第12章

ferwithhislandagent。Hepromisedhimselfnevertobesoimprudentinthefuture。ThefirstweeksofSep-

temberwouldfindhimontheshoresofhisbelovedgulf。

Sometimesintravellingonecomesuponsuchlonelymen，whoseonlybusinessistowaitfortheunavoidable。

Deathsandmarriageshavemadeasolituderoundthem，andonereallycannotblametheirendeavourstomakethewaitingaseasyaspossible。Asheremarkedtome，"Atmytimeoflifefreedomfromphysicalpainisaveryimportantmatter。"

Itmustnotbeimaginedthathewasawearisomehypochondriac。Hewasreallymuchtoowell-bredtobeanuisance。Hehadaneyeforthesmallweaknessesofhumanity。Butitwasagood-naturedeye。Hemadearestful，easy，pleasantcompanionforthehoursbetweendinnerandbedtime。Wespentthreeeveningstogether，andthenIhadtoleaveNaplesinahurrytolookafterafriendwhohadfallenseriouslyillinTaor-

mina。Havingnothingtodo，IlCondecametoseemeoffatthestation。Iwassomewhatupset，andhisidle-

nesswasalwaysreadytotakeakindlyform。Hewasbynomeansanindolentman。

Hewentalongthetrainpeeringintothecarriagesforagoodseatforme，andthenremainedtalkingcheerilyfrombelow。Hedeclaredhewouldmissmethateveningverymuchandannouncedhisintentionofgoingafterdinnertolistentothebandinthepublicgarden，theVillaNazionale。Hewouldamusehimselfbyhearingexcellentmusicandlookingatthebestsociety。Therewouldbealotofpeople，asusual。

Iseemtoseehimyet——hisraisedfacewithafriendlysmileunderthethickmoustaches，andhiskind，fatiguedeyes。Asthetrainbegantomove，headdressedmeintwolanguages:firstinFrench，saying，"Bonvoyage"；

then，inhisverygood，somewhatemphaticEnglish，encouragingly，becausehecouldseemyconcern:"Allwill——be——well——yet!"

Myfriend"sillnesshavingtakenadecidedlyfavour-

ableturn，IreturnedtoNaplesonthetenthday。I

cannotsayIhadgivenmuchthoughttoIlCondeduringmyabsence，butenteringthedining-roomIlookedforhiminhishabitualplace。IhadanideahemighthavegonebacktoSorrentotohispianoandhisbooksandhisfishing。Hewasgreatfriendswithalltheboatmen，andfishedagooddealwithlinesfromaboat。ButI

madeouthiswhiteheadinthecrowdofheads，andevenfromadistancenoticedsomethingunusualinhisatti-

tude。Insteadofsittingerect，gazingallroundwithalerturbanity，hedroopedoverhisplate。Istoodoppositehimforsometimebeforehelookedup，alittlewildly，ifsuchastrongwordcanbeusedinconnectionwithhiscorrectappearance。

"Ah，mydearsir!Isityou?"hegreetedme。"I

hopealliswell。"

Hewasveryniceaboutmyfriend。Indeed，hewasalwaysnice，withthenicenessofpeoplewhoseheartsaregenuinelyhumane。Butthistimeitcosthimaneffort。

Hisattemptsatgeneralconversationbrokedownintodullness。Itoccurredtomehemighthavebeenindis-

posed。ButbeforeIcouldframetheinquiryhemuttered:

"Youfindmehereverysad。"

"Iamsorryforthat，"Isaid。"Youhaven"thadbadnews，Ihope?"

