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BOOK IV。
THE DWELLER OF THE THRESHOLD。
Bey hinter ihm was will！ Ich heb ihn auf。
〃Das Verschleierte Bildzu Sais〃
（Be behind what there may； … I raise the veil。）
CHAPTER 4。I。
Come vittima io vengo all' ara。
〃Metast。；〃 At。 ii。 Sc。 7。
（As a victim I go to the altar。）
It was about a month after the date of Zanoni's departure and
Glyndon's introduction to Mejnour； when two Englishmen were
walking； arm…in…arm； through the Toledo。
〃I tell you；〃 said one （who spoke warmly）； 〃that if you have a
particle of common…sense left in you； you will accompany me to
England。 This Mejnour is an imposter more dangerous； because
more in earnest； than Zanoni。 After all； what do his promises
amount to？ You allow that nothing can be more equivocal。 You
say that he has left Naples；that he has selected a retreat more
congenial than the crowded thoroughfares of men to the studies in
which he is to initiate you； and this retreat is among the haunts
of the fiercest bandits of Italy；haunts which justice itself
dares not penetrate。 Fitting hermitage for a sage！ I tremble
for you。 What if this strangerof whom nothing is knownbe
leagued with the robbers； and these lures for your credulity bait
but the traps for your property；perhaps your life？ You might
come off cheaply by a ransom of half your fortune。 You smile
indignantly！ Well； put common…sense out of the question； take
your own view of the matter。 You are to undergo an ordeal which
Mejnour himself does not profess to describe as a very tempting
one。 It may； or it may not； succeed： if it does not； you are
menaced with the darkest evils； and if it does； you cannot be
better off than the dull and joyless mystic whom you have taken
for a master。 Away with this folly； enjoy youth while it is left
to you； return with me to England； forget these dreams； enter
your proper career； form affections more respectable than those
which lured you awhile to an Italian adventuress。 Attend to your
fortune； make money； and become a happy and distinguished man。
This is the advice of sober friendship； yet the promises I hold
out to you are fairer than those of Mejnour。〃
〃Mervale；〃 said Glyndon； doggedly； 〃I cannot； if I would； yield
to your wishes。 A power that is above me urges me on； I cannot
resist its influence。 I will proceed to the last in the strange
career I have commenced。 Think of me no more。 Follow yourself
the advice you give to me； and be happy。〃
〃This is madness；〃 said Mervale； 〃your health is already failing；
you are so changed I should scarcely know you。 Come； I have
already had your name entered in my passport； in another hour I
shall be gone； and you； boy that you are； will be left； without a
friend； to the deceits of your own fancy and the machinations of
this relentless mountebank。〃
〃Enough；〃 said Glyndon； coldly； 〃you cease to be an effective
counsellor when you suffer your prejudices to be thus evident。 I
have already had ample proof；〃 added the Englishman； and his pale
cheek grew more pale； 〃of the power of this man；if man he be；
which I sometimes doubt；and； come life； come death； I will not
shrink from the paths that allure me。 Farewell； Mervale； if we
never meet again；if you hear； amidst our old and cheerful
haunts； that Clarence Glyndon sleeps the last sleep by the shores
of Naples； or amidst yon distant hills； say to the friends of our
youth； 'He died worthily； as thousands of martyr…students have
died before him； in the pursuit of knowledge。'〃
He wrung Mervale's hand as he spoke； darted from his side； and
disappeared amidst the crowd。
By the corner of the Toledo he was arrested by Nicot。
〃Ah； Glyndon！ I have not seen you this month。 Where have you
hid yourself？ Have you been absorbed in your studies？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃I am about to leave Naples for Paris。 Will you accompany me？
Talent of all order is eagerly sought for there； and will be sure
to rise。〃
〃I thank you； I have other schemes for the present。〃
〃So laconic！what ails you？ Do you grieve for the loss of the
Pisani？ Take example by me。 I have already consoled myself with
Bianca Sacchini；a handsome woman； enlightened； no prejudices。
A valuable creature I shall find her； no doubt。 But as for this
Zanoni！〃
〃What of him？〃
〃If ever I paint an allegorical subject； I will take his likeness
as Satan。 Ha； ha！ a true painter's revenge；eh？ And the way of
the world； too！ When we can do nothing else against a man whom
we hate； we can at least paint his effigies as the Devil's。
Seriously； though： I abhor that man。〃
〃Wherefore？'
〃Wherefore！ Has he not carried off the wife and the dowry I had
marked for myself！ Yet； after all；〃 added Nicot； musingly； 〃had
he served instead of injured me； I should have hated him all the
same。 His very form； and his very face； made me at once envy and
detest him。 I felt that there is something antipathetic in our
natures。 I feel； too； that we shall meet again； when Jean
Nicot's hate may be less impotent。 We； too； cher confrere；we；
too； may meet again！ Vive la Republique！ I to my new world！〃
〃And I to mine。 Farewell！〃
That day Mervale left Naples； the next morning Glyndon also
quitted the City of Delight alone； and on horseback。 He bent his
way into those picturesque but dangerous parts of the country
which at that time were infested by banditti； and which few
travellers dared to pass； even in broad daylight； without a
strong escort。 A road more lonely cannot well be conceived than
that on which the hoofs of his steed； striking upon the fragments
of rock that encumbered the neglected way； woke a dull and
melancholy echo。 Large tracts of waste land； varied by the rank
and profuse foliage of the South； lay before him； occasionally a
wild goat peeped down from some rocky crag； or the discordant cry
of a bird of prey； startled in its sombre haunt； was heard above
the hills。 These were the only signs of life； not a human being
was met；not a hut was visible。 Wrapped in his own ardent and
solemn thoughts； the young man continued his way； till the sun
had spent its noonday heat； and a breeze that announced the
approach of eve sprung up from the unseen ocean which lay far
distant to his right。 It was then that a turn in the road
brought before him one of those long； desolate； gloomy villages
which are found in the interior of the Neapolitan dominions： and
now he came upon a small chapel on one side the road； with a
gaudily painted image of the Virgin in the open shrine。 Around
this spot； which； in the heart of a Christian land； retained the
vestige of the old idolatry （for just such were the chapels that
in the pagan age were dedicated to the demon…saints of
mythology）； gathered six or seven miserable and squalid wretches；
whom the curse of the leper had cut off from mankind。 They set
up a shrill cry as they turned their ghastly visages