He stood removed far above all the temptations and weaknesses of this earth. "I have no ambition," said he. "I ask in this world nothing, even of God himself, but my daily bread, and his merciful forgiveness. Did I say, nothing? Yes, I daily and hourly pray for one thing more, namely, to behold this beloved land of Italy flooded with the light of knowledge-of that knowledge of the truth which maketh free, which lifteth man above chains and oppression, which rendereth him humble indeed, and, at an infinite distance, something like unto the God who made him. Oh! my brethren, pray for freedom-for the deliverance of Italy. Pray that he who teacheth the day-spring from on high to know its place, may roll away the darkness from the face of this country, and once more pronounce the revivifying words Let there be light.' Religion, my brethren, is nothing without knowledge but a vile superstition, than which nothing is more unpleasing to God. Our happiness here and hereafter consists entirely in the knowledge of Him who is the well-spring of all other knowledge. Toil, therefore, without ceasing, that you may become worthy to possess the light which lighteth man to liberty.” half-a-mile from the church, we met a young lady pro-11 felt in a moment that he was no ordinary man. ceeding thitherward, and leading a little girl, about should have preached before statesmen-he should nine years old, by her hand. When we had approached have addressed himself to the great ones of this world, near enough to see her face distinctly, the words "Oh to rouse them from their lethargy, and make them feel Dio santo," burstfrom the lips of the Milanese. The Dal- how awful a thing it is to sport with the destinies of matian and I were silent. We walked on, and passed the the human race, and defraud their brethren of their lady, who moved, like a celestial vision, up the hill. birthright. I may, without the least risk of misemNever since or before have I seen beauty so perfect.ploying it, apply the epithet holy to that friar. He No Madonna ever painted by Raphael, no Aphrodite ever sculptured by the Hellenic chisel, could equal it. Το enjoy another look, we turned round, walked rapidly up the hill, and then came leisurely down again. This we repeated three times; and, as we last went by her, I thought I saw the lady smile, not with pity, or contempt, or scorn, but apparently with surprise. Her costume was in itself, to the last degree, graceful. It consisted of an amber-coloured satin dress, open in front, with a rich lace chemisette over the bosom, and a fine full petticoat of white muslin. On her head was the Genoese veil, supported on the forehead by a comb, and descending in waving folds almost to the feet. Her hair, the most exquisite auburn, fell loosely over her shoulders in large natural ringlets, unconfined below by anything; but, behind the comb, a singular ornament of plaited white satin, broad above but narrowing towards both ends, came down the side of the face, and was tied with white ribbon under the chin. Her eyes were of the richest and brightest blue; her features regular as those of Venus herself, harmonised by an expression of unearthly softness and serenity. Her look was upturned, her gait quiet, and there was an air of reverence about her, scarcely belonging to this every-day world. Not a glance, not a movement betrayed in her the slightest consciousness of her surpassing loveliness. She seemed as innocent as Eve before the fall. I quitted my companions, and|| followed her at a distance to the church. When I entered, she was already on her knees, with her arms crossed upon her breast, in the attitude of profound de-hair-cloth shirt so that he might enjoy the privilege of votion. The light of one of the richly painted windows fell across her figure, illuminating it and surrounding it with a sort of glory. Her prayers found no vent in words. Silent as a statue, she looked up towards Heaven, absorbed in extatic devotion, and forgetful evidently of all below. I paid no attention to the words of the mass-my eyes were fixed on her; and this I trust was pardonable, as I could never again hope to see anything so beautiful among God's creatures. Some such vision must have dawned upon Raphael's mind, and formed the prototype of those virgins whose celestial loveliness still adorns the walls of churches and palaces, and imparts a charm, as it were, to the whole face of Europe. I would give much to know that woman's fate. Is she happy? Did she, or could she, find any one worthy of her; or did religion detach her from earth, and convert her into one of the brides of Heaven? However this may have been, I felt that it was good for me to be there; and ever since, sleeping