Itwasverykindofmetotakeaninterest。No。Itwasnotthat。Nobadnews，thankGod。Andhebecameverystillasifholdinghisbreath。Then，lean-

ingforwardalittle，andinanoddtoneofawedembar-

rassment，hetookmeintohisconfidence。

"ThetruthisthatIhavehadavery——avery——howshallIsay?——abominableadventurehappentome。"

Theenergyoftheepithetwassufficientlystartlinginthatmanofmoderatefeelingsandtoned-downvocabu-

lary。ThewordunpleasantIshouldhavethoughtwouldhavefittedamplytheworstexperiencelikelytobefallamanofhisstamp。Andanadventure，too。In-

credible!Butitisinhumannaturetobelievetheworst；

andIconfessIeyedhimstealthily，wonderingwhathehadbeenupto。Inamoment，however，myunworthysuspicionsvanished。Therewasafundamentalrefine-

mentofnatureaboutthemanwhichmademedismissallideaofsomemoreorlessdisreputablescrape。

"Itisveryserious。Veryserious。"Hewenton，nervously。"Iwilltellyouafterdinner，ifyouwillallowme。"

Iexpressedmyperfectacquiescencebyalittlebow，nothingmore。IwishedhimtounderstandthatIwasnotlikelytoholdhimtothatoffer，ifhethoughtbetterofitlateron。Wetalkedofindifferentthings，butwithasenseofdifficultyquiteunlikeourformereasy，gos-

sipyintercourse。Thehandraisingapieceofbreadtohislips，Inoticed，trembledslightly。Thissymptom，inregardtomyreadingoftheman，wasnolessthanstartling。

Inthesmoking-roomhedidnothangbackatall。

Directlywehadtakenourusualseatsheleanedside-

waysoverthearmofhischairandlookedstraightintomyeyesearnestly。

"Youremember，"hebegan，"thatdayyouwentaway?ItoldyouthenIwouldgototheVillaNazion-

aletohearsomemusicintheevening。"

Iremembered。Hishandsomeoldface，sofreshforhisage，unmarkedbyanytryingexperience，appearedhaggardforaninstant。Itwaslikethepassingofashadow。Returninghissteadfastgaze，Itookasipofmyblackcoffee。Hewassystematicallyminuteinhisnarrative，simplyinorder，Ithink，nottolethisex-

citementgetthebetterofhim。

Afterleavingtherailwaystation，hehadanice，andreadthepaperinacafe。Thenhewentbacktothehotel，dressedfordinner，anddinedwithagoodappetite。

Afterdinnerhelingeredinthehall(therewerechairsandtablesthere)smokinghiscigar；talkedtothelittlegirlofthePrimoTenoreoftheSanCarlothe-

atre，andexchangedafewwordswiththat"ami-

ablelady，"thewifeofthePrimoTenore。Therewasnoperformancethatevening，andthesepeopleweregoingtotheVillaalso。Theywentoutofthehotel。

Verywell。

Atthemomentoffollowingtheirexample——itwashalf-pastninealready——herememberedhehadaratherlargesumofmoneyinhispocket-book。Heentered，therefore，theofficeanddepositedthegreaterpartofitwiththebook-keeperofthehotel。Thisdone，hetookacarozellaanddrovetotheseashore。HegotoutofthecabandenteredtheVillaonfootfromtheLargodiVittoriaend。

Hestaredatmeveryhard。AndIunderstoodthenhowreallyimpressionablehewas。Everysmallfactandeventofthateveningstoodoutinhismemoryasifendowedwithmysticsignificance。Ifhedidnotmentiontomethecolouroftheponywhichdrewthecarozella，andtheaspectofthemanwhodrove，itwasamereoversightarisingfromhisagitation，whichherepressedmanfully。

HehadthenenteredtheVillaNazionalefromtheLargodiVittoriaend。TheVillaNazionaleisapublicpleasure-groundlaidoutingrassplots，bushes，andflower-bedsbetweenthehousesoftheRivieradiChiajaandthewatersofthebay。Alleysoftrees，moreorlessparallel，stretchitswholelength——whichisconsiderable。

OntheRivieradiChiajasidetheelectrictramcarsrunclosetotherailings。Betweenthegardenandtheseaisthefashionabledrive，abroadroadborderedbyalowwall，beyondwhichtheMediterraneansplasheswithgentlemurmurswhentheweatherisfine。

