第42章

I and my fellows Are ministers of Fate.

"The Tempest."

The next day Glyndon bent his steps towards Zanoni's palace.The young man's imagination, naturally inflammable, was singularly excited by the little he had seen and heard of this strange being,--a spell, he could neither master nor account for, attracted him towards the stranger.Zanoni's power seemed mysterious and great, his motives kindly and benevolent, yet his manners chilling and repellent.Why at one moment reject Glyndon's acquaintance, at another save him from danger? How had Zanoni thus acquired the knowledge of enemies unknown to Glyndon himself? His interest was deeply roused, his gratitude appealed to; he resolved to make another effort to conciliate the ungracious herbalist.

The signor was at home, and Glyndon was admitted into a lofty saloon, where in a few moments Zanoni joined him.

"I am come to thank you for your warning last night," said he, "and to entreat you to complete my obligation by informing me of the quarter to which I may look for enmity and peril.""You are a gallant," said Zanoni, with a smile, and in the English language, "and do you know so little of the South as not to be aware that gallants have always rivals?""Are you serious?" said Glyndon, colouring.

"Most serious.You love Viola Pisani; you have for rival one of the most powerful and relentless of the Neapolitan princes.Your danger is indeed great.""But pardon me!--how came it known to you?""I give no account of myself to mortal man," replied Zanoni, haughtily; "and to me it matters nothing whether you regard or scorn my warning.""Well, if I may not question you, be it so; but at least advise me what to do.""Would you follow my advice?"

"Why not?"

"Because you are constitutionally brave; you are fond of excitement and mystery; you like to be the hero of a romance.

Were I to advise you to leave Naples, would you do so while Naples contains a foe to confront or a mistress to pursue?""You are right," said the young Englishman, with energy."No!

and you cannot reproach me for such a resolution.""But there is another course left to you: do you love Viola Pisani truly and fervently?--if so, marry her, and take a bride to your native land.""Nay," answered Glyndon, embarrassed; "Viola is not of my rank.

Her profession, too, is--in short, I am enslaved by her beauty, but I cannot wed her."Zanoni frowned.