or waking, the image of that face beams upon my fancy, at times refreshing and in- || vigorating it. The preacher that day was a Franciscan friar, clad in a loose brown hair-cloth shirt, with a rope about his waist. He was barefoot and bareheaded, and had a countenance of singular elevation || and nobleness. His text was extraordinary: "And God said, let there be light: and there was light." I Much more to this effect did he say, in that sonorous, musical language of which even despotism cannot deprive the Italians. I could have embraced the friar with all my heart. I felt the yearnings of a brother towards him. He remembered, then, that Rome of old was a Republic, and that all Italy shared the freedom of the Eternal City; and was content with bread and a diffusing sacred light around him like a star. Age and the love of truth had crowned him with majesty; and, doubtless, he has long ere this been gathered to his fathers, "where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest.” CHAPTER XIX. SUNDAY IN THE WOODS-THE BRIGAND'S TRAGEDY. I found the Captain seated at the inn door, beneath a trellised roof of vines, smoking a huge cigar, with a bottle of rich wine before him. "Here you are, my boy!" said he. "Come, let me fill you a bumper, just to put you in good humour for our long walk. Where are your lady friends? Gone to mass! It must be a charming thing that same mass, for my ladies, though Protestants, are off to enjoy it. But ecco! here they come. Well, ladies, are you peckish after mass, or shall we start at once." Everybody voted that we should lunch first, and then take our dinner out into the woods, where the Captain, proud of his local knowledge, said he would show us a mountain tarn on the margin of which we could dine delightfully. I am sadly afraid the reader will take me for an Epicurean, from my constant reference to breakfasts, dinners, &c.; but he must excuse me. The meal forms part of the recollection of the place where it was eaten, and I cannot easily recall the one without the other. The Dalmatian and Milanese were found enjoying a nap in the garden; but the Hanoverian had disappeared, possibly preferring a lonely walk to our society. The Swiss were getting tipsy in a bower close at hand, from which clouds of smoke issued between the vine leaves, mingled with a roar of bacchanalian songs, intermixed, occasionally, with ornamental oaths. averse to cruelty-yet our appetites informed us for cibly that we must dine. Our Milanese ent the Gordian knot by snatching the cudgel from the hands of Giovanni, and dealing the ass so tremendous a blow on the crupper, that he could no longer hesitate, but plunging down into the stream, made his way to land in the best way he could. One or two bottles were cracked in the operation, and shed their rich contents into the stream, to our inexpressible disappointment. However, there was no help for it, so on we went till we reached the banks of the tarn, literally a mountain gem; so beautiful was its situation, so magnificent the cliff's arising from it on all sides, save the narrow gap by which we had entered into the basin. Just figure to yourself a sheet of water about half-a-mile in circumference, with precipices, several hundred feet high, sloping upwards from its edge, and terminating in crags and pinnacles, in some places. pointed as needles. Wherever a scrap of earth would allow vege We started on foot, our dinner following us on an ass, driven by the son of the master of the inn. The Captain's family consisted of a daughter aged sixteen, and her governess, who were severally escorted by the Dalmatian and the Milanese. Madame B- - graced the Captain's side; and, as usual, I walked with Carlotta, whose costume on this occasion was so curious, that I shall endeavour to describe it. Over a robe of purple velvet she wore a short pelisse of light blue silk, bordered with white fur. Her dress was fastened in front with agraffes of pearl, almost close up to the throat; these terminated with the glittering of a diamond neck-tation to take root, there small trees and shrubs fealace, which issued on both sides from beneath masses of luxuriant hair. At the wrists, long, full sleeves of lace shaded the fair, gloveless hand, which, in the sun, was covered with the furred lappet of the pelisse. Her delicate white bonnet, sufficiently large to shelter her face from the sun, was ornamented in the inside with a wreath of oak leaves and silver acorns, which produced the most extraordinary effect, especially when lighted up by her bright blue eyes. Carlotta's lips were the reddest in the world, and her teeth as white as ivory. When she spoke, therefore, and smiled, it was impossible to resist looking at