AslifegoesonlateatnightinNaples，thebroaddrivewasallastirwithabrilliantswarmofcarriagelampsmovinginpairs，somecreepingslowly，othersrunningrapidlyunderthethin，motionlesslineofelectriclampsdefiningtheshore。Andabrilliantswarmofstarshungabovethelandhummingwithvoices，piledupwithhouses，glitteringwithlights——andoverthesilentflatshadowsofthesea。

Thegardensthemselvesarenotverywelllit。Ourfriendwentforwardinthewarmgloom，hiseyesfixeduponadistantluminousregionextendingnearlyacrossthewholewidthoftheVilla，asiftheairhadglowedtherewithitsowncold，bluish，anddazzlinglight。Thismagicspot，behindtheblacktrunksoftreesandmassesofinkyfoliage，breathedoutsweetsoundsmingledwithburstsofbrassyroar，suddenclashesofmetal，andgrave，vibratingthuds。

Ashewalkedon，allthesenoisescombinedtogetherintoapieceofelaboratemusicwhoseharmoniousphrasescamepersuasivelythroughagreatdisorderlymurmurofvoicesandshufflingoffeetonthegravelofthatopenspace。Anenormouscrowdimmersedintheelectriclight，asifinabathofsomeradiantandtenuousfluidshedupontheirheadsbyluminousglobes，driftedinitshundredsroundtheband。Hundredsmoresatonchairsinmoreorlessconcentriccircles，receivingunflinchinglythegreatwavesofsonoritythatebbedoutintothedark-

ness。TheCountpenetratedthethrong，driftedwithitintranquilenjoyment，listeningandlookingatthefaces。Allpeopleofgoodsociety:motherswiththeirdaughters，parentsandchildren，youngmenandyoungwomenalltalking，smiling，noddingtoeachother。Verymanyprettyfaces，andverymanyprettytoilettes。

Therewas，ofcourse，aquantityofdiversetypes:showyoldfellowswithwhitemoustaches，fatmen，thinmen，officersinuniform；butwhatpredominated，hetoldme，wastheSouthItaliantypeofyoungman，withacolourless，clearcomplexion，redlips，jet-blacklittlemoustacheandliquidblackeyessowonderfullyeffectiveinleeringorscowling。

Withdrawingfromthethrong，theCountsharedalittletableinfrontofthecaf?withayoungmanofjustsuchatype。Ourfriendhadsomelemonade。Theyoungmanwassittingmoodilybeforeanemptyglass。

Helookeduponce，andthenlookeddownagain。Healsotiltedhishatforward。Likethis——

TheCountmadethegestureofamanpullinghishatdownoverhisbrow，andwenton:

"Ithinktomyself:heissad；somethingiswrongwithhim；youngmenhavetheirtroubles。Itakenonoticeofhim，ofcourse。Ipayformylemonade，andgoaway。"

Strollingaboutintheneighbourhoodoftheband，theCountthinkshesawtwicethatyoungmanwander-

ingaloneinthecrowd。Oncetheireyesmet。Itmusthavebeenthesameyoungman，butthereweresomanythereofthattypethathecouldnotbecertain。More-

over，hewasnotverymuchconcernedexceptinsofarthathehadbeenstruckbythemarked，peevishdiscon-

tentofthatface。

Presently，tiredofthefeelingofconfinementoneex-

periencesinacrowd，theCountedgedawayfromtheband。Analley，verysombrebycontrast，presenteditselfinvitinglywithitspromiseofsolitudeandcoolness。

