"Comest thou to menace me in my own halls, or wouldst thou warn me of a danger?
Art thou some itinerant mountebank, or some unguessed-of friend?
Speak out, and plainly.

What danger threatens me ?" "Zanoni and thy ancestor's sword," replied the stranger.
"Ha! ha!" said the prince, laughing scournfully; "I half-suspected thee from the first.

Thou art then the accomplice or the tool of that most dexterous, but, at present, defeated charlatan?
And I suppose thou wilt tell me that if I were to release a certain captive I have made, the danger would vanish, and the hand of the dial would be put back ?" "Judge of me as thou wilt, Prince di -- .

I confess my knowledge of Zanoni.

Thou, too, wilt know his power, but not till it consume thee.
I would save, therefore I warn thee.