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hark ye； when next you meet your friend Signor Zanoni； tell him
that he has twice crossed my path。 Jean Nicot； though a painter；
is a plain； honest man； and always pays his debts。〃
〃It is a good doctrine in money matters；〃 said Mervale； 〃as to
revenge； it is not so moral； and certainly not so wise。 But is
it in your love that Zanoni has crossed your path？ How that； if
your suit prosper so well？〃
〃Ask Viola Pisani that question。 Bah！ Glyndon； she is a prude
only to thee。 But I have no prejudices。 Once more； farewell。〃
〃Rouse thyself； man！〃 said Mervale； slapping Glyndon on the
shoulder。 〃What think you of your fair one now？〃
〃This man must lie。〃
〃Will you write to her at once？〃
〃No； if she be really playing a game； I could renounce her
without a sigh。 I will watch her closely； and； at all events；
Zanoni shall not be the master of my fate。 Let us； as you
advise； leave Naples at daybreak to…morrow。〃
CHAPTER 3。X。
O chiunque tu sia； che fuor d'ogni uso
Pieghi Natura ad opre altere e strane；
E； spiando i segreti； entri al piu chiuso
Spazi' a tua voglia delle menti umane
Deh； Dimmi！
〃Gerus。 Lib。；〃 Cant。 x。 xviii。
（O thou； whoever thou art； who through every use bendest Nature
to works foreign and strange； and by spying into her secrets；
enterest at thy will into the closest recesses of the human
mind；O speak！ O tell me！）
Early the next morning the young Englishmen mounted their horses；
and took the road towards Baiae。 Glyndon left word at his hotel；
that if Signor Zanoni sought him； it was in the neighbourhood of
that once celebrated watering…place of the ancients that he
should be found。
They passed by Viola's house； but Glyndon resisted the temptation
of pausing there； and after threading the grotto of Posilipo；
they wound by a circuitous route back into the suburbs of the
city； and took the opposite road； which conducts to Portici and
Pompeii。 It was late at noon when they arrived at the former of
these places。 Here they halted to dine； for Mervale had heard
much of the excellence of the macaroni at Portici； and Mervale
was a bon vivant。
They put up at an inn of very humble pretensions； and dined under
an awning。 Mervale was more than usually gay； he pressed the
lacrima upon his friend； and conversed gayly。
〃Well； my dear friend； we have foiled Signor Zanoni in one of his
predictions at least。 You will have no faith in him hereafter。〃
〃The ides are come； not gone。〃
〃Tush！ If he be the soothsayer； you are not the Caesar。 It is
your vanity that makes you credulous。 Thank Heaven； I do not
think myself of such importance that the operations of Nature
should be changed in order to frighten me。〃
〃But why should the operations of Nature be changed？ There may
be a deeper philosophy than we dream of；a philosophy that
discovers the secrets of Nature； but does not alter； by
penetrating； its courses。〃
〃Ah； you relapse into your heretical credulity； you seriously
suppose Zanoni to be a prophet；a reader of the future； perhaps
an associate of genii and spirits！〃
Here the landlord； a little； fat； oily fellow； came up with a
fresh bottle of lacrima。 He hoped their Excellencies were
pleased。 He was most touchedtouched to the heart； that they
liked the macaroni。 Were their Excellencies going to Vesuvius？
There was a slight eruption； they could not see it where they
were； but it was pretty； and would be prettier still after
sunset。
〃A capital idea！〃 cried Mervale。 〃What say you； Glyndon？〃
〃I have not yet seen an eruption； I should like it much。〃
〃But is there no danger？〃 asked the prudent Mervale。
〃Oh； not at all； the mountain is very civil at present。 It only
plays a little； just to amuse their Excellencies the English。〃
〃Well； order the horses； and bring the bill； we will go before it
is dark。 Clarence； my friend；nunc est bibendum； but take care
of the pede libero； which will scarce do for walking on lava！〃
The bottle was finished； the bill paid； the gentlemen mounted；
the landlord bowed； and they bent their way； in the cool of the
delightful evening； towards Resina。
The wine； perhaps the excitement of his thoughts； animated
Glyndon； whose unequal spirits were； at times； high and brilliant
as those of a schoolboy released； and the laughter of the
Northern tourists sounded oft and merrily along the melancholy
domains of buried cities。
Hesperus had lighted his lamp amidst the rosy skies as they
arrived at Resina。 Here they quitted their horses； and took
mules and a guide。 As the sky grew darker and more dark； the
mountain fire burned with an intense lustre。 In various streaks
and streamlets； the fountain of flame rolled down the dark
summit； and the Englishmen began to feel increase upon them； as
they ascended； that sensation of solemnity and awe which makes
the very atmosphere that surrounds the Giant of the Plains of the
Antique Hades。
It was night； when； leaving the mules； they ascended on foot；
accompanied by their guide； and a peasant who bore a rude torch。
The guide was a conversable； garrulous fellow； like most of his
country and his calling； and Mervale； who possessed a sociable
temper； loved to amuse or to instruct himself on every incidental
occasion。
〃Ah； Excellency；〃 said the guide； 〃your countrymen have a strong
passion for the volcano。 Long life to them； they bring us plenty
of money！ If our fortunes depended on the Neapolitans； we should
starve。〃
〃True； they have no curiosity；〃 said Mervale。 〃Do you remember；
Glyndon； the contempt with which that old count said to us； 'You
will go to Vesuvius； I suppose？ I have never been； why should I
go？ You have cold； you have hunger； you have fatigue； you have
danger； and all for nothing but to see fire； which looks just as
well in a brazier as on a mountain。' Ha！ ha！ the old fellow was
right。〃
〃But； Excellency；〃 said the guide； 〃that is not all： some
cavaliers think to ascend the mountain without our help。 I am
sure they deserve to tumble into the crater。〃
〃They must be bold fellows to go alone； you don't often find
such。〃
〃Sometimes among the French； signor。 But the other nightI
never was so frightenedI had been with an English party； and a
lady had left a pocket…book on the mountain； where she had been
sketching。 She offered me a handsome sum to return for it； and
bring it to her at Naples。 So I went in the evening。 I found
it； sure enough； and was about to return； when I saw a figure
that seemed to emerge from the crater itself。 The air there was
so pestiferous that I could not have conceived a human creature
could breathe it； and live。 I was so astounded that I stood
still as a stone； till the figure came over the hot ashes； and
stood before me； face to face。 Santa Maria； what a head！〃
〃What！ hideous？〃
〃No； so beautiful； but so terrible。 It had nothi