Glyndon stayed, and after a few moments spent in expostulation on
the part of Gionetta, and resistance on that of Viola, the offer was
accepted. Gionetta and her charge entered the carriage, and Glyndon was
left at the door of the theatre to return home on foot. The mysterious
warning of Zanoni then suddenly occurred to him; he had forgotten it
in the interest of his lover’s quarrel with Viola. He thought it now
advisable to guard against danger foretold by lips so mysterious.
He looked round for some one he knew: the theatre was disgorging
its crowds; they hustled, and jostled, and pressed upon him; but he
recognised no familiar countenance. While pausing irresolute, he heard
Mervale’s voice calling on him, and, to his great relief, discovered his
friend making his way through the throng.
“I have secured you,” said he, “a place in the Count Cetoxa’s carriage.
Come along, he is waiting for us.”
“How kind in you! how did you find me out?”
“I met Zanoni in the passage,--‘Your friend is at the door of the
theatre,’ said he; ‘do not let him go home on foot to-night; the streets
of Naples are not always safe.’ I immediately remembered that some of
the Calabrian bravos had been busy within the city the last few weeks,
and suddenly meeting Cetoxa--but here he is.”
Further explanation was forbidden, for they now joined the count. As
Glyndon entered the carriage and drew up the glass, he saw four men
standing apart by the pavement, who seemed to eye him with attention.
“Cospetto!” cried one; “that is the Englishman!” Glyndon imperfectly
heard the exclamation as the carriage drove on. He reached home in
safety.
The familiar and endearing intimacy which always exists in Italy between
the nurse and the child she has reared, and which the “Romeo and Juliet”
of Shakespeare in no way exaggerates, could not but be drawn yet closer
than usual, in a situation so friendless as that of the orphan-actress.
In all that concerned the weaknesses of the heart, Gionetta had large
experience; and when, three nights before, Viola, on returning from the
theatre, had wept bitterly, the nurse had succeeded in extracting from
her a confession that she had seen one,--not seen for two weary and
eventful years,--but never forgotten, and who, alas! had not evinced the
slightest recognition of herself. Gionetta could not comprehend all the
vague and innocent emotions that swelled this sorrow; but she resolved
them all, with her plain, blunt understanding, to the one sentiment
of love. And here, she was well fitted to sympathise and console.
Confidante to Viola’s entire and deep heart she never could be,--for
that heart never could have words for all its secrets. But such
confidence as she could obtain, she was ready to repay by the most
unreproving pity and the most ready service.
“Have you discovered who he is?” asked Viola, as she was now alone in
the carriage with Gionetta.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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