Heenteredit，walkingslowlyontillthesoundoftheorchestrabecamedistinctlydeadened。Thenhewalkedbackandturnedaboutoncemore。Hedidthisseveraltimesbeforehenoticedthattherewassomebodyoc-

cupyingoneofthebenches。

Thespotbeingmidwaybetweentwolamp-poststhelightwasfaint。

Themanlolledbackinthecorneroftheseat，hislegsstretchedout，hisarmsfoldedandhisheaddroopingonhisbreast。Heneverstirred，asthoughhehadfallenasleepthere，butwhentheCountpassedbynexttimehehadchangedhisattitude。Hesatleaningforward。Hiselbowswereproppedonhisknees，andhishandswererollingacigarette。Heneverlookedupfromthatoccupation。

TheCountcontinuedhisstrollawayfromtheband。

Hereturnedslowly，hesaid。Icanimaginehimenjoyingtothefull，butwithhisusualtranquillity，thebalminessofthissouthernnightandthesoundsofmusicsofteneddelightfullybythedistance。

Presently，heapproachedforthethirdtimethemanonthegardenseat，stillleaningforwardwithhiselbowsonhisknees。Itwasadejectedpose。Inthesemi-

obscurityofthealleyhishighshirtcollarandhiscuffsmadesmallpatchesofvividwhiteness。TheCountsaidthathehadnoticedhimgettingupbrusquelyasiftowalkaway，butalmostbeforehewasawareofitthemanstoodbeforehimaskinginalow，gentletonewhetherthesignorewouldhavethekindnesstoobligehimwithalight。

TheCountansweredthisrequestbyapolite"Cer-

tainly，"anddroppedhishandswiththeintentionofexploringbothpocketsofhistrousersforthematches。

"Idroppedmyhands，"hesaid，"butIneverputtheminmypockets。Ifeltapressurethere——"

Heputthetipofhisfingeronaspotcloseunderhisbreastbone，theveryspotofthehumanbodywhereaJapanesegentlemanbeginstheoperationsoftheHara-

kiri，whichisaformofsuicidefollowingupondishonour，uponanintolerableoutragetothedelicacyofone"sfeelings。

"Iglancedown，"theCountcontinuedinanawe-

struckvoice，"andwhatdoIsee?Aknife!Alongknife——"

"Youdon"tmeantosay，"Iexclaimed，amazed，"thatyouhavebeenhelduplikethisintheVillaathalf-pastteno"clock，withinastone"sthrowofathou-

sandpeople!"

Henoddedseveraltimes，staringatmewithallhismight。

"Theclarionet，"hedeclared，solemnly，"wasfinishinghissolo，andIassureyouIcouldheareverynote。Thenthebandcrashedfortissimo，andthatcreaturerolleditseyesandgnasheditsteethhissingatmewiththegreatestferocity，"Besilent!Nonoiseor——""

Icouldnotgetovermyastonishment。

"Whatsortofknifewasit?"Iasked，stupidly。

"Alongblade。Astiletto——perhapsakitchenknife。

Alongnarrowblade。Itgleamed。Andhiseyesgleamed。Hiswhiteteeth，too。Icouldseethem。

Hewasveryferocious。Ithoughttomyself:"IfIhithimhewillkillme。"HowcouldIfightwithhim?

HehadtheknifeandIhadnothing。Iamnearlyseventy，youknow，andthatwasayoungman。I

seemedeventorecognizehim。Themoodyyoungmanofthecafe。TheyoungmanImetinthecrowd。ButIcouldnottell。Therearesomanylikehiminthiscountry。"

Thedistressofthatmomentwasreflectedinhisface。

Ishouldthinkthatphysicallyhemusthavebeenparalyzedbysurprise。Histhoughts，however，re-

mainedextremelyactive。Theyrangedovereveryalarm-

ingpossibility。Theideaofsettingupavigorousshout-

ingforhelpoccurredtohim，too。Buthedidnothingofthekind，andthereasonwhyherefrainedgavemeagoodopinionofhismentalself-possession。Hesawinaflashthatnothingpreventedtheotherfromshouting，too。

"ThatyoungmanmightinaninstanthavethrownawayhisknifeandpretendedIwastheaggressor。Whynot?HemighthavesaidIattackedhim。Whynot?

