[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
.I rose from the table, resolved no longer totempt fortune, when I suddenly perceived Zanoni, whose acquaintance I had before made (andwho, I may say, was under some slight obligation to me), standing by, a spectator.Ere I couldexpress my gratification at this unexpected recognition, he laid his hand on my arm.'You have lostmuch,' said he; 'more than you can afford.For my part, I dislike play; yet I wish to have someinterest in what is going on.Will you play this sum for me? the risk is mine,--the half profits yours.' Iwas startled, as you may suppose, at such an address; but Zanoni had an air and tone with him itwas impossible to resist; besides, I was burning to recover my losses, and should not have risenhad I had any money left about me.I told him I would accept his offer, provided we shared the riskas well as profits.'As you will,' said he, smiling; 'we need have no scruple, for you will be sure towin.' I sat down; Zanoni stood behind me; my luck rose,--I invariably won.In fact, I rose from thetable a rich man.""There can be no foul play at the public tables, especially when foul play would make against thebank?" This question was put by Glyndon."Certainly not," replied the count."But our good fortune was, indeed, marvellous,--so extraordinarythat a Sicilian (the Sicilians are all ill-bred, bad-tempered fellows) grew angry and insolent.'Sir,' saidhe, turning to my new friend, 'you have no business to stand so near to the table.I do notunderstand this; you have not acted fairly.' Zanoni replied, with great composure, that he had donenothing against the rules,--that he was very sorry that one man could not win without another manlosing; and that he could not act unfairly, even if disposed to do so.The Sicilian took the stranger'smildness for apprehension, and blustered more loudly.In fact, he rose from the table, andconfronted Zanoni in a manner that, to say the least of it, was provoking to any gentleman who hassome 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, whostood opposite to where I sat, and whose face I distinctly saw, made no remark, showed noresentment.He fixed his eyes steadfastly on the Sicilian; never shall I forget that look! it isimpossible to describe it,--it froze the blood in my veins.The Sicilian staggered back as if struck.Isaw him tremble; he sank on the bench.And then--""Yes, then," said Cetoxa, "to my infinite surprise, our gentleman, thus disarmed by a look fromZanoni, turned his whole anger upon me, THE -- but perhaps you do not know, gentlemen, that Ihave some repute with my weapon?""The best swordsman in Italy," said Belgioso."Before I could guess why or wherefore," resumed Cetoxa, "I found myself in the garden behind thehouse, with Ughelli (that was the Sicilian's name) facing me, and five or six gentlemen, thewitnesses of the duel about to take place, around.Zanoni beckoned me aside.'This man will fall,'said he.'When he is on the ground, go to him, and ask whether he will be buried by the side of hisfather in the church of San Gennaro?' 'Do you then know his family?' I asked with great surprise.Zanoni made me no answer, and the next moment I was engaged with the Sicilian.To do himjustice, his imbrogliato was magnificent, and a swifter lounger never crossed a sword;nevertheless," added Cetoxa, with a pleasing modesty, "he was run through the body.I went up tohim; he could scarcely speak.'Have you any request to make,--any affairs to settle?' He shook hishead.'Where would you wish to be interred?' He pointed towards the Sicilian coast.'What!' said I, insurprise, 'NOT by the side of your father, in the church of San Gennaro?' As I spoke, his facealtered terribly; he uttered a piercing shriek,--the blood gushed from his mouth, and he fell dead.The most strange part of the story is to come.We buried him in the church of San Gennaro.Indoing so, we took up his father's coffin; the lid came off in moving it, and the skeleton was visible.Inthe hollow of the skull we found a very slender wire of sharp steel; this caused surprise and inquiry.The father, who was rich and a miser, had died suddenly, and been buried in haste, owing, it wassaid, to the heat of the weather.Suspicion once awakened, the examination became minute.Theold man's servant was questioned, and at last confessed that the son had murdered the sire.Thecontrivance was ingenious: the wire was so slender that it pierced to the brain, and drew but onedrop of blood, which the grey hairs concealed.The accomplice will be executed.""And Zanoni,--did he give evidence, did he account for--""No," interrupted the count: "he declared that he had by accident visited the church that morning;that he had observed the tombstone of the Count Ughelli; that his guide had told him the count'sson was in Naples,--a spendthrift and a gambler.While we were at play, he had heard the countmentioned by name at the table; and when the challenge was given and accepted, it had occurredto him to name the place of burial, by an instinct which he either could not or would not account for.""A very lame story," said Mervale
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]