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!