The Cholera. 309 



Madonna and making processions, after which it 

 was remarked that the number of cases was in- 

 variably increased. The Misericordia went about 

 in their fearful costume, indefatigable in carrying 

 the sick to the hospitals. The devotion of that 

 society was beyond all praise ; the young and the 

 old, the artisan and the nobleman, went night and 

 day in detachments carrying aid to the suiferers, not 

 in Florence only, but to Fiesole and the villages 

 round. We never were afraid, but we consulted 

 Professor Zanetti, our medical adviser, whether we 

 should leave the town, which we were unwilling to 

 do, as we thought we should be far from medical 

 assistance, and he said, "By no means ; live as 

 usual, drive out as you have always done, and make 

 not the smallest change." We followed his advice, 

 and drove out every afternoon till near dark, and 

 then passed the rest of the evening with those friends 

 who, like ourselves, had remained in town. None of 

 us took the disease except one of our servants, who 

 recovered from instant help being given. 



The Marquis of Normanby was British minister 

 at that time, and Lady Normanby and he were 

 always kind and hospitable to us. At her house we 

 became acquainted with Signora Barbieri-Nini, the 

 celebrated opera-singer, who had retired from the 

 stage, and lived with her husband, a Sienese gentle- 



