第1章

One，two，three，four，five。Therewerefiveofthem。

Fivecouriers，sittingonabenchoutsidetheconventonthesummitoftheGreatSt。BernardinSwitzerland，lookingattheremoteheights，stainedbythesettingsunasifamightyquantityofredwinehadbeenbroacheduponthemountaintop，andhadnotyethadtimetosinkintothesnow。

Thisisnotmysimile。Itwasmadefortheoccasionbythestoutestcourier，whowasaGerman。Noneoftheotherstookanymorenoticeofitthantheytookofme，sittingonanotherbenchontheothersideoftheconventdoor，smokingmycigar，likethem，and-alsolikethem-lookingatthereddenedsnow，andatthelonelyshedhardby，wherethebodiesofbelatedtravellers，dugoutofit，slowlywitheraway，knowingnocorruptioninthatcoldregion。

Thewineuponthemountaintopsoakedinaswelooked；themountainbecamewhite；thesky，averydarkblue；thewindrose；andtheairturnedpiercingcold。Thefivecouriersbuttonedtheirroughcoats。Therebeingnosafermantoimitateinallsuchproceedingsthanacourier，Ibuttonedmine。

Themountaininthesunsethadstoppedthefivecouriersinaconversation。Itisasublimesight，likelytostopconversation。

Themountainbeingnowoutofthesunset，theyresumed。NotthatI

hadheardanypartoftheirpreviousdiscourse；forindeed，IhadnotthenbrokenawayfromtheAmericangentleman，inthetravellers"parlouroftheconvent，who，sittingwithhisfacetothefire，hadundertakentorealisetomethewholeprogressofeventswhichhadledtotheaccumulationbytheHonourableAnaniasDodgerofoneofthelargestacquisitionsofdollarsevermadeinourcountry。

"MyGod！"saidtheSwisscourier，speakinginFrench，whichIdonothold（assomeauthorsappeartodo）tobesuchanall-

sufficientexcuseforanaughtyword，thatIhaveonlytowriteitinthatlanguagetomakeitinnocent；"ifyoutalkofghosts-"

"ButIDON"Ttalkofghosts，"saidtheGerman。

"Ofwhatthen？"askedtheSwiss。

"IfIknewofwhatthen，"saidtheGerman，"Ishouldprobablyknowagreatdealmore。"

Itwasagoodanswer，Ithought，anditmademecurious。So，I

movedmypositiontothatcornerofmybenchwhichwasnearesttothem，andleaningmybackagainsttheconventwall，heardperfectly，withoutappearingtoattend。

"Thunderandlightning！"saidtheGerman，warming，"whenacertainmaniscomingtoseeyou，unexpectedly；and，withouthisownknowledge，sendssomeinvisiblemessenger，toputtheideaofhimintoyourheadallday，whatdoyoucallthat？Whenyouwalkalongacrowdedstreet-atFrankfort，Milan，London，Paris-andthinkthatapassingstrangerislikeyourfriendHeinrich，andthenthatanotherpassingstrangerislikeyourfriendHeinrich，andsobegintohaveastrangeforeknowledgethatpresentlyyou"llmeetyourfriendHeinrich-whichyoudo，thoughyoubelievedhimatTrieste-whatdoyoucallTHAT？"

"It"snotuncommon，either，"murmuredtheSwissandtheotherthree。

"Uncommon！"saidtheGerman。"It"sascommonascherriesintheBlackForest。It"sascommonasmaccaroniatNaples。AndNaplesremindsme！WhentheoldMarchesaSenzanimashrieksatacard-

partyontheChiaja-asIheardandsawher，forithappenedinaBavarianfamilyofmine，andIwasoverlookingtheservicethatevening-Isay，whentheoldMarchesastartsupatthecard-table，whitethroughherrouge，andcries，"MysisterinSpainisdead！I

felthercoldtouchonmyback！"-andwhenthatsisterISdeadatthemoment-whatdoyoucallthat？"

"OrwhenthebloodofSanGennaroliquefiesattherequestoftheclergy-asalltheworldknowsthatitdoesregularlyoncea-year，inmynativecity，"saidtheNeapolitancourierafterapause，withacomicallook，"whatdoyoucallthat？"

"THAT！"criedtheGerman。"Well，IthinkIknowanameforthat。"

"Miracle？"saidtheNeapolitan，withthesameslyface。

TheGermanmerelysmokedandlaughed；andtheyallsmokedandlaughed。

"Bah！"saidtheGerman，presently。"Ispeakofthingsthatreallydohappen。WhenIwanttoseetheconjurer，Ipaytoseeaprofessedone，andhavemymoney"sworth。Verystrangethingsdohappenwithoutghosts。Ghosts！GiovanniBaptista，tellyourstoryoftheEnglishbride。There"snoghostinthat，butsomethingfullasstrange。Willanymantellmewhat？"

Astherewasasilenceamongthem，Iglancedaround。HewhomI

tooktobeBaptistawaslightingafreshcigar。Hepresentlywentontospeak。HewasaGenoese，asIjudged。

"ThestoryoftheEnglishbride？"saidhe。"Basta！oneoughtnottocallsoslightathingastory。Well，it"sallone。Butit"strue。Observemewell，gentlemen，it"strue。Thatwhichglittersisnotalwaysgold；butwhatIamgoingtotell，istrue。"

Herepeatedthismorethanonce。

Tenyearsago，ItookmycredentialstoanEnglishgentlemanatLong"sHotel，inBondStreet，London，whowasabouttotravel-itmightbeforoneyear，itmightbefortwo。Heapprovedofthem；

likewiseofme。Hewaspleasedtomakeinquiry。Thetestimonythathereceivedwasfavourable。Heengagedmebythesixmonths，andmyentertainmentwasgenerous。

Hewasyoung，handsome，veryhappy。HewasenamouredofafairyoungEnglishlady，withasufficientfortune，andtheyweregoingtobemarried。Itwasthewedding-trip，inshort，thatweweregoingtotake。Forthreemonths"restinthehotweather（itwasearlysummerthen）hehadhiredanoldplaceontheRiviera，ataneasydistancefrommycity，Genoa，ontheroadtoNice。DidIknowthatplace？Yes；ItoldhimIknewitwell。Itwasanoldpalacewithgreatgardens。Itwasalittlebare，anditwasalittledarkandgloomy，beingclosesurroundedbytrees；butitwasspacious，ancient，grand，andontheseashore。Hesaidithadbeensodescribedtohimexactly，andhewaswellpleasedthatIknewit。

Foritsbeingalittlebareoffurniture，allsuchplaceswere。