her. Her chin was dimpled, and though there was habitually little colour in her face, it became flushed with walking, and then looked radiant with joy and health. Our walk through the trees was delicious. There was sufficient light and air to nourish, at the foot of the trees, a delicate turf, half grass, half moss, on which the foot fell almost noiselessly. It was like a Persian carpet. The trunks of the trees, of all forms and dimensions, supporting an impenetrable canopy of leaves, were thinned towards the edge of the glades, and allowed chequered patterns of sunshine to descend upon the greensward. The most solemn stillness prevailed around, till it was broken by our merry laugh, and the dialogues held by Giovanni with his ass, whom he alternately scolded and encouraged, to keep his courage up. In one place we had to cross a dark stream by means of stepping-stones. A little to our left, a patch of sunshine fell upon the water, which danced and glittered as it flowed along, like a liquid mirror rippled by the breeze. On the right, it plunged beneath umbrageous trees, which barely allowed us to catch a glimpse of its meanderings, as it flowed silently towards the Mediterranean. Giovanni here took it into his head that the rivulet was too deep for the ass, which he accordingly wished to coax over the stepping-stones. The animal for a long time resisted. Ultimately, however, yielding to the logic of a stout cudgel, he undertook the task; but upon reaching a broad stone in mid-channel, stood still, obstinately determined neither to advance nor to retreat. We trembled for our dinner. Giovanni, a boy of about fourteen, now saw clearly he had made a false move. The stone was of considerable height, the panniers were heavy, the ass obstinate, and his halter very weak. What was to be done? We were thered the acclivity, trembling and waving their variegated foliage over the abyss. It was, doubtless, an ancient crater; and fiery lava had hissed and boiled where that peaceful lake now spread, glittering in the sun. We sat down on large stones close to the water's edge, and, taking out our solid materials, with the bottles which remained, we set about enjoying ourselves after the true English fashion, the Captain presiding, as his experience entitled him to do. There were roast fowls, and small birds, delicious cold salmon, preserved fruits, jellies, and pastry, with wines of every hue and flavour. Everybody contributed a good keen appetite; and Carlotta, in particular, made great way with the fowls, for which she entertained a great partiality. Madame B, also, and the other ladies, performed their parts well; nor did any of us shrink from the wine, which circulated in profusion, till we were all in the best humour in the world. I should observe that Giovanni was not excluded from our circle; and as, of course, he could not be separated from his companion, he also petitioned for the admission of the ass, which, as Giovanni expressed it, ate bread and drank || wine like a Christian. We all of us noticed a very extraordinary ledge of rock, projecting from between two pinnacles, above three hundred feet, at least, over our heads. That ledge," said Giovanni, "was not long ago the scene of a sad tragedy, which plunged the whole of this neighbourhood into grief. There was a brigand in the mountains, who often disguised himself, and descended to our village to purchase provisions. On one of these occasions he saw a beautiful girl, the daughter of a vine-grower, who lives close to our house; and, being a lawless person, he determined to steal her away. It was not, however, so easy to put his design into execution; for the young girl seldom went out after dark, and in the day time it would have been next to impossible to effect his purpose, there were so many persons stirring. But there is an old proverb, which says, Where there is a will there is a way.' The brigand descended at night to the village, bringing along with him a small ladder, which he had himself constructed. This he placed against one of the windows of our neighbour's house, and, climbing up hastily, forced open the casement, and entered a bed-room, the mouth like a mad dog; and then, mustering up all his force and all his fury, plunged with the girl over the ledge; and, whirling about in the air, and bounding from crag to crag, they were presently dashed upon the slope which sinks yonder into the lake. Their bodies were immediately found, indescribably, mutilated and disfigured; and the brother and sister, the only hopes the mountain received the corpse of the brigand. The mother lost her senses, and may still every day be seen sitting at her door, asking the passers-by if they have seen Bianca, and