"Mascari," said Zanoni, "your patron is no more; your services will
be valueless to his heir,--a sober man whom poverty has preserved
from vice. For yourself, thank me that I do not give you up to the
executioner; recollect the wine of Cyprus. Well, never tremble, man; it
could not act on me, though it might react on others; in that it is a
common type of crime. I forgive you; and if the wine should kill me,
I promise you that my ghost shall not haunt so worshipful a penitent.
Enough of this; conduct me to the chamber of Viola Pisani. You have
no further need of her. The death of the jailer opens the cell of the
captive. Be quick; I would be gone."

Mascari muttered some inaudible words, bowed low, and led the way to the
chamber in which Viola was confined.



CHAPTER 3.XVIII.

Merc: Tell me, therefore, what thou seekest after, and what thou
wilt have. What dost thou desire to make?

Alch: The Philosopher's Stone.

Sandivogius.

It wanted several minutes of midnight, and Glyndon repaired to the
appointed spot. The mysterious empire which Zanoni had acquired over
him, was still more solemnly confirmed by the events of the last few
hours; the sudden fate of the prince, so deliberately foreshadowed, and