃I could dare everything and all things for the attainment of
superhuman wisdom；〃 said Glyndon； and his countenance was lighted
up with wild and intense enthusiasm。
Zanoni observed him in thoughtful silence。
〃The seeds of the ancestor live in the son；〃 he muttered； 〃he
mayyet〃 He broke off abruptly； then； speaking aloud； 〃Go；
Glyndon；〃 said he； 〃we shall meet again； but I will not ask your
answer till the hour presses for decision。〃
CHAPTER 2。VI。
'Tis certain that this man has an estate of fifty thousand
livres； and seems to be a person of very great accomplishments。
But； then； if he's a wizard； are wizards so devoutly given as
this man seems to be？ In short； I could make neither head nor
tail on'tThe Count de Gabalis； Translation affixed to the
second edition of the 〃Rape of the Lock。〃
Of all the weaknesses which little men rail against； there is
none that they are more apt to ridicule than the tendency to
believe。 And of all the signs of a corrupt heart and a feeble
head； the tendency of incredulity is the surest。
Real philosophy seeks rather to solve than to deny。 While we
hear； every day； the small pretenders to science talk of the
absurdities of alchemy and the dream of the Philosopher's Stone；
a more erudite knowledge is aware that by alchemists the greatest
discoveries in science have been made； and much which still seems
abstruse； had we the key to the mystic phraseology they were
compelled to adopt； might open the way to yet more noble
acquisitions。 The Philosopher's Stone itself has seemed no
visionary chimera to some of the soundest chemists that even the
present century has produced。 （Mr。 Disraeli； in his 〃Curiosities
of Literature〃 （article 〃Alchem〃）； after quoting the sanguine
judgments of modern chemists as to the transmutation of metals；
observes of one yet greater and more recent than those to which
Glyndon's thoughts could have referred； 〃Sir Humphry Davy told me
that he did not consider this undiscovered art as impossible； but
should it ever be discovered； it would certainly be useless。〃）
Man cannot contradict the Laws of Nature。 But are all the laws
of Nature yet discovered？
〃Give me a proof of your art；〃 says the rational inquirer。 〃When
I have seen the effect； I will endeavour； with you； to ascertain
the causes。〃
Somewhat to the above effect were the first thoughts of Clarence
Glyndon on quitting Zanoni。 But Clarence Glyndon was no
〃rational inquirer。〃 The more vague and mysterious the language
of Zanoni； the more it imposed upon him。 A proof would have been
something tangible； with which he would have sought to grapple。
And it would have only disappointed his curiosity to find the
supernatural reduced to Nature。 He endeavoured in vain； at some
moments rousing himself from credulity to the scepticism he
deprecated； to reconcile what he had heard with the probable
motives and designs of an imposter。 Unlike Mesmer and
Cagliostro； Zanoni； whatever his pretensions； did not make them a
source of profit； nor was Glyndon's position or rank in life
sufficient to render any influence obtained over his mind；
subservient to schemes； whether of avarice or ambition。 Yet；
ever and anon； with the suspicion of worldly knowledge； he strove
to persuade himself that Zanoni had at least some sinister object
in inducing him to what his English pride and manner of thought
considered a derogatory marriage with the poor actress。 Might
not Viola and the Mystic be in league with each other？ Might not
all this jargon of prophecy and menace be but artifices to dupe
him？
He felt an unjust resentment towards Viola at having secured such
an ally。 But with that resentment was mingled a natural
jealousy。 Zanoni threatened him with rivalry。 Zanoni； who；
whatever his character or his arts； possessed at least all the
external attributes that dazzle and command。 Impatient of his
own doubts； he plunged into the society of such acquaintances as
he had made at Napleschiefly artists； like himself； men of
letters； and the rich commercialists； who were already vying with
the splendour； though debarred from the pr