Zicci | Page 6

coaxingly, "the dear
signora is not well: do not be angry with her; I will make her accept
your offer."
Glyndon stayed, and after a few moments spent in expostulation on the
part of Gionetta, and resistance on that of Isabel, the offer was accepted;
the actress, with a mixture of naivete and coquetry, gave her handy to
her lover, who kissed it with delight. 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 Zicci then suddenly occurred
to him; he had forgotten it in the interest of his lover's quarrel with
Isabel. 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, who hustled and jostled and pressed upon
him; but he recognized no familiar countenances. While pausing
irresolute, he heard Merton's voice calling on him, and to his great
relief discovered his friend making his way through the throng.
"I have secured you a place in the Count Cetoxa's carriage," said he.
"Come along, he is waiting for us."
"How kind in you! How did you find me out?"
"I met Zicci in the passage. 'Your friend is at the door of the theatre,'
said he; 'do not let him go home alone 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 asked
Cetoxa, who was with me, to accompany you."
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; "ecco Inglese!" Glyndon imperfectly heard the
exclamation as the carriage drove on. He reached home in safety.
"Have you discovered who he is?" asked the actress, as she was now
alone in the carriage with Gionetta.
"Yes, he is the celebrated Signor Zicci, about whom the court has run
mad. They say he is so rich,--oh, so much richer than any of the Inglese!
But a bird in the hand, my angel, is better than--"
"Cease," interrupted the young actress. "Zicci! Speak of the
Englishman no more."
The carriage was now entering that more lonely and remote part of the

city in which Isabel's house was situated, when it suddenly stopped.
Gionetta, in alarm, thrust her head out of window, and perceived by the
pale light of the moon that the driver, torn from his seat, was already
pinioned in the arms of two men; the next moment the door was opened
violently, and a tall figure, masked and mantled, appeared.
"Fear not, fairest Pisani," said he, gently, "no ill shall befall you." As he
spoke, he wound his arms round the form of the fair actress, and
endeavored to lift her from the carriage. But the Signora Pisani was not
an ordinary person; she had been before exposed to all the dangers to
which the beauty of the low-born was subjected amongst a lawless and
profligate nobility. She thrust back the assailant with a power that
surprised him, and in the next moment the blade of a dagger gleamed
before his eyes. "Touch me," said she, drawing herself to the farther
end of the carriage, "and I strike!"
The mask drew back.
"By the body of Bacchus, a bold spirit!" said he, half laughing and half
alarmed. "Here, Luigi, Giovanni! disarm and seize her. Harm her not."
The mask retired from the door, and another and yet taller form
presented itself. "Be calm, Isabel di Pisani," said he, in a low voice;
"with me you are indeed safe!" He lifted his mask as he spoke, and
showed the noble features of Zicci. "Be calm, be hushed; I can save
you." He vanished, leaving Isabel lost in surprise, agitation, and delight.
There were in all nine masks: two were engaged with the driver; one
stood at the head of the carriage-horses; a third guarded the well-trained
steeds of the party; three others, besides Zicci and the one who had first
accosted Isabel, stood apart by a carriage drawn to the side of the road.
To these Zicci motioned: they advanced; he pointed towards the first
mask, who was in fact the Prince di --, and to his unspeakable
astonishment the Prince was suddenly seized from behind.
"Treason," he cried, "treason among my own men! What means this?"
"Place him in his carriage. If he resist, shoot him!" said Zicci, calmly.

He approached the men who had detained the coachman. "You are
outnumbered and outwitted," said he. "Join your lord; you are three
men,--we six, armed to