Itwasoneincrediblestoryagainstanother!Hemighthavesaidanything——bringsomedishonouringchargeagainstme——whatdoIknow?Byhisdresshewasnocommonrobber。Heseemedtobelongtothebetterclasses。WhatcouldIsay?HewasanItalian——Iamaforeigner。Ofcourse，Ihavemypassport，andthereisourconsul——buttobearrested，draggedatnighttothepoliceofficelikeacriminal!"

Heshuddered。Itwasinhischaractertoshrinkfromscandal，muchmorethanfrommeredeath。Andcertainlyformanypeoplethiswouldhavealwaysre-

mained——consideringcertainpeculiaritiesofNeapolitanmanners——adeucedlyqueerstory。TheCountwasnofool。Hisbeliefintherespectableplacidityoflifehavingreceivedthisrudeshock，hethoughtthatnowanythingmighthappen。Butalsoanotioncameintohisheadthatthisyoungmanwasperhapsmerelyaninfuriatedlunatic。

Thiswasformethefirsthintofhisattitudetowardsthisadventure。Inhisexaggerateddelicacyofsenti-

menthefeltthatnobody"sself-esteemneedbeaffectedbywhatamadmanmaychoosetodotoone。Itbe-

cameapparent，however，thattheCountwastobedeniedthatconsolation。Heenlargedupontheabom-

inablysavagewayinwhichthatyoungmanrolledhisglisteningeyesandgnashedhiswhiteteeth。Thebandwasgoingnowthroughaslowmovementofsolemnbrayingbyallthetrombones，withdeliberatelyre-

peatedbangsofthebigdrum。

"Butwhatdidyoudo?"Iasked，greatlyexcited。

"Nothing，"answeredtheCount。"Iletmyhandshangdownverystill。ItoldhimquietlyIdidnotintendmakinganoise。Hesnarledlikeadog，thensaidinanordinaryvoice:

""Vostroportofolio。""

"SoInaturally，"continuedtheCount——andfromthispointactedthewholethinginpantomime。Hold-

ingmewithhiseyes，hewentthroughallthemotionsofreachingintohisinsidebreastpocket，takingoutapocket-book，andhandingitover。Butthatyoungman，stillbearingsteadilyontheknife，refusedtotouchit。

HedirectedtheCounttotakethemoneyouthim-

self，receiveditintohislefthand，motionedthepocket-

booktobereturnedtothepocket，allthisbeingdonetothesweetthrillingofflutesandclarionetssustainedbytheemotionaldroneofthehautboys。Andthe"youngman，"astheCountcalledhim，said:"Thisseemsverylittle。"

"Itwas，indeed，only340or360lire，"theCountpursued。"Ihadleftmymoneyinthehotel，asyouknow。ItoldhimthiswasallIhadonme。Heshookhisheadimpatientlyandsaid:

""Vostroorologio。""

TheCountgavemethedumbshowofpullingouthiswatch，detachingit。But，asithappened，thevalu-

ablegoldhalf-chronometerhepossessedhadbeenleftatawatch-maker"sforcleaning。Heworethatevening(onaleatherguard)theWaterburyfifty-francthingheusedtotakewithhimonhisfishingexpeditions。Per-

ceivingthenatureofthisbooty，thewell-dressedrobbermadeacontemptuousclickingsoundwithhistonguelikethis，"Tse-Ah!"andwaveditawayhastily。Then，astheCountwasreturningthedisdainedobjecttohispocket，hedemandedwithathreateninglyincreasedpressureoftheknifeontheepigastrium，bywayofre-

minder:

""Vostrianelli。""

"Oneoftherings，"wentontheCount，"wasgivenmemanyyearsagobymywife；theotheristhesignetringofmyfather。Isaid，"No。Thatyoushallnothave!""

