lS-29.2 « Meditenanean Sketch. 25 



" So! they charge others with the vengeance of offences done to 

 themselves. Poor people ! what wives they must have !" 



" I say again, enough ! One should not displease one's guests. On 

 the Continent they understand nothing of justice. Speak no more 

 of it." 



These words put an end to the conversation ; and the supper being 

 over, the two friends were conducted to their chambei-. Two slight 

 mattrasses, upon two palliasses, filled with the leaves of Indian corn, and 

 covered with coarse but white cloth, composed the beds, of which the 

 wood was chesnut, cut with the saw. There were also a table, and four 

 stools, of a similar exliibition of art. The unglazed windows were 

 closed by shutters. Upon a huge block of wood, placed l^etween the 

 two beds, was a little statue of the Virgin, in lead, formerly gilt ; and 

 on either side of it were candlesticks of the same material, with long 

 lights of white wax. Above this sort of chapel, there was suspended 

 from the wall a large ebony crucifix. A sabre and regimental firelock, 

 such as w^ere formerly used by the French infantry, were hung beside 

 the crucifix. Four wicks, burning in a Genoese lamp of yellow copper, 

 lighted the room. It was laid upon a table near two wooden plates, in 

 one of which Avere hard biscuits, in the other, fruit. A bottle of wine, a 

 vase of water, and two wooden cups, completed the service prepared for 

 the first repast of the travellers, should they feel hungry before the 

 family hour for breakfast. 



" All here," said Lord Charles, " bears the aspect of poverty, but 

 nothing of misery. We must remember that we are not in an auberge, 

 that we cannot offer money for their hospitality, and that those people who 

 exercise it so liberally, are ignorant if they are to be reimbursed in any 

 way whatever," 



" I shall be no ingrate, I assure you," replied the count ; " but yet 

 one knows not what to give to people who seem to care for nothing." 



" Under Petrino's care, I think we might do without pistols ; so I 

 shall ask our host to accept of mine." 



" Those capital English pistols which you refused to the duke?" 



"■ What could he have done with them ?" 



" Why, I certainly think that Ettore understands their use somewhat 

 better ; but as it is useless to leave him an arsenal — besides that, my 

 pistols are your present — I shall not offer them to him. And yet what 

 have I to leave him }" 



" That Mexican chaplet that you bought for Federowna would be 

 acceptable to Angeluccia; and, at Malta, we shall get enough of 

 them." 



" I should rather give it to the pretty Laura, whose eyes are so black, 

 and whose teeth are so white." 



" I should not advise it ; for the history of Rosalinde appeared to me 

 to finish rather abruptly." 



" Our host needs not have come in on us so soon : his wife was dis- 

 posed to tell us every thing." 



" But she had reached the denouement, for the heroine was dead." 



" The manner was not cheering, certainly. — A prop'os, shall we not 

 go and visit this same Sacra — this Pythoness ? You, who have told me 

 so much about second-sight, ought to be curious to compare this demi- 

 African with your Caledonian witches." 



M. IM. New Series.— Vol.. VIII. No. 43. E 



