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。