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。