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replaced the glass upon the board； did Zanoni turn his eyes from
the prince； and he then said； 〃Your wine has been kept too long；
it has lost its virtues。 It might disagree with many； but do not
fear： it will not harm me； prince； Signor Mascari； you are a
judge of the grape； will you favour us with your opinion？〃
〃Nay；〃 answered Mascari； with well…affected composure； 〃I like
not the wines of Cyprus； they are heating。 Perhaps Signor
Glyndon may not have the same distaste？ The English are said to
love their potations warm and pungent。〃
〃Do you wish my friend also to taste the wine； prince？〃 said
Zanoni。 〃Recollect； all cannot drink it with the same impunity
as myself。〃
〃No；〃 said the prince； hastily； 〃if you do not recommend the
wine； Heaven forbid that we should constrain our guests！ My lord
duke；〃 turning to one of the Frenchmen； 〃yours is the true soil
of Bacchus。 What think you of this cask from Burgundy？ Has it
borne the journey？〃
〃Ah；〃 said Zanoni； 〃let us change both the wine and the theme。〃
With that； Zanoni grew yet more animated and brilliant。 Never
did wit more sparkling； airy； exhilarating； flash from the lips
of reveller。 His spirits fascinated all presenteven the prince
himself； even Glyndonwith a strange and wild contagion。 The
former； indeed； whom the words and gaze of Zanoni； when he
drained the poison； had filled with fearful misgivings； now
hailed in the brilliant eloquence of his wit a certain sign of
the operation of the bane。 The wine circulated fast； but none
seemed conscious of its effects。 One by one the rest of the
party fell into a charmed and spellbound silence； as Zanoni
continued to pour forth sally upon sally； tale upon tale。 They
hung on his words； they almost held their breath to listen。 Yet；
how bitter was his mirth； how full of contempt for the triflers
present； and for the trifles which made their life！
Night came on； the room grew dim； and the feast had lasted
several hours longer than was the customary duration of similar
entertainments at that day。 Still the guests stirred not； and
still Zanoni continued； with glittering eye and mocking lip； to
lavish his stores of intellect and anecdote； when suddenly the
moon rose； and shed its rays over the flowers and fountains in
the court without； leaving the room itself half in shadow； and
half tinged by a quiet and ghostly light。
It was then that Zanoni rose。 〃Well； gentlemen；〃 said he； 〃we
have not yet wearied our host； I hope； and his garden offers a
new temptation to protract our stay。 Have you no musicians among
your train； prince； that might regale our ears while we inhale
the fragrance of your orange…trees？〃
〃An excellent thought！〃 said the prince。 〃Mascari； see to the
music。〃
The party rose simultaneously to adjourn to the garden； and then；
for the first time； the effect of the wine they had drunk seemed
to make itself felt。
With flushed cheeks and unsteady steps they came into the open
air； which tended yet more to stimulate that glowing fever of the
grape。 As if to make up for the silence with which the guests
had hitherto listened to Zanoni； every tongue was now loosened；
every man talked； no man listened。 There was something wild and
fearful in the contrast between the calm beauty of the night and
scene； and the hubbub and clamour of these disorderly roysters。
One of the Frenchmen； in especial； the young Duc de R； a
nobleman of the highest rank； and of all the quick； vivacious；
and irascible temperament of his countrymen； was particularly
noisy and excited。 And as circumstances； the remembrance of
which is still preserved among certain circles of Naples；
rendered it afterwards necessary that the duc should himself give
evidence of what occurred； I will here translate the short
account he drew up； and which was kindly submitted to me some few
years ago by my accomplished and lively friend； Il Cavaliere di
B。
〃I never remember；〃 writes the duc； 〃to have felt my spirits so
excited as on that evening； we were like so many boys released
from school； jostling each other as we reeled or ran down the
flight of seven or eight stairs that led from the colonnade into
the garden；some laughing； some whooping； some scolding； some
babbling。 The wine had brought out； as it were； each man's
inmost character。 Some were loud and quarrelsome； others
sentimental and whining； some； whom we had hitherto thought dull；
most mirthful； some； whom we had ever regarded as discreet and
taciturn； most garrulous and uproarious。 I remember that in the
midst of our clamorous gayety； my eye fell upon the cavalier
Signor Zanoni； whose conversation had so enchanted us all； and I
felt a certain chill come over me to perceive that he wore the
same calm and unsympathising smile upon his countenance which had
characterised it in his singular and curious stories of the court
of Louis XIV。 I felt； indeed； half…inclined to seek a quarrel
with one whose composure was almost an insult to our disorder。
Nor was such an effect of this irritating and mocking
tranquillity confined to myself alone。 Several of the party have
told me since； that on looking at Zanoni they felt their blood
yet more heated； and gayety change to resentment。 There seemed
in his icy smile a very charm to wound vanity and provoke rage。
It was at this moment that the prince came up to me； and； passing
his arm into mine； led me a little apart from the rest。 He had
certainly indulged in the same excess as ourselves； but it did
not produce the same effect of noisy excitement。 There was； on
the contrary； a certain cold arrogance and supercilious scorn in
his bearing and language； which； even while affecting so much
caressing courtesy towards me； roused my self…love against him。
He seemed as if Zanoni had infected him； and in imitating the
manner of his guest； he surpassed the original。 He rallied me on
some court gossip； which had honoured my name by associating it
with a certain beautiful and distinguished Sicilian lady； and
affected to treat with contempt that which； had it been true； I
should have regarded as a boast。 He spoke； indeed； as if he
himself had gathered all the flowers of Naples； and left us
foreigners only the gleanings he had scorned。 At this my natural
and national gallantry was piqued； and I retorted by some
sarcasms that I should certainly have spared had my blood been
cooler。 He laughed heartily； and left me in a strange fit of
resentment and anger。 Perhaps （I must own the truth） the wine
had produced in me a wild disposition to take offence and provoke
quarrel。 As the prince left me； I turned； and saw Zanoni at my
side。
〃'The prince is a braggart；' said he； with the same smile that
displeased me before。 'He would monopolize all fortune and all
love。 Let us take our revenge。'
〃'And how？'
〃'He has at this moment； in his house； the most enchanting singer
in Naples；the ce