zanoni-第52章

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he　most　excelled；　and　if　occasionally　a　certain　tone　of　latent

mockery　characterised　his　remarks　upon　the　topics　on　which　the

conversation　fell；　it　appeared　to　men　who　took　nothing　in　earnest

to　be　the　language　both　of　wit　and　wisdom。　　To　the　Frenchmen；　in

particular；　there　was　something　startling　in　his　intimate

knowledge　of　the　minutest　events　in　their　own　capital　and

country；　and　his　profound　penetration　（evinced　but　in　epigrams

and　sarcasms）　into　the　eminent　characters　who　were　then　playing　a

part　upon　the　great　stage　of　continental　intrigue。



It　was　while　this　conversation　grew　animated；　and　the　feast　was

at　its　height；　that　Glyndon　arrived　at　the　palace。　　The　porter；

perceiving　by　his　dress　that　he　was　not　one　of　the　invited

guests；　told　him　that　his　Excellency　was　engaged；　and　on　no

account　could　be　disturbed；　and　Glyndon　then；　for　the　first　time；

became　aware　how　strange　and　embarrassing　was　the　duty　he　had

taken　on　himself。　　To　force　an　entrance　into　the　banquet…hall　of

a　great　and　powerful　noble；　surrounded　by　the　rank　of　Naples；　and

to　arraign　him　for　what　to　his　boon…companions　would　appear　but

an　act　of　gallantry；　was　an　exploit　that　could　not　fail　to　be　at

once　ludicrous　and　impotent。　　He　mused　a　moment；　and；　slipping　a

piece　of　gold　into　the　porter's　hand；　said　that　he　was

commissioned　to　seek　the　Signor　Zanoni　upon　an　errand　of　life　and

death；　and　easily　won　his　way　across　the　court；　and　into　the

interior　building。　　He　passed　up　the　broad　staircase；　and　the

voices　and　merriment　of　the　revellers　smote　his　ear　at　a

distance。　　At　the　entrance　of　the　reception…rooms　he　found　a

page；　whom　he　despatched　with　a　message　to　Zanoni。　　The　page　did

the　errand；　and　Zanoni；　on　hearing　the　whispered　name　of　Glyndon；

turned　to　his　host。



〃Pardon　me；　my　lord；　an　English　friend　of　mine；　the　Signor

Glyndon　（not　unknown　by　name　to　your　Excellency）　waits　without；

the　business　must　indeed　be　urgent　on　which　he　has　sought　me　in

such　an　hour。　　You　will　forgive　my　momentary　absence。〃



〃Nay；　signor；〃　answered　the　prince；　courteously；　but　with　a

sinister　smile　on　his　countenance；　〃would　it　not　be　better　for

your　friend　to　join　us？　　An　Englishman　is　welcome　everywhere；　and

even　were　he　a　Dutchman；　your　friendship　would　invest　his

presence　with　attraction。　　Pray　his　attendance；　we　would　not

spare　you　even　for　a　moment。〃



Zanoni　bowed；　the　page　was　despatched　with　all　flattering

messages　to　Glyndon；a　seat　next　to　Zanoni　was　placed　for　him；

and　the　young　Englishman　entered。



〃You　are　most　welcome；　sir。　　I　trust　your　business　to　our

illustrious　guest　is　of　good　omen　and　pleasant　import。　　If　you

bring　evil　news；　defer　it；　I　pray　you。〃



Glyndon's　brow　was　sullen；　and　he　was　about　to　startle　the　guests

by　his　reply；　when　Zanoni；　touching　his　arm　significantly；

whispered　in　English；　〃I　know　why　you　have　sought　me。　　Be　silent；

and　witness　what　ensues。〃



〃You　know　then　that　Viola；　whom　you　boasted　you　had　the　power　to

save　from　danger〃



〃Is　in　this　house！yes。　　I　know　also　that　Murder　sits　at　the

right　hand　of　our　host。　　But　his　fate　is　now　separated　from　hers

forever；　and　the　mirror　which　glasses　it　to　my　eye　is　clear

through　the　streams　of　blood。　　Be　still；　and　learn　the　fate　that

awaits　the　wicked！



〃My　lord；〃　said　Zanoni；　speaking　aloud；　〃the　Signor　Glyndon　has

indeed　brought　me　tidings　not　wholly　unexpected。　　I　am　compelled

to　leave　Naples；an　additional　motive　to　make　the　most　of　the

present　hour。〃



〃And　what；　if　I　may　venture　to　ask；　may　be　the　cause　that　brings

such　affliction　on　the　fair　dames　of　Naples？〃



〃It　is　the　approaching　death　of　one　who　honoured　me　with　most

loyal　friendship；〃　replied　Zanoni；　gravely。　　〃Let　us　not　speak　of

it；　grief　cannot　put　back　the　dial。　　As　we　supply　by　new　flowers

those　that　fade　in　our　vases；　so　it　is　the　secret　of　worldly

wisdom　to　replace　by　fresh　friendships　those　that　fade　from　our

path。〃



〃True　philosophy！〃　exclaimed　the　prince。　　〃'Not　to　admire；'　was

the　Roman's　maxim；　'Never　to　mourn；'　is　mine。　　There　is　nothing

in　life　to　grieve　for；　save；　indeed；　Signor　Zanoni；　when　some

young　beauty；　on　whom　we　have　set　our　hearts；　slips　from　our

grasp。　　In　such　a　moment　we　have　need　of　all　our　wisdom；　not　to

succumb　to　despair；　and　shake　hands　with　death。　　What　say　you；

signor？　　You　smile！　　Such　never　could　be　your　lot。　　Pledge　me　in

a　sentiment；　'Long　life　to　the　fortunate　lover；a　quick　release

to　the　baffled　suitor'？〃



〃I　pledge　you；〃　said　Zanoni；　and；　as　the　fatal　wine　was　poured

into　his　glass；　he　repeated；　fixing　his　eyes　on　the　prince；　〃I

pledge　you　even　in　this　wine！〃



He　lifted　the　glass　to　his　lips。　　The　prince　seemed　ghastly　pale；

while　the　gaze　of　his　guest　bent　upon　him；　with　an　intent　and

stern　brightness；　beneath　which　the　conscience…stricken　host

cowered　and　quailed。　　Not　till　he　had　drained　his　draft；　and

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　stimulat