if they can tell her when she will come back. Her husband lives to watch over her; and there is not an individual in the whole country round who does not pause to cast a pitying blessing on Bianca's mother, and on the husband who so tenderly watches over her." CHAPTER XX. DIALECTICS IN SMOKE. which was that of the father and mother. Here he had the audacity to kindle a lamp, by means of a flint and steel which he had brought with him. He then drew a large pistol from his pocket, and, approaching the bed, determined to shoot them both should they awake. Sound sleep, however, preserved their lives. He then proceeded into the next room, where he found the young woman's brother, a stout young man of about five-and- || of their parents, were buried in one grave. A hole in twenty. He also was asleep, for it was past midnight.|| In the room adjoining, the brigand found the girl, over whose mouth he passed a tight bandage, tying it firmly behind the head. By doing this he awakened her, but she could not speak; and, holding the pistol to her head, he swore if she struggled he would shoot her on the spot. He then took her in his arms, and carried|| her, struggling, through her father and mother's bedroom; and, getting out through the window, descended the ladder, where he placed her on her feet, and, seizing her by the arm, forced her along. A neighbour, who happened at this moment to be looking out through her window, saw the young girl struggling hard with the The reader will, I trust, excuse me for not enterbrigand; and, in the contest, the bandage fell off her ing here into the military history of the Bocchetta, and mouth. She then shouted with all her might, waked telling him how the Imperialists forced it in 1746, and her father, mother, and brother, together with several thus opened themselves a way to Genoa. All this sort of neighbours, who all now rushed out to give chase. The information may be obtained elsewhere. I only underbrigand now once more snatched her in his arms, and take to describe my own movements, with what I saw, succeeded in effecting his escape into the woods. How felt, and heard. It belongs to learned travellers to he forced her along is not known; but her cries directed enter minutely into the annals of former generations, the pursuit for some time. At length, however, she be- and relate the fortunes of all the cities and countries came silent, and it was feared that he had killed her. The through which they passed. My task is a much humbler night passed on, and the dawn began to break, when one, and I cheerfully abandon to them all the honour the brigand and his shivering captive were seen high and profit to be derived from the grandeose style of up among the rocks, making, as it was supposed, to- writing. It will be understood that we did not remain wards his cave. The pursuit now recommenced with all night on the borders of the tarn, but returned fresh alacrity. Father, brother, and neighbours, climbed early to our inn, where we enjoyed the luxury of a the rocks, spreading themselves so as to encompass the hot supper. Some physicians, I believe, condemn this brigand on all sides, and to force him towards yonder meal as the prolific parent of nightmare, apoplexy, and precipice, where, it was thought, he must of necessity what not. But I like it, nevertheless, especially when surrender. Powerful as he was, he gradually became it is eaten in company with pleasant people, whose exhausted, by being forced from time to time to carry || voices, looks, and smiles impart to it a better relish his captive in his arms. His exertions, therefore, slack-than the finest sauce. On the present occasion we ened; and the villagers approached nearer and nearer. In order to intimidate them, he drew one of his pistols, and fired. No one was hurt; but, with the second, he shot the brother, who fell, staggering, into his father's arms. The neighbours, now seeing that blood had been shed, likewise grew ferocious, and rushing towards the brigand, determined to take his life. He retreated towards yonder ledge, and threatened them that, if they did not stand in all such matters quite his echo, protested still, he would plunge over it, with the girl in his arms. she had never tasted anything so good in her life. They treated this as a vain menace intended to arrest Carlotta was much of the same opinion. The rest of their progress; but the girl, who had by this time the party, no way inclined to get up a controversy on learned the character of her captor, entreated them to the subject, agreed with us to a tittle. So we ate, and desist. She shuddered, and shrunk back from the were very merry, as people should be who have nodreadful depth before her. Underneath, there were thing on their consciences. It would be wrong, howseveral hundred feet of rock, and a deep lake. The ever, to grant a monopoly of praise to the fish, since head, as you must feel, gentlemen, turns giddy even in the wine was no less deserving of commendation. It looking up; you may easily conceive, therefore, what sparkled in the glasses like liquid amber, and diffused it must be to look down from that tremendous height.