按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃'And how？'
〃'He has at this moment； in his house； the most enchanting singer
in Naples；the celebrated Viola Pisani。 She is here； it is
true； not by her own choice； he carried her hither by force； but
he will pretend that she adores him。 Let us insist on his
producing this secret treasure； and when she enters； the Duc de
R can have no doubt that his flatteries and attentions will
charm the lady； and provoke all the jealous fears of our host。
It would be a fair revenge upon his imperious self…conceit。'
〃This suggestion delighted me。 I hastened to the prince。 At
that instant the musicians had just commenced； I waved my hand；
ordered the music to stop； and； addressing the prince； who was
standing in the centre of one of the gayest groups； complained of
his want of hospitality in affording to us such poor proficients
in the art； while he reserved for his own solace the lute and
voice of the first performer in Naples。 I demanded；
half…laughingly； half…seriously； that he should produce the
Pisani。 My demand was received with shouts of applause by the
rest。 We drowned the replies of our host with uproar； and would
hear no denial。 'Gentlemen；' at last said the prince； when he
could obtain an audience； 'even were I to assent to your
proposal； I could not induce the signora to present herself
before an assemblage as riotous as they are noble。 You have too
much chivalry to use compulsion with her； though the Duc de R
forgets himself sufficiently to administer it to me。'
〃I was stung by this taunt； however well deserved。 'Prince；'
said I； 'I have for the indelicacy of compulsion so illustrious
an example that I cannot hesitate to pursue the path honoured by
your own footsteps。 All Naples knows that the Pisani despises at
once your gold and your love； that force alone could have brought
her under your roof； and that you refuse to produce her； because
you fear her complaints； and know enough of the chivalry your
vanity sneers at to feel assured that the gentlemen of France are
not more disposed to worship beauty than to defend it from
wrong。'
〃'You speak well； sir；' said Zanoni； gravely。 'The prince dares
not produce his prize！'
〃The prince remained speechless for a few moments； as if with
indignation。 At last he broke out into expressions the most
injurious and insulting against Signor Zanoni and myself。 Zanoni
replied not； I was more hot and hasty。 The guests appeared to
delight in our dispute。 None； except Mascari； whom we pushed
aside and disdained to hear； strove to conciliate； some took one
side； some another。 The issue may be well foreseen。 Swords were
called for and procured。 Two were offered me by one of the
party。 I was about to choose one； when Zanoni placed in my hand
the other； which； from its hilt； appeared of antiquated
workmanship。 At the same moment； looking towards the prince； he
said； smilingly； 'The duc takes your grandsire's sword。 Prince；
you are too brave a man for superstition； you have forgot the
forfeit！' Our host seemed to me to recoil and turn pale at those
words； nevertheless； he returned Zanoni's smile with a look of
defiance。 The next moment all was broil and disorder。 There
might be some six or eight persons engaged in a strange and
confused kind of melee； but the prince and myself only sought
each other。 The noise around us； the confusion of the guests；
the cries of the musicians； the clash of our own swords； only
served to stimulate our unhappy fury。 We feared to be
interrupted by the attendants； and fought like madmen； without
skill or method。 I thrust and parried mechanically； blind and
frantic； as if a demon had entered into me； till I saw the prince
stretched at my feet； bathed in his blood； and Zanoni bending
over him； and whispering in his ear。 That sight cooled us all。
The strife ceased； we gathered； in shame； remorse； and horror；
round our ill…fated host； but it was too late；his eyes rolled
fearfully in his head。 I have seen many men die； but never one
who wore such horror on his countenance。 At last all was over！
Zanoni rose from the corpse； and； taking； with great composure；
the sword from my hand； said calmly； 'Ye are witnesses；
gentlemen； that the prince brought his fate upon himself。 The
last of that illustrious house has perished in a brawl。'
〃I saw no more of Zanoni。 I hastened to our envoy to narrate the
event； and abide the issue。 I am grateful to the Neapolitan
government； and to the illustrious heir of the unfortunate
nobleman； for the lenient and generous； yet just； interpretation
put upon a misfortune the memory of which will afflict me to the
last hour of my life。
（Signed） 〃Louis Victor； Duc de R。〃
In the above memorial； the reader will find the most exact and
minute account yet given of an event which created the most
lively sensation at Naples in that day。
Glyndon had taken no part in the affray； neither had he
participated largely in the excesses of the revel。 For his
exemption from both he was perhaps indebted to the whispered
exhortations of Zanoni。 When the last rose from the corpse； and
withdrew from that scene of confusion； Glyndon remarked that in
passing the crowd he touched Mascari on the shoulder； and said
something which the Englishman did not overhear。 Glyndon
followed Zanoni into the banquet…room； which； save where the
moonlight slept on the marble floor； was wrapped in the sad and
gloomy shadows of the advancing night。
〃How could you foretell this fearful event？ He fell not by your
arm！〃 said Glyndon； in a tremulous and hollow tone。
〃The general who calculates on the victory does not fight in
person；〃 answered Zanoni； 〃let the past sleep with the dead。
Meet me at midnight by the sea…shore； half a mile to the left of
your hotel。 You will know the spot by a rude pillarthe only
one nearto which a broken chain is attached。 There and then；
if thou wouldst learn our lore； thou shalt find the master。 Go；
I have business here yet。 Remember； Viola is still in the house
of the dead man！〃
Here Mascari approached； and Zanoni； turning to the Italian； and
waving his hand to Glyndon； drew the former aside。 Glyndon
slowly departed。
〃Mascari；〃 said Zanoni； 〃your patron is no more； your services
will be valueless to his heir；a sober man whom poverty has
preserved from vice。 For yourself； thank me that I do not give
you up to the executioner； recollect the wine of Cyprus。 Well；
never tremble； man； it could not act on me； though it might react
on others； in that it is a common type of crime。 I forgive you；
and if the wine should kill me； I promise you that my ghost shall
not haunt so worshipful a penitent。 Enough of this； conduct me
to the chamber of Viola Pisani。 You have no further need of her。
The death of the jailer opens the cell of the captive。 Be quick；
I would be gone。〃
Mascari muttered some inaudible words； bowed low； and led the way