第32章

"I know him well," said the Neapolitan, who was, indeed, the Count Cetoxa."If you remember, it was as my companion that he joined you.He visited Naples about two years ago, and has recently returned; he is very rich,--indeed, enormously so.Amost agreeable person.I am sorry to hear him talk so strangely to-night; it serves to encourage the various foolish reports that are circulated concerning him.""And surely," said another Neapolitan, "the circumstance that occurred but the other day, so well known to yourself, Cetoxa, justifies the reports you pretend to deprecate.""Myself and my countryman," said Glyndon, "mix so little in Neapolitan society, that we lose much that appears well worthy of lively interest.May I enquire what are the reports, and what is the circumstance you refer to?""As to the reports, gentlemen," said Cetoxa, courteously, addressing himself to the two Englishmen, "it may suffice to observe, that they attribute to the Signor Zanoni certain qualities which everybody desires for himself, but damns any one else for possessing.The incident Signor Belgioso alludes to, illustrates these qualities, and is, I must own, somewhat startling.You probably play, gentlemen?" (Here Cetoxa paused;and as both Englishmen had occasionally staked a few scudi at the public gaming-tables, they bowed assent to the conjecture.)Cetoxa continued."Well, then, not many days since, and on the very day that Zanoni returned to Naples, it so happened that Ihad been playing pretty high, and had lost considerably.I rose from the table, resolved no longer to tempt fortune, when Isuddenly perceived Zanoni, whose acquaintance I had before made (and who, I may say, was under some slight obligation to me), standing by, a spectator.Ere I could express my gratification at this unexpected recognition, he laid his hand on my arm.'You have lost much,' said he; 'more than you can afford.For my part, I dislike play; yet I wish to have some interest in what is going on.Will you play this sum for me? the risk is mine,--the half profits yours.' I was startled, as you may suppose, at such an address; but Zanoni had an air and tone with him it was impossible to resist; besides, I was burning to recover my losses, and should not have risen had I had any money left about me.I told him I would accept his offer, provided we shared the risk as well as profits.'As you will,' said he, smiling; 'we need have no scruple, for you will be sure to win.' I sat down;Zanoni stood behind me; my luck rose,--I invariably won.In fact, I rose from the table a rich man.""There can be no foul play at the public tables, especially when foul play would make against the bank?" This question was put by Glyndon.

"Certainly not," replied the count."But our good fortune was, indeed, marvellous,--so extraordinary that a Sicilian (the Sicilians are all ill-bred, bad-tempered fellows) grew angry and insolent.'Sir,' said he, turning to my new friend, 'you have no business to stand so near to the table.I do not understand this; you have not acted fairly.' Zanoni replied, with great composure, that he had done nothing against the rules,--that he was very sorry that one man could not win without another man losing; and that he could not act unfairly, even if disposed to do so.The Sicilian took the stranger's mildness for apprehension, and blustered more loudly.In fact, he rose from the table, and confronted Zanoni in a manner that, to say the least of it, was provoking to any gentleman who has some quickness of temper, or some skill with the small-sword.""And," interrupted Belgioso, "the most singular part of the whole to me was, that this Zanoni, who stood opposite to where I sat, and whose face I distinctly saw, made no remark, showed no resentment.He fixed his eyes steadfastly on the Sicilian; never shall I forget that look! it is impossible to describe it,--it froze the blood in my veins.The Sicilian staggered back as if struck.I saw him tremble; he sank on the bench.And then--""Yes, then," said Cetoxa, "to my infinite surprise, our gentleman, thus disarmed by a look from Zanoni, turned his whole anger upon me, THE -- but perhaps you do not know, gentlemen, that I have some repute with my weapon?""The best swordsman in Italy," said Belgioso.