ince 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 one
who wore such horror on his countenance. At last all was over! Zanoni
rose from the corpse, and, taking, with great composure, the sword from
my hand, said calmly, 'Ye are witnesses, gentlemen, that the prince
brought his fate upon himself. The last of that illustrious house has
perished in a brawl.'

"I saw no more of Zanoni. I hastened to our envoy to narrate the event,
and abide the issue. I am grateful to the Neapolitan government, and to
the illustrious heir of the unfortunate nobleman, for the lenient and
generous, yet just, interpretation put upon a misfortune the memory of
which will afflict me to the last hour of my life.

(Signed) "Louis Victor, Duc de R."

In the above memorial, the reader will find the most exact and minute
account yet given of an event which created the most lively sensation at
Naples in that day.

Glyndon had taken no part in the affray, neither had he participated
largely in the excesses of the revel. For his exemption from both he was
perhaps indebted to the whispered exhortations of Zanoni. When the last
rose from the corpse, and withdrew from that scene of confusion, Glyndon
remarked that in passing the crowd he touched Mascari on the shoulder,
and said something which the Englishman did not overhear. Glyndon
followed Zanoni into the banquet-room, which, save where the moonlight
slept on the marble floor, was wrapped in the sad and gloomy shadows of
the advancing night.

"How could you foretell this fearful event? He fell not by your arm!"
said Glyndon, in a tremulous and hollow tone.

"The general who calculates on the victory does not fight in person,"
answered Zanoni; "let the past sleep with the dead. Meet me at midnight
by the sea-shore, half a mile to the left of your hotel.