Taking aside Gionetta, who was her constant attendant at the theatre, she said, in an earnest whisper,-- "Oh, Gionetta! He is here again!--the stranger of whom I spoke to thee!--and again, he alone, of the whole theatre, withholds from me his applause." "Which is he, my darling ?" said the old woman, with fondness in her voice.

"He must indeed be dull--not worth a thought." The actress drew Gionetta nearer to the stage, and pointed out to her a man in one of the boxes, conspicuous amongst all else by the simplicity of his dress, and the extraordinary beauty of his features.
"Not worth a thought, Gionetta!" repeated Viola,--"Not worth a thought! Alas, not to think of him, seems the absence of thought itself!" The prompter summoned the Signora Pisani.

"Find out his name, Gionetta," said she, moving slowly to the stage, and passing by Glyndon, who gazed at her with a look of sorrowful reproach.
The scene on which the actress now entered was that of the final catastrophe, wherein all her remarkable powers of voice and art were pre-eminently called forth.

The house hung on every word with breathless worship; but the eyes of Viola sought only those of one calm and unmoved spectator; she exerted herself as if inspired.

Zanoni listened, and observed her with an attentive gaze, but no approval escaped his lips; no emotion changed the expression of his cold and half-disdainful aspect.