zanoni-第53章

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With　flushed　cheeks　and　unsteady　steps　they　came　into　the　open

air；　which　tended　yet　more　to　stimulate　that　glowing　fever　of　the

grape。　　As　if　to　make　up　for　the　silence　with　which　the　guests

had　hitherto　listened　to　Zanoni；　every　tongue　was　now　loosened；

every　man　talked；　no　man　listened。　　There　was　something　wild　and

fearful　in　the　contrast　between　the　calm　beauty　of　the　night　and

scene；　and　the　hubbub　and　clamour　of　these　disorderly　roysters。

One　of　the　Frenchmen；　in　especial；　the　young　Duc　de　R；　a

nobleman　of　the　highest　rank；　and　of　all　the　quick；　vivacious；

and　irascible　temperament　of　his　countrymen；　was　particularly

noisy　and　excited。　　And　as　circumstances；　the　remembrance　of

which　is　still　preserved　among　certain　circles　of　Naples；

rendered　it　afterwards　necessary　that　the　duc　should　himself　give

evidence　of　what　occurred；　I　will　here　translate　the　short

account　he　drew　up；　and　which　was　kindly　submitted　to　me　some　few

years　ago　by　my　accomplished　and　lively　friend；　Il　Cavaliere　di

B。



〃I　never　remember；〃　writes　the　duc；　〃to　have　felt　my　spirits　so

excited　as　on　that　evening；　we　were　like　so　many　boys　released

from　school；　jostling　each　other　as　we　reeled　or　ran　down　the

flight　of　seven　or　eight　stairs　that　led　from　the　colonnade　into

the　garden；some　laughing；　some　whooping；　some　scolding；　some

babbling。　　The　wine　had　brought　out；　as　it　were；　each　man's

inmost　character。　　Some　were　loud　and　quarrelsome；　others

sentimental　and　whining；　some；　whom　we　had　hitherto　thought　dull；

most　mirthful；　some；　whom　we　had　ever　regarded　as　discreet　and

taciturn；　most　garrulous　and　uproarious。　　I　remember　that　in　the

midst　of　our　clamorous　gayety；　my　eye　fell　upon　the　cavalier

Signor　Zanoni；　whose　conversation　had　so　enchanted　us　all；　and　I

felt　a　certain　chill　come　over　me　to　perceive　that　he　wore　the

same　calm　and　unsympathising　smile　upon　his　countenance　which　had

characterised　it　in　his　singular　and　curious　stories　of　the　court

of　Louis　XIV。　　I　felt；　indeed；　half…inclined　to　seek　a　quarrel

with　one　whose　composure　was　almost　an　insult　to　our　disorder。

Nor　was　such　an　effect　of　this　irritating　and　mocking

tranquillity　confined　to　myself　alone。　　Several　of　the　party　have

told　me　since；　that　on　looking　at　Zanoni　they　felt　their　blood

yet　more　heated；　and　gayety　change　to　resentment。　　There　seemed

in　his　icy　smile　a　very　charm　to　wound　vanity　and　provoke　rage。

It　was　at　this　moment　that　the　prince　came　up　to　me；　and；　passing

his　arm　into　mine；　led　me　a　little　apart　from　the　rest。　　He　had

certainly　indulged　in　the　same　excess　as　ourselves；　but　it　did

not　produce　the　same　effect　of　noisy　excitement。　　There　was；　on

the　contrary；　a　certain　cold　arrogance　and　supercilious　scorn　in

his　bearing　and　language；　which；　even　while　affecting　so　much

caressing　courtesy　towards　me；　roused　my　self…love　against　him。

He　seemed　as　if　Zanoni　had　infected　him；　and　in　imitating　the

manner　of　his　guest；　he　surpassed　the　original。　　He　rallied　me　on

some　court　gossip；　which　had　honoured　my　name　by　associating　it

with　a　certain　beautiful　and　distinguished　Sicilian　lady；　and

affected　to　treat　with　contempt　that　which；　had　it　been　true；　I

should　have　regarded　as　a　boast。　　He　spoke；　indeed；　as　if　he

himself　had　gathered　all　the　flowers　of　Naples；　and　left　us

foreigners　only　the　gleanings　he　had　scorned。　　At　this　my　natural

and　national　gallantry　was　piqued；　and　I　retorted　by　some

sarcasms　that　I　should　certainly　have　spared　had　my　blood　been

cooler。　　He　laughed　heartily；　and　left　me　in　a　strange　fit　of

resentment　and　anger。　　Perhaps　（I　must　own　the　truth）　the　wine

had　produced　in　me　a　wild　disposition　to　take　offence　and　provoke

quarrel。　　As　the　prince　left　me；　I　turned；　and　saw　Zanoni　at　my

side。



〃'The　prince　is　a　braggart；'　said　he；　with　the　same　smile　that

displeased　me　before。　　'He　would　monopolize　all　fortune　and　all

love。　　Let　us　take　our　revenge。'



〃'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