But if I could transfer to you, as the loadstone transfers its attraction to the magnet, the love that she has now for me,--if I could cause her to see in you the ideal of her dreams--" "Is such a gift in the power of man ?" "I offer it to you, if your love be lawful, if your faith in virtue and yourself be deep and loyal; if not, think you that I would disenchant her with truth to make her adore a falsehood ?" "But if," persisted Glyndon,--"if she be all that you tell me, and if she love you, how can you rob yourself of so priceless a treasure ?" "Oh, shallow and mean heart of man!" exclaimed Zanoni, with unaccustomed passion and vehemence, "dost thou conceive so little of love as not to know that it sacrifices all--love itself--for the happiness of the thing it loves?
Hear me!" And Zanoni's face grew pale.

"Hear me! I press this upon you, because I love her, and because I fear that with me her fate will be less fair than with yourself.

Why,--ask not, for I will not tell you.

Enough! Time presses now for your answer; it cannot long be delayed.

Before the night of the third day from this, all choice will be forbid you!" "But," said Glyndon, still doubting and suspicious,--"but why this haste ?" "Man, you are not worthy of her when you ask me.