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and the hand of the dial would be put back？〃
〃Judge of me as thou wilt； Prince di 。 I confess my knowledge
of Zanoni。 Thou； too； wilt know his power； but not till it
consume thee。 I would save； therefore I warn thee。 Dost thou
ask me why？ I will tell thee。 Canst thou remember to have heard
wild tales of thy grandsire； of his desire for a knowledge that
passes that of the schools and cloisters； of a strange man from
the East who was his familiar and master in lore against which
the Vatican has； from age to age； launched its mimic thunder？
Dost thou call to mind the fortunes of thy ancestor？how he
succeeded in youth to little but a name； how； after a career wild
and dissolute as thine； he disappeared from Milan； a pauper； and
a self…exile； how； after years spent； none knew in what climes or
in what pursuits； he again revisited the city where his
progenitors had reigned； how with him came the wise man of the
East； the mystic Mejnour； how they who beheld him； beheld with
amaze and fear that time had ploughed no furrow on his brow； that
youth seemed fixed； as by a spell； upon his face and form？ Dost
thou not know that from that hour his fortunes rose？ Kinsmen the
most remote died； estate upon estate fell into the hands of the
ruined noble。 He became the guide of princes； the first magnate
of Italy。 He founded anew the house of which thou art the last
lineal upholder； and transferred his splendour from Milan to the
Sicilian realms。 Visions of high ambition were then present with
him nightly and daily。 Had he lived； Italy would have known a
new dynasty； and the Visconti would have reigned over Magna…
Graecia。 He was a man such as the world rarely sees； but his
ends； too earthly； were at war with the means he sought。 Had his
ambition been more or less； he had been worthy of a realm
mightier than the Caesars swayed； worthy of our solemn order；
worthy of the fellowship of Mejnour； whom you now behold before
you。〃
The prince； who had listened with deep and breathless attention
to the words of his singular guest； started from his seat at his
last words。 〃Imposter！〃 he cried； 〃can you dare thus to play
with my credulity？ Sixty years have flown since my grandsire
died； were he living； he had passed his hundred and twentieth
year； and you； whose old age is erect and vigorous； have the
assurance to pretend to have been his contemporary！ But you have
imperfectly learned your tale。 You know not； it seems； that my
grandsire； wise and illustrious indeed； in all save his faith in
a charlatan； was found dead in his bed； in the very hour when his
colossal plans were ripe for execution； and that Mejnour was
guilty of his murder。〃
〃Alas！〃 answered the stranger； in a voice of great sadness； 〃had
he but listened to Mejnour；had he but delayed the last and most
perilous ordeal of daring wisdom until the requisite training and
initiation had been completed；your ancestor would have stood
with me upon an eminence which the waters of Death itself wash
everlastingly； but cannot overflow。 Your grandsire resisted my
fervent prayers； disobeyed my most absolute commands； and in the
sublime rashness of a soul that panted for secrets； which he who
desires orbs and sceptres never can obtain； perished； the victim
of his own frenzy。〃
〃He was poisoned； and Mejnour fled。〃
〃Mejnour fled not；〃 answered the stranger； proudly〃Mejnour
could not fly from danger； for to him danger is a thing long left
behind。 It was the day before the duke took the fatal draft
which he believed was to confer on the mortal the immortal boon；
that； finding my power over him was gone； I abandoned him to his
doom。 But a truce with this： I loved your grandsire！ I would
save the last of his race。 Oppose not thyself to Zanoni。 Yield
not thy soul to thine evil passions。 Draw back from the
precipice while there is yet time。 In thy front； and in thine
eyes； I detect some of that diviner glory which belonged to thy
race。 Thou hast in thee some germs of their hereditary genius；
but they are choked up by worse than thy hereditary vices。
Recollect that by genius thy house rose； by vice it ever failed
to perpetuate its power。 In the laws which regulate the
universe； it is decreed that nothing wicked can long endure。 Be
wise； and let history warn thee。 Thou standest on the verge of
two worlds； the past and the future； and voices from either
shriek omen in thy ear。 I have done。 I bid thee farewell！〃
〃Not so； thou shalt not quit these walls。 I will make experiment
of thy boasted power。 What； ho there！ho！〃
The prince shouted； the room was filled with his minions。
〃Seize that man！〃 he cried； pointing to the spot which had been
filled by the form of Mejnour。 To his inconceivable amaze and
horror； the spot was vacant。 The mysterious stranger had
vanished like a dream； but a thin and fragrant mist undulated； in
pale volumes； round the walls of the chamber。 〃Look to my lord；〃
cried Mascari。 The prince had fallen to the floor insensible。
For many hours he seemed in a kind of trance。 When he recovered；
he dismissed his attendants； and his step was heard in his
chamber； pacing to and fro； with heavy and disordered strides。
Not till an hour before his banquet the next day did he seem
restored to his wonted self。
CHAPTER 3。XV。
Oime！ come poss' io
Altri trovar； se me trovar non posso。
〃Amint。；〃 At。 i。 Sc。 ii。
（Alas！ how can I find another when I cannot find myself？）
The sleep of Glyndon； the night after his last interview with
Zanoni； was unusually profound； and the sun streamed full upon
his eyes as he opened them to the day。 He rose refreshed； and
with a strange sentiment of calmness that seemed more the result
of resolution than exhaustion。 The incidents and emotions of the
past night had settled into distinct and clear impressions。 He
thought of them but slightly；he thought rather of the future。
He was as one of the initiated in the old Egyptian mysteries who
have crossed the gate only to long more ardently for the
penetralia。
He dressed himself； and was relieved to find that Mervale had
joined a party of his countrymen on an excursion to Ischia。 He
spent the heat of noon in thoughtful solitude； and gradually the
image of Viola returned to his heart。 It was a holyfor it was
a HUMANimage。 He had resigned her； and though he repented not；
he was troubled at the thought that repentance would have come
too late。
He started impatiently from his seat； and strode with rapid steps
to the humble abode of the actress。
The distance was considerable； and the air oppressive。 Glyndon
arrived at the door breathless and heated。 He knocked； no answer
came。 He lifted the latch and entered。 He ascended the stairs；
no sound； no sight of life met his ear and eye。 In the front
chamber； on a table； lay the guitar of the actress； and some
manuscript parts in the favourite operas。 He paused；