HeretheCountreproducedthegesturecorrespondingtothatdeclarationbyclappingonehandupontheother，andpressingboththusagainsthischest。Itwastouchinginitsresignation。"Thatyoushallnothave，"herepeated，firmly，andclosedhiseyes，fullyexpecting——Idon"tknowwhetherIamrightinrecord-

ingthatsuchanunpleasantwordhadpassedhislips——

fullyexpectingtofeelhimselfbeing——Ireallyhesitatetosay——beingdisembowelledbythepushofthelong，sharpbladerestingmurderouslyagainstthepitofhisstomach——theveryseat，inallhumanbeings，ofanguishingsensations。

Greatwavesofharmonywentonflowingfromtheband。

SuddenlytheCountfeltthenightmarishpressureremovedfromthesensitivespot。Heopenedhiseyes。

Hewasalone。Hehadheardnothing。Itisprobablethat"theyoungman"haddeparted，withlightsteps，sometimebefore，butthesenseofthehorridpressurehadlingeredevenaftertheknifehadgone。Afeelingofweaknesscameoverhim。Hehadjusttimetostaggertothegardenseat。Hefeltasthoughhehadheldhisbreathforalongtime。Hesatallinaheap，pantingwiththeshockofthereaction。

Thebandwasexecuting，withimmensebravura，thecomplicatedfinale。Itendedwithatremendouscrash。

Hehearditunrealandremote，asifhisearshadbeenstopped，andthenthehardclappingofathousand，moreorless，pairsofhands，likeasuddenhail-showerpassingaway。Theprofoundsilencewhichsucceededrecalledhimtohimself。

Atramcarresemblingalongglassboxwhereinpeoplesatwiththeirheadsstronglylighted，ranalongswiftlywithinsixtyyardsofthespotwherehehadbeenrobbed。

Thenanotherrustledby，andyetanothergoingtheotherway。Theaudienceaboutthebandhadbrokenup，andwereenteringthealleyinsmallconversinggroups。TheCountsatupstraightandtriedtothinkcalmlyofwhathadhappenedtohim。Thevilenessofittookhisbreathawayagain。AsfarasIcanmakeitouthewasdisgustedwithhimself。Idonotmeantosaywithhisbehaviour。Indeed，ifhispantomimicrenderingofitformyinformationwastobetrusted，itwassimplyperfect。No，itwasnotthat。Hewasnotashamed。Hewasshockedatbeingtheselectedvictim，notofrobberysomuchasofcontempt。Histranquillityhadbeenwantonlydesecrated。Hislifelong，kindlynicetyofoutlookhadbeendefaced。

Nevertheless，atthatstage，beforetheironhadtimetosinkdeep，hewasabletoarguehimselfintocom-

parativeequanimity。Ashisagitationcalmeddownsomewhat，hebecameawarethathewasfrightfullyhungry。Yes，hungry。Thesheeremotionhadmadehimsimplyravenous。Helefttheseatand，afterwalk-

ingforsometime，foundhimselfoutsidethegardensandbeforeanarrestedtramcar，withoutknowingverywellhowhecamethere。Hegotinasifinadream，byasortofinstinct。Fortunatelyhefoundinhistrouserpocketacoppertosatisfytheconductor。Thenthecarstopped，andaseverybodywasgettingouthegotout，too。HerecognizedthePiazzaSanFerdinando，butapparentlyitdidnotoccurtohimtotakeacabanddrivetothehotel。HeremainedindistressonthePiazzalikealostdog，thinkingvaguelyofthebestwayofgettingsomethingtoeatatonce。

Suddenlyherememberedhistwenty-francpiece。

HeexplainedtomethathehadthatpieceofFrenchgoldforsomethinglikethreeyears。Heusedtocarryitaboutwithhimasasortofreserveincaseofac-

cident。Anybodyisliabletohavehispocketpicked——aquitedifferentthingfromabrazenandinsultingrobbery。

