第1章

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。