The stranger passed on, through that long and lovely road which reaches at last the palaces that face the public gardens, and conducts to the more populous quarters of the city.
A group of young, dissipated courtiers, loitering by the gateway of a house which was open for the favourite pastime of the day,--the resort of the wealthier and more high-born gamesters,--made way for him, as with a courteous inclination he passed them by.
“Per fede,” said one, “is not that the rich Zanoni, of whom the town talks?”
“Ay; they say his wealth is incalculable!”
“THEY say,--who are THEY?--what is the authority? He has not been many days at Naples, and I cannot yet find any one who knows aught of his birthplace, his parentage, or, what is more important, his estates!”
“That is true; but he arrived in a goodly vessel, which THEY SAY is his own. See,--no, you cannot see it here; but it rides yonder in the bay. The bankers he deals with speak with awe of the sums placed in their hands.”
“From some seaport in the East. My valet learned from some of the sailors on the Mole that he had resided many years in the interior of India.”
“Ah, I am told that in India men pick up gold like pebbles, and that there are valleys where the birds build their nests with emeralds to attract the moths. Here comes our prince of gamesters, Cetoxa; be sure that he already must have made acquaintance with so wealthy a cavalier; he has that attraction to gold which the magnet has to steel. Well, Cetoxa, what fresh news of the ducats of Signor Zanoni?”
“Oh,” said Cetoxa, carelessly, “my friend--”
“Yes; my friend Zanoni is going to Rome for a short time; when he returns, he has promised me to fix a day to sup with me, and I will then introduce him to you, and to the best society of Naples! Diavolo! but he is a most agreeable and witty gentleman!”
“Pray tell us how you came so suddenly to be his friend.”
“My dear Belgioso, nothing more natural. He desired a box at San Carlo; but I need not tell you that the expectation of a new opera (ah, how superb it is,--that poor devil, Pisani; who would have thought it?) and a new singer (what a face,--what a voice!--ah!) had engaged every corner of the house. I heard of Zanoni’s desire to honour the talent of Naples, and, with my usual courtesy to distinguished strangers, I sent to place my box at his disposal. He accepts it,--I wait on him between the acts; he is most charming; he invites me to supper. Cospetto, what a retinue! We sit late,--I tell him all the news of Naples; we grow bosom friends; he presses on me this diamond before we part,--is a trifle, he tells me: the jewellers value it at 5000 pistoles!--the merriest evening I have passed these ten years.”