In his earlier visits he did not speak of Glyndon. The day soon came on which he renewed the subject. And so trustful, obedient, and entire was the allegiance that Viola now owned to his dominion, that, unwelcome as that subject was, she restrained her heart, and listened to him in silence!
At last he said, "Thou hast promised thou wilt obey my counsels, and if, Viola, I should ask thee, nay adjure, to accept this stranger's hand, and share his fate, should he offer to thee such a lot — wouldst thou refuse?"
And then she pressed back the tears that gushed to her eyes — and with a strange pleasure in the midst of pain — the pleasure of one who sacrifices heart itself to the one who commands that heart, she answered, falteringly — "If thou canst ordain it — why"
"Speak on."
"Dispose of me as thou wilt!"
Zanoni stood in silence for some moments : he saw the struggle which the girl thought she concealed so well; he made an involuntary movement towards her, and pressed her hand to his lips; it was the first time he had ever departed even so far from a certain austerity which perhaps made her fear him and her own thoughts the less.
"Viola," said he, and his voice trembled, "the danger that I can avert no more, if thou linger still in Naples, comes hourly near and near to thee! On the third day from this thy fate must be decided. I accept thy promise. Before the last hour of that day, come what may, I shall see thee again, here, at thine own house. Till then, farewell!"