|| around a delicious aroma, enough of itself to intoxiBut the blood of the villagers was heated. They cate a poet. Let no one misunderstand me if I condashed forward, the brigand still waving them back || fess I love wine. Not for its own sake-God forbid ! with his hand, and uttering the most fearful threats-but for that of the agreeable things to which it and imprecations. Every instant, he drew nearer and nearer the edge of the abyss. His face grew pale with rage. He seized the girl by the hair of her head; he shook his clenched fist at his pursuers; he foamed at had an immense treat, fresh trout and grayling, known to our neighbours by the poetic name of ombre cheva|| lier-I suppose because of its darting through clear streams like a shadow. These delicate fish, nicely fried, and served up like Turkish cababs, hissing hot, appeared much to the taste of all present. The Captain pronounced them magnificent; and Madame B gives birth among pleasant people. It operates like moral sunshine on the human countenance; it adds fresh brightness to the brightest eyes; and, as it lies cradled in glittering crystal, appears half conscious of the ideas it is capable of inspiring. No philosopher, I admit, I not without some reason, that there is a fashion in has yet discovered the way in which it impregnates religion as in other things, and that in the history of the brain, and calls into being swarms of gorgeous fan- the world, faiths come in and out like ruffs and farcies, flashes of fiery wit, modifications of grotesque and thingales, though sometimes under new names; but comic humour, that set the table in a roar. But though || Catholicism he maintained to be the creed best adaptthe metaphysics of the affair may baffle us, we cannoted to the wants of man in this world, made up as it be at all mistaken respecting the plain matter of fact. is of mystery, dogmatism, and an incessant appeal to Half the literature of the old world owes its charms the sensibilities of our nature. Its mysteries are calto wine. How the poets revel in the subject! How culated to excite and keep alive our curiosity; its they boast of those "noctes cenæque deorem" over dogmatism subdues our will; its poetical character adwhich the Falernian sheds its perfume, and where dresses itself to our imaginations, and transports us into the Chian, or Maræotic imparted fresh wings to the a world of soft illusions infinitely delightful to the mind. imagination! And yet, I dare say, they were all in But, my dear sir," exclaimed the Captain," what reality as sober as quakers, and drank chiefly out of signifies this if it be false; as I maintain it to be. It those fabulous bowls which were served up to the gods has had its day, however, and is now dying out. of Olympus. People fancy they see tokens of revival in England, France, and elsewhere, because a few mystical priests and clergymen, eager for ecclesiastical domination, are labouring to diffuse an artificial enthusiasm for niches, wax tapers, high altars, beads, copes, and dalmatics. But does the history of mankind afford one single ex ample of the resuscitation of an old creed? No, sir, a religion, once dead, is dead for ever," It is to be hoped the reader, especially if a lady, is of a tolerant disposition; otherwise, I shall scarcely obtain forgiveness for my frequent introduction of cigars. But how can one draw a true picture if he omit the principal figure? And where smokers are assembled, your cigar, like the Zeus of the old Orphic || hymn writer, is first, last, and middle. At all events, as soon as we began to feel ourselves comfortable after supper, the Captain brought out his case, filled with choice Los dos Amigos, and politely handed it round. No one, of course, refused the proffered weed. Experience had taught us that the ladies were tolerant; so we all lighted at once, and were soon enveloped in an ambrosial cloud, as thick, if not as fragrant, as that in which warng sw Ti xaι avbgwwwу embraced Hera on Olympus. 