e rest shall be my escort."

Mascari shrugged his shoulders, and bowed submissively.

The streets of Naples were not then so safe as now, and carriages were
both less expensive and more necessary. The vehicle which was regularly
engaged by the young actress was not to be found. Gionetta, too aware of
the beauty of her mistress and the number of her admirers to contemplate
without alarm the idea of their return on foot, communicated her
distress to Glyndon, and he besought Viola, who recovered but slowly,
to accept his own carriage. Perhaps before that night she would not
have rejected so slight a service. Now, for some reason or other, she
refused. Glyndon, offended, was retiring sullenly, when Gionetta stopped
him. "Stay, signor," said she, coaxingly: "the dear signora is not
well,--do not be angry with her; I will make her accept your offer."

Glyndon stayed, and after a few moments spent in expostulation on
the part of Gionetta, and resistance on that of Viola, the offer was
accepted. Gionetta and her charge entered the carriage, and Glyndon was
left at the door of the theatre to return home on foot. The mysterious
warning of Zanoni then suddenly occurred to him; he had forgotten it
in the interest of his lover's quarrel with Viola. He thought it now
advisable to guard against danger foretold by lips so mysterious.
He looked round for some one he knew: the theatre was disgorging
its crowds; they hustled, and jostled, and pressed upon him; but he
recognised no familiar countenance. While pausing irresolute, he heard
Mervale's voice calling on him, and, to his great relief, discovered his
friend making his way through the throng.

"I have secured you," said he, "a place in the Count Cetoxa's carriage.
Come along, he is waiting for us."

"How kind in you! how did you find me out?"

"I met Zanoni in the passage,--'Your friend is at the door of the
theatre,' said he; 'do not let him go home on foot to-night; the streets
of Naples are not always safe.' I immediately remembered that some of
the Calabrian bravos had been busy within the city the last few weeks,
and suddenly meeting Cetoxa--but here he is."

Further explanation was forbidden, for they now joined the count. As
Glyndon entered the carriage and drew up the glass, he saw four men
standing apart by the pavement, who seemed to eye him with attention.

"Cospetto!" cried one; "that is the Englishman!" Glyndon imperfectly
heard the exclamation as the carriage