ThemonumentalarchoftheGalleriaUmbertofacedhimatthetopofanobleflightofstairs。Heclimbedthesewithoutlossoftime，anddirectedhisstepstowardstheCafeUmberto。Allthetablesoutsidewereoccupiedbyalotofpeoplewhoweredrinking。Butashewantedsomethingtoeat，hewentinsideintothecafe，whichisdividedintoaislesbysquarepillarssetallroundwithlonglooking-glasses。TheCountsatdownonaredplushbenchagainstoneofthesepillars，waitingforhisrisotto。Andhismindrevertedtohisabominableadventure。

Hethoughtofthemoody，well-dressedyoungman，withwhomhehadexchangedglancesinthecrowdaroundthebandstand，andwho，hefeltconfident，wastherobber。Wouldherecognizehimagain?Doubt-

less。Buthedidnotwantevertoseehimagain。Thebestthingwastoforgetthishumiliatingepisode。

TheCountlookedroundanxiouslyforthecomingofhisrisotto，and，behold!totheleftagainstthewall——

theresattheyoungman。Hewasaloneatatable，withabottleofsomesortofwineorsyrupandacarafeoficedwaterbeforehim。Thesmootholivecheeks，theredlips，thelittlejet-blackmoustacheturnedupgal-

lantly，thefineblackeyesalittleheavyandshadedbylongeyelashes，thatpeculiarexpressionofcrueldis-

contenttobeseenonlyinthebustsofsomeRomanemperors——itwashe，nodoubtatall。Butthatwasatype。TheCountlookedawayhastily。Theyoungofficerovertherereadingapaperwaslikethat，too。

Sametype。Twoyoungmenfartherawayplayingdraughtsalsoresembled——

TheCountloweredhisheadwiththefearinhisheartofbeingeverlastinglyhauntedbythevisionofthatyoungman。Hebegantoeathisrisotto。Presentlyheheardtheyoungmanonhisleftcallthewaiterinabad-temperedtone。

Atthecall，notonlyhisownwaiter，buttwootheridlewaitersbelongingtoaquitedifferentrowoftables，rushedtowardshimwithobsequiousalacrity，whichisnotthegeneralcharacteristicofthewaitersintheCafeUmberto。TheyoungmanmutteredsomethingandoneofthewaiterswalkingrapidlytothenearestdoorcalledoutintotheGalleria:"Pasquale!O!Pas-

quale!"

EverybodyknowsPasquale，theshabbyoldfellowwho，shufflingbetweenthetables，offersforsalecigars，cigarettes，picturepostcards，andmatchestotheclientsofthecafe；。Heisinmanyrespectsanengagingscoundrel。TheCountsawthegrey-haired，unshavenruffianenterthecafe，theglasscasehangingfromhisneckbyaleatherstrap，and，atawordfromthewaiter，makehisshufflingwaywithasuddenspurttotheyoungman"stable。TheyoungmanwasinneedofacigarwithwhichPasqualeservedhimfawningly。Theoldpedlarwasgoingout，whentheCount，onasuddenimpulse，beckonedtohim。

Pasqualeapproached，thesmileofdeferentialrecog-

nitioncombiningoddlywiththecynicalsearchingex-

pressionofhiseyes。Leaninghiscaseonthetable，heliftedtheglasslidwithoutaword。TheCounttookaboxofcigarettesandurgedbyafearfulcuriosity，askedascasuallyashecould——

"Tellme，Pasquale，whoisthatyoungsignoresittingoverthere?"

Theotherbentoverhisboxconfidentially。

"That，SignorConde，"hesaid，beginningtorearrangehiswaresbusilyandwithoutlookingup，"thatisayoungCavaliereofaverygoodfamilyfromBari。HestudiesintheUniversityhere，andisthechief，capo，ofanassociationofyoungmen——ofveryniceyoungmen。"

Hepaused，andthen，withmingleddiscretionandprideofknowledge，murmuredtheexplanatoryword"Camorra"andshutdownthelid。"AverypowerfulCamorra，"hebreathedout。"Theprofessorsthem-

selvesrespectitgreatly……unaliraecinquanticentesimi，SignorConde。"

