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anxiously round。 As the final stroke died； the noise of hoofs
rung on the broad stones of the pavement； and from a narrow
street to the right emerged the form of a solitary horseman。 He
neared the Englishmen； and Glyndon recognised the features and
mien of Zanoni。
〃What！ do we meet again； signor？〃 said Mervale； in a vexed but
drowsy tone。
〃Your friend and I have business together；〃 replied Zanoni； as he
wheeled his steed to the side of Glyndon。 〃But it will be soon
transacted。 Perhaps you； sir； will ride on to your hotel。〃
〃Alone！〃
〃There is no danger！〃 returned Zanoni； with a slight expression
of disdain in his voice。
〃None to me； but to Glyndon？〃
〃Danger from me！ Ah； perhaps you are right。〃
〃Go on； my dear Mervale；〃 said Glyndon； 〃I will join you before
you reach the hotel。〃
Mervale nodded； whistled； and pushed his horse into a kind of
amble。
〃Now your answer；quick？〃
〃I have decided。 The love of Viola has vanished from my heart。
The pursuit is over。〃
〃You have decided？〃
〃I have； and now my reward。〃
〃Thy reward！ Well； ere this hour to…morrow it shall await thee。〃
Zanoni gave the rein to his horse； it sprang forward with a
bound： the sparks flew from its hoofs； and horse and rider
disappeared amidst the shadows of the street whence they had
emerged。
Mervale was surprised to see his friend by his side； a minute
after they had parted。
〃What has passed between you and Zanoni？〃
〃Mervale； do not ask me to…night！ I am in a dream。〃
〃I do not wonder at it； for even I am in a sleep。 Let us push
on。〃
In the retirement of his chamber； Glyndon sought to recollect his
thoughts。 He sat down on the foot of his bed； and pressed his
hands tightly to his throbbing temples。 The events of the last
few hours； the apparition of the gigantic and shadowy Companion
of the Mystic； amidst the fires and clouds of Vesuvius； the
strange encounter with Zanoni himself； on a spot in which he
could never； by ordinary reasoning； have calculated on finding
Glyndon； filled his mind with emotions； in which terror and awe
the least prevailed。 A fire； the train of which had been long
laid； was lighted at his heart；the asbestos…fire that； once
lit； is never to be quenched。 All his early aspirationshis
young ambition； his longings for the laurelwere merged in one
passionate yearning to surpass the bounds of the common knowledge
of man； and reach that solemn spot； between two worlds； on which
the mysterious stranger appeared to have fixed his home。
Far from recalling with renewed affright the remembrance of the
apparition that had so appalled him； the recollection only served
to kindle and concentrate his curiosity into a burning focus。 He
had said aright；LOVE HAD VANISHED FROM HIS HEART； there was no
longer a serene space amidst its disordered elements for human
affection to move and breathe。 The enthusiast was rapt from this
earth； and he would have surrendered all that mortal beauty ever
promised； that mortal hope ever whispered； for one hour with
Zanoni beyond the portals of the visible world。
He rose； oppressed and fevered with the new thoughts that raged
within him； and threw open his casement for air。 The ocean lay
suffused in the starry light； and the stillness of the heavens
never more eloquently preached the morality of repose to the
madness of earthly passions。 But such was Glyndon's mood that
their very hush only served to deepen the wild desires that
preyed upon his soul； and the solemn stars； that are mysteries in
themselves； seemed； by a kindred sympathy； to agitate the wings
of the spirit no longer contented with its cage。 As he gazed； a
star shot from its brethren； and vanished from the depth of
space！
CHAPTER 3。XIII。
O； be gone！
By Heaven； I love thee better than myself；
For I came hither armed against myself。
〃Romeo and Juliet。〃
The young actress and Gionetta had returned from the theatre； and
Viola fatigued and exhausted； had thrown herself on a sofa； while
Gionetta busied herself with the long tresses which； released
from the fillet that bound them； half…concealed the form of the
actress； like a veil of threads of gold。 As she smoothed the
luxuriant locks； the old nurse ran gossiping on about the little
events of the night； the scandal and politics of the scenes and
the tireroom。 Gionetta was a worthy soul。 Almanzor； in Dryden's
tragedy of 〃Almahide；〃 did not change sides with more gallant
indifference than the exemplary nurse。 She was at last grieved
and scandalised that Viola had not selected one chosen cavalier。
But the choice she left wholly to her fair charge。 Zegri or
Abencerrage； Glyndon or Zanoni； it had been the same to her；
except that the rumours she had collected respecting the latter；
combined with his own recommendations of his rival； had given her
preference to the Englishman。 She interpreted ill the impatient
and heavy sigh with which Viola greeted her praises of Glyndon；
and her wonder that he had of late so neglected his attentions
behind the scenes； and she exhausted all her powers of panegyric
upon the supposed object of the sigh。 〃And then； too；〃 she said；
〃if nothing else were to be said against the other signor； it is
enough that he is about to leave Naples。〃
〃Leave Naples！Zanoni？〃
〃Yes； darling！ In passing by the Mole to…day； there was a crowd
round some outlandish…looking sailors。 His ship arrived this
morning； and anchors in the bay。 The sailors say that they are
to be prepared to sail with the first wind； they were taking in
fresh stores。 They〃
〃Leave me； Gionetta！ Leave me！〃
The time had already passed when the girl could confide in
Gionetta。 Her thoughts had advanced to that point when the heart
recoils from all confidence； and feels that it cannot be
comprehended。 Alone now； in the principal apartment of the
house； she paced its narrow boundaries with tremulous and
agitated steps： she recalled the frightful suit of Nicot；the
injurious taunt of Glyndon； and she sickened at the remembrance
of the hollow applauses which； bestowed on the actress； not the
woman； only subjected her to contumely and insult。 In that room
the recollection of her father's death； the withered laurel and
the broken chords； rose chillingly before her。 Hers； she felt；
was a yet gloomier fate；the chords may break while the laurel
is yet green。 The lamp； waning in its socket； burned pale and
dim； and her eyes instinctively turned from the darker corner of
the room。 Orphan； by the hearth of thy parent； dost thou fear
the presence of the dead！
And was Zanoni indeed about to quit Naples？ Should she see him
no more？ Oh； fool； to think that there was grief in any other
thought！ The past！that was gone！ The future！there was no
future to her； Zanoni absent！ But this was the night of the
third day on which Zanoni had told her that； come