to consider what I have said?"

"Renounce her,--never!"

"Then you will marry her?"

"Impossible!"

"Be it so; she will then renounce you. I tell you that you have rivals."

"Yes; the Prince di --; but I do not fear him."

"You have another whom you will fear more."

"And who is he?"

"Myself."

Glyndon turned pale, and started from his seat.

"You, Signor Zanoni!--you,--and you dare to tell me so?"

"Dare! Alas! there are times when I wish that I could fear."

These arrogant words were not uttered arrogantly, but in a tone of the
most mournful dejection. Glyndon was enraged, confounded, and yet
awed. However, he had a brave English heart within his breast, and he
recovered himself quickly.

"Signor," said he, calmly, "I am not to be duped by these solemn phrases
and these mystical assumptions. You may have powers which I cannot
comprehend or emulate, or you may be but a keen imposter."

"Well, proceed!"

"I mean, then," continued Glyndon, resolutely, though somewhat
disconcerted,--"I mean you to understand, that, though I am not to be
persuaded or compelled by a stranger to marry Viola Pisani, I am not the
less determined never tamely to yield her to another."

Zanoni looked gravely at the young man, whose sparkling eyes and
heightened colour testified the spirit to support his words, and
replied, "So bold! well; it becomes you. But take my advice; wait yet
nine days, and tell me then if you will marry the fairest and the purest
creature that ever crossed your path."

"But if you love her, why--why--"

"Why am I anxious that she should wed another?--to save her from myself!
Listen to me. That girl, humble and uneducated though she be, has in her
the seeds of the most lofty qualities and virtues. She can be all to the
man she loves,--all that man can desire in wife. Her soul, developed by
affection, will elevate your own; it will influence your fortunes, exalt
your destiny; you will become a great and a prosperous man. If, on the
contrary, she fall to me, I know not what may be her lot; but I know
that there is an ordeal which few can pass, and which hitherto no woman
has survived."

As Zanoni spoke, his face became colourless, and there was something in
his voice that froze the warm blood of the listener.

"What is this mystery which surrounds you?" exclaimed Glyndon, unable to
repress his emotion. "Are you, in truth, different from other men? Have
you passed the boundary of lawful knowledge?