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!