66 "But can a religion be dead," interposed Carlotta, "when it has an altar in every heart-when it places us, morning and evening, on our knees-when it be gets hourly in us a fresh sense of dependence on Heaven, and a constant desire to do whatever is best for those around us?" felt much perplexed. In some "My dear young lady," replied the Captain, "it is Christianity, not Catholicism, which does that." "They are the same thing," said Carlotta. Who that had seen us then, overflowing with the 'Exactly," exclaimed the Carbonaro. milk of human kindness, as serene, pacific, and dreamy Madame Bas opium-eaters, would ever have imagined the topic respects, she liked the heretical Captain; but as her which Até threw in, like the apple of discord, among us. understanding had always been in priestly leadingMilitary men are often great theologians, it being a strings, she thought that however pleasant he might rule in this world, that people always best like to talk || be in this world, he would certainly be damned in the about what they do not understand. Our Captain pos- next. However, it was for this world, and not the sessed this fine quality, and being, of course, a Protes-next, that she desired to marry him; and therefore she tant, contrived-Heaven knows how!-to engage us all in a discussion on the comparative merits of the two churches. As might have been expected, the Carbonaro looked down with supreme contempt on all churches, and, indeed—which, however, is a very different thing on all religions, also. He had been taught, poor fellow, to believe that complete liberty is only to be attained by emancipating the mind from all its preconceived notions, whether true or false; and his creed, accordingly, was the most compendious imaginable, since he believed nothing; but, like another person of our acquaintance, who shall here be nameless, he had not a metaphysical head, and therefore, though he argued a great deal, there was nothing in it. He had read "Lamettrie," and the " Systéme de la Nature," peeped into Kant, and Hegel, Fichte, and Schelling, and amused himself occasionally with Vanini and Giordano Bruno. He had, accordingly, a great deal to say, and said it with an easy dogmatism, well calculated to impose upon the ignorant. dissembled her condemnation of his heresy, and adroitly With this redoutable young gentleman, the Captain, in one of his airy mental excursions, came into colli- As the reader is, of course, well acquainted with sion. But materialism is an unfruitful and uninviting the Anabasis, he will remember with what rapture the topic; and, to my very great relief, the Dalmatian Greek soldiers beheld, from the summit of certain mounadroitly shifted the ground of argument, and brought||tains, the broad, glittering expanse of the Euxine, and it round to the chances of Catholicism, He thought, who they rushed forward, brandishing their spears and Was clashing their shields, exclaiming "Thalata, thalata," || of the mind which follows upon the heels of protracted ("The sea, the sea"). I am not ashamed to say that I excitement. Everything above, around, and below experienced something of the same delight when, from you, seems flat, stale, and unprofitable. Your coffee the summit of the Bocchetta, I caught the first glimpse is bad, your supper is worse, the smoke of your cigar of the Mediterranean. Inexpressibly bright and blue smells like assafoetida. When you go to bed, you can't was its surface; but it was not its brightness, it was sleep, and your waking thoughts are like so many not its colour, that acted like a spell on the ima- hellish dreams. I began to think what a fool I was gination. It was the thousand associations that had to leave home, and travel thousands of miles by sea and been created in my mind ever since boyhood, that lent || land, just to see a river, a few old walls, columns, and a to the aspect of it so powerful a charm. All the glory|| rabble of dirty Arabs. Could not I read about them, and of the Roman Republic seemed to be unrolled upon be contented? And then, how cruel it was to leave my its bosom. The galleys which bore the men who con- wife and children, and the cholera committing frightquered the world, and put their democratic feet upon ful ravages along the frontier, and just upon the point the necks of so many kings, had ploughed those waves, of entering Switzerland. I should positively never which roll as freshly now before the breeze as when see them again. For was not the plague always in the prows of the early consuls dashed through them Egypt? Did not the desert swarm with robbers? in the rapture of youthful freedom. Were there not crocodiles in the Nile big enough to We now descended rapidly into the valley which swallow me at a single mouthful? Were there not leads to Genoa, following nearly all day the course fevers of all shades and hues in Alexandria, in Cairo, and of the river which has its embouchure near that city. all the way up the valley? It would have been much I know not how