"Ha! ha! hear him — his friend"
"Yes; my friend Zanoni is going to Rome for a short time; when he returns, he has promised me to fix a day to sup with me, and I will then introduce him to you, and to the best society of Naples! Diavolo! but he is a most agreeable and witty gentleman!
"Pray tell us how you came so suddenly to be his friend."
"My dear Belgioso, nothing more natural. He desired a box at San Carlo; but I need not tell you that the expectation of a new opera (ah, how superb it is — that poor devil, Pisani — who would have thought it?) and a new singer (what a face — what a voice! — ah!) had engaged every corner of the house. I heard of Zanoni's desire to honour the talent of Naples, and, with my usual courtesy to distinguished strangers, I sent to place my box at his disposal. He accepts it, — I wait on him between the acts, — he is most charming, — he invites me to supper. — Cospetto, what a retinue! We sit late, — I tell him all the news of Naples, — we grow bosom friends, — he presses on me this diamond before we part, — it is a trifle, he tells me, — the jewellers value it at 5000 pistoles! — the merriest evening I have passed these ten years."
The cavaliers crowded round to admire the diamond.
"Signor Count Cetoxa," said one grave-looking sombre man, who had crossed himself two or three times during the Neapolitan's narrative, "are you not aware of the strange reports about this person; and