Ourfriendpaidwiththegoldpiece。WhilePasqualewasmakingupthechange，heobservedthattheyoungman，ofwhomhehadheardsomuchinafewwords，waswatchingthetransactioncovertly。Aftertheoldvagabondhadwithdrawnwithabow，theCountsettledwiththewaiterandsatstill。Anumbness，hetoldme，hadcomeoverhim。

Theyoungmanpaid，too，gotup，andcrossedover，apparentlyforthepurposeoflookingathimselfinthemirrorsetinthepillarnearesttotheCount"sseat。Hewasdressedallinblackwithadarkgreenbowtie。

TheCountlookedround，andwasstartledbymeetingaviciousglanceoutofthecornersoftheother"seyes。

TheyoungCavalierefromBari(accordingtoPasquale；

butPasqualeis，ofcourse，anaccomplishedliar)wentonarranginghistie，settlinghishatbeforetheglass，andmeantimehespokejustloudenoughtobeheardbytheCount。Hespokethroughhisteethwiththemostinsultingvenomofcontemptandgazingstraightintothemirror。

"Ah!Soyouhadsomegoldonyou——youoldliar——

youoldbirba——youfurfante!Butyouarenotdonewithmeyet。"

Thefiendishnessofhisexpressionvanishedlikelight-

ning，andheloungedoutofthecafewithamoody，impassiveface。

ThepoorCount，aftertellingmethislastepisode，fellbacktremblinginhischair。Hisforeheadbrokeintoperspiration。Therewasawantoninsolenceinthespiritofthisoutragewhichappalledevenme。

WhatitwastotheCount"sdelicacyIwon"tattempttoguess。Iamsurethatifhehadbeennottoorefinedtodosuchablatantlyvulgarthingasdyingfromapoplexyinacafe；，hewouldhavehadafatalstrokethereandthen。Allironyapart，mydifficultywastokeephimfromseeingthefullextentofmycommisera-

tion。Heshrankfromeveryexcessivesentiment，andmycommiserationwaspracticallyunbounded。Itdidnotsurprisemetohearthathehadbeeninbedaweek。

HehadgotuptomakehisarrangementsforleavingSouthernItalyforgoodandall。

Andthemanwasconvincedthathecouldnotlivethroughawholeyearinanyotherclimate!

Noargumentofminehadanyeffect。Itwasnottimidity，thoughhedidsaytomeonce:"YoudonotknowwhataCamorrais，mydearsir。Iamamarkedman。"Hewasnotafraidofwhatcouldbedonetohim。Hisdelicateconceptionofhisdignitywasdefiledbyadegradingexperience。Hecouldn"tstandthat。

NoJapanesegentleman，outragedinhisexaggeratedsenseofhonour，couldhavegoneabouthispreparationsforHara-kiriwithgreaterresolution。TogohomereallyamountedtosuicideforthepoorCount。

ThereisasayingofNeapolitanpatriotism，intendedfortheinformationofforeigners，Ipresume:"SeeNaplesandthendie。"VediNapoliepoimori。Itisasayingofexcessivevanity，andeverythingexcessivewasabhorrenttothenicemoderationofthepoorCount。

Yet，asIwasseeinghimoffattherailwaystation，I

thoughthewasbehavingwithsingularfidelitytoitsconceitedspirit。VediNapoli!……Hehadseenit!Hehadseenitwithstartlingthoroughness——andnowhewasgoingtohisgrave。HewasgoingtoitbythetraindeluxeoftheInternationalSleepingCarCom-

pany，viaTriesteandVienna。Asthefourlong，sombrecoachespulledoutofthestationIraisedmyhatwiththesolemnfeelingofpayingthelasttributeofrespecttoafuneralcortege。IlConde"sprofile，muchagedal-

ready，glidedawayfrommeinstonyimmobility，behindthelightedpaneofglass——VediNapoliepoimori!