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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
to the chamber in which Viola was confined。
CHAPTER 3。XVIII。
Merc： Tell me； therefore； what thou seekest after； and what thou
wilt have。 What dost thou desire to make？
Alch： The Philosopher's Stone。
Sandivogius。
It wanted several minutes of midnight； and Glyndon repaired to
the appointed spot。 The mysterious empire which Zanoni had
acquired over him； was still more solemnly confirmed by the
events of the last few hours； the sudden fate of the prince； so
deliberately foreshadowed； and yet so seemingly accidental；
brought out by causes the most commonplace； and yet associated
with words the most prophetic； impressed him with the deepest
sentiments of admiration and awe。 It was as if this dark and
wondrous being could convert the most ordinary events and the
meanest instruments into the agencies of his inscrutable will；
yet； if so； why have permitted the capture of Viola？ Why not
have prevented the crime rather than punish the criminal？ And
did Zanoni really feel love for Viola？ Love； and yet offer to
resign her to himself；to a rival whom his arts could not have
failed to baffle。 He no longer reverted to the belief that
Zanoni or Viola had sought to dupe him into marriage。 His fear
and reverence for the former now forbade the notion of so poor an
imposture。 Did he any longer love Viola himself？ No； when that
morning he had heard of her danger； he had； it is true； returned
to the sympathies and the fears of affection； but with the death
of the prince her image faded from his heart； and he felt no
jealous pang at the thought that she had been saved by Zanoni；
that at that moment she was perhaps beneath his roof。 Whoever
has； in the course of his life； indulged the absorbing passion of
the gamester； will remember how all other pursuits and objects
vanished from his mind； how solely he was wrapped in the one wild
delusion； with what a sceptre of magic power the despot…demon
ruled every feeling and every thought。 Far more intense than the
passion of the gamester was the frantic yet sublime desire that
mastered the breast of Glyndon。 He would be the rival of Zanoni；
not in human and perishable affections； but in preternatural and
eternal lore。 He would have laid down life with contentnay；
raptureas the price of learning those solemn secrets which
separated the stranger from mankind。 Enamoured of the goddess of
goddesses； he stretched forth his armsthe wild Ixionand
embraced a cloud！
The night was most lovely and serene； and the waves scarcely
rippled at his feet as the Englishman glided on by the cool and
starry beach。 At length he arrived at the spot； and there；
leaning against the broken pillar； he beheld a man wrapped in a
long mantle； and in an attitude of profound repose。 He
approached； and uttered the name of Zanoni。 The figure turned；
and he saw the face of a stranger： a face not stamped by the
glorious beauty of Zanoni； but equally majestic in its aspect；
and perhaps still more impressive from the mature age and the
passionless depth of thought that characterised the expanded
forehead； and deep…set but piercing eyes。
〃You seek Zanoni；〃 said the stranger； 〃he will be here anon； but；
perhaps； he whom you see before you is more connected with your
destiny； and more disposed to realise your dreams。〃
〃Hath the earth； then； another Zanoni？〃
〃If not；〃 replied the stranger； 〃why do you cherish the hope and
the wild faith to be yourself a Zanoni？ Think you that none
others have burned with the same godlike dream？ Who； indeed in
his first youth；youth when the soul is nearer to the heaven
from which it sprang； and its divine and primal longings are not
all effaced by the sordid passions and petty cares that are begot
in time；who is there in youth that has not nourished the belief
that the universe has secrets not known to the common herd； and
panted； as the hart for the water…springs； for the fountains that
lie hid and far away amidst the broad wilderness of trackless
science？ The music of the fountain is heard in the soul WITHIN；
till the steps； deceived and erring； rove away from its waters；
and the wanderer dies in the mighty desert。 Think you that none
who have cherished the hope have found the truth； or that the
yearning after the Ineffable Knowledge was given to us utterly in
vain？ No！ Every desire in human hearts is but a glimpse of
things that exist； alike distant and divine。 No！ in the world
there have been from age to age some brighter and happier spirits
who have attained to the air in which the beings above mankind
move and breathe。 Zanoni； great though he be； stands not alone。
He has had his predecessors； and long lines of successors may be
yet to come。〃
〃And will you tell me；〃 said Glyndon； 〃that in yourself I behold
one of that mighty few over whom Zanoni has no superiority in
power and wisdom？〃
〃In me；〃 answered the strange