it happened, but this was the least better to have thought of these things in time. And pleasant day of the whole journey. We had contracted then, would my constitution hold out? Was I not alsomething like a friendship for each other, and felt that ready immensely fatigued? Was I not thin? we were here to part, some in one direction, some I not feverish? Was I not, in short, utterly bein another. The Milanese conspirator could not, more- deviled? In this pleasant frame of mind I went to bed, over, forget what dangers and difficulties lay before where, instead of enjoying sweet sleep, and getting him. Without a passport he could not enter Genoa; comforted and refreshed, my torments were increased and how, without a passport, was he to embark on any a hundredfold. No sooner had I extinguished the ship or steamer? These embarrassing thoughts occu- candle, than the enemy descended on me in myriads, pied his mind, and kept him silent. The Hanoverian in the shapes of infernal mosquitoes, which stung me and Dalmatian had each his peculiar cause of anxiety. almost to madness. I battled with them manfully. Carlotta and her mamma were almost sad. The Cap- I killed them, hundreds at a time, on my forehead and tain's family was not addicted to talking, so that the on my cheeks, till my hands and face were covered task of keeping up the ball was left entirely to him and with blood. Still their numbers did not seem in the me. He was an old traveller, and, therefore, always least to be diminished. They renewed the attack as endeavoured to make the most of his time. He formed long as there was a whole place left on my skin, and no sudden likings or dislikings. He had a smile and a then stuck their stings into the wounds made by their pleasant word for everybody, could discuss all common-predecessors. If I had known Sterne's chapter of curses place topics with fluency, regarded everybody around by heart, I would gladly have levelled it against moshim as part of his amusement, and was intensely self-quitoes and all Genoa, which I pronounced all night long satisfied and comfortable whether whenthey left him they to be one of the avenues to Tartarus. Once I fancied went East or West, to the antipodes or to the devil. It it would be a fine stroke of northern policy to wrap mattered not a jot to him; he had seen them, he had con- my head in the sheet; but, besides that I should soon versed with them, and when they vanished he thought have been stifled on account of the heat of the room, as little of the circumstance as the dispersion of a cloud large numbers of the foe insinuated themselves along in a summer sky. Of this philosophy he was proud; with me under the fallacious covering, and appeared and some, perhaps, might have envied him. I confess to sting me more at their ease. So, giving up all I did not. I regret parting with people, especially if hope of sleep, and of remission from torment, there I their company has given me much pleasure; and, there-lay, uttering all sorts of imprecations, till the dawn. fore, with all the efforts I could make, I was unable to lose sight of the fact that our delightful little party would be broken up in a few hours, and that I should have once more to be thrown amongst entire strangers.chambermaid came to call me, she uttered a loud exAbout a mile from Genoa, the Milanese took his leave of us, shaking hands with more heartiness than I expected. He evidently felt much regret ; and, as he went off, I sincerely wished success to him and his cause. Presently we rattled into the streets of Genoa, stopped in the inn yard, shook hands, took our leave of each other, and, in ten minutes, I found myself in a pleasant little bed-room overlooking the sea, the breeze from which was blowing softly in at the open windows. CHAPTER XXI. COLUMBUS AND THE VIRGIN. Then, however, as if by magic, every little winged devil took its flight, and I enjoyed two or three hours of delicious sleep. When, very late in the morning, the clamation on seeing the state of my face, and begged a thousand pardons. It had been all her fault, she said, for, not remembering that I was a stranger, she had omitted to pull down the mosquito curtains, which had hung uselessly over my head all night. She desired me, however, to remain quietly in bed, and left the room. Returning presently, she brought along with her a cup of delicious coffee, and a thin, white, warm liquid, in a basin, in which she dipped a small bit of muslin, and bathed my forehead and face, which were dreadfully swollen. I forgot to inquire what the liquid was; but it almost immediately relieved the You have, of course, experienced that sudden collapse pain, and, in the course of half-an-hour, reduced the |