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。
　　Afterdinnerhelingeredinthehalltherewerechairsandtablestheresmokinghiscigar；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。HeworethateveningonaleatherguardtheWaterburyfifty-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。
　　TheyoungCavalierefromBariaccordingtoPasquale；
　　butPasqualeis，ofcourse，anaccomplishedliarwentonarranginghistie，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!