1829.] The Man of Ill-Omen. 301 



and I was set loose on the waters of the bay, in a night as black as ink. 

 I shot along the bay ; but my course was not for Pausilippo. In half an 

 hour, I was on the quay of Naples ; and, in five minutes more, I was in 

 high council with the chief of the police. 



" ]My terms were simple — a third of the cargo : they were instantly 

 granted. I was furnished with half-a-dozen of the police row-boats ; 

 and, just as the sweetest dawn began to touch the rigging of the brigan- 

 tine with silver in its nook under the shore, I was on board, at the head 

 of fifty soldiers, and had the honour of seeing the giver of my kick 

 handed over the side of the vessel into my boat. His rage was inde- 

 scribable, but useless. He poured out a perpetual fire of tlie Neapolitan 

 vocabulary on my defenceless head ; but I only reminded him of his 

 yesterday's exercise of power; and, laughing, told him that if he 

 escaped the gallies tliis time, he might reckon upon his being an 

 emperor. 



" On my arrival at the prison, the chief of the police congratulated me 

 in the highest terms on my address, activity, and loyalty — promised that 

 the adjudication of my prize-money should be made with the smallest 

 possible delay — and exhibited me as a model to all his subordinates. I 

 answered him in a speech, which excited a burst of applause, " that I was 

 only too happy to have done my duty to the most distinguished of police 

 officers and the best of kings." Naples was now before me — glorious 

 Naples ! — and I was taking my leave of the escort with a low bow, when 

 one of the officers whispered tome that I had better remain where I was, 

 at least until the popular irritation had subsided a little — informers not 

 being in more vogue at Naples than elsewhere. I remonstrated. But a 

 look from the chief settled the business ; and I found myself housed 

 within — the walls of the city prison. 



" I raved for a while against all public functionaries all over the 

 world, and wondered where were the earthquakes for Naples, above 

 all other spots of the earth. But the earthquake slept : I found not a 

 single stone of the prison- walls shaken by my wrath ; and within these 

 walls I remained a week, a month, a year. The world was not at a stand 

 in the mean time ; and one day the prison-doors were opened, and all 

 its tenants ordered to appear in their best costume. I found in the 

 court-yard a company of French grenadiers drawn up, and half-a-dozen 

 drill-serjeants examining the prisoners. The whole dynasty of Naples 

 had run away. IMurat had come in their place ; and the present opera- 

 tion was to raise recruits among the best-looking of the prisoners. I 

 had the honour to be selected, in spite of my desperate reluctance to be 

 shot for any monarch, legitimate or illegitimate, under the sun. I was 

 sent to parade, learned the art of killing with a rapidity which earned 

 me the good opinion of one of the royal aides-de-camp, and was, in con- 

 sequence, drafted into the body-guard. 



" Here was the happiest period of my life — for it was the idlest. To 

 stand the ornament of his majesty's staircase — to wear lace, receive 

 douceurs, and enjoy pay for nothing — were my sole occupations for a 

 month. Delightful time ! But Avhat man is born for perpetual good 

 fortune ? I fell in love. The fair one was the daughter of one of the 

 king's chamberlains — a marquis, and as proud as Lucifer. But love is 

 the finest leveller in the world. The lady was lovely, young, and of 

 first-rate taste — for she adored me. I had fixed on tlie night of elope- 



