Mme. J. Power on the Habits of the common Marten. 42 1 



help laughing. I told the servant, who understood nothing of 

 this scene, to look under the staircase ; to his great surprise, the 

 objects were found, and, which is astonishing, not one of them 

 was broken or torn. Whilst we were busy looking over the 

 different objects recovered, the Martens took to flight, and went 

 to hide themselves between the mattresses of my bed ; they 

 remained concealed there for more than two hours, but hunger 

 caused them to make their appearance. They passed along the 

 wall of the room in which I was; they had a frightened air, and did 

 not venture near me. I pretended not to see them. After their 

 meal, they hid themselves again ; I called them ; they came to 

 me with a ])itii'ul look ; I scolded them, and showed them the 

 cane, when they began their little cry of hi, hi, hi, and came in 

 a supplicating manner to lick my hands. After this, they were 

 well-behaved for some time. 



If any one pretended to strike me, my Martens became ex- 

 ceedingly angry, and if 1 had not kept them back by menaces, 

 they would have bitten him. One evening, being very busy 

 writing, I had my door closed. One of my friends, Mr. Pin- 

 kerton, called upon me, and was told that 1 was not to be 

 seen. In going away, he met one of his friends, who was also 

 coming to see me. He told him that I did not wish for any 

 visitors ; but in passing along the street, a foolish idea came 

 into their heads. Meeting one of the lamp-lighters, to take his 

 ladder, mount to the balcony, and enter the saloon was the work 

 of a moment. The Martens went before them with the usual 

 ceremonies, and then came into my study to announce that I 

 had visitors; not understanding what they wanted, I turned 

 round and saw the two gentlemen, when I understood every- 

 thing. As I was going to scold these gentlemen, I saw my 

 Martens getting angry; I ran into the saloon, and arrived just 

 in time to hinder the Martens from biting a gentleman who had 

 imprudently followed the example of his friends. The Martens 

 had never seen this gentleman, who had been absent from Mes- 

 sina whilst I had these animals, and certainly he did not expect 

 such a reception. Two of my intimate friends presented them- 

 selves ; the servant, knowing that I had somebody in the drawing- 

 room, showed them in. The Martens went before them with a 

 thousand caresses ; the stranger advanced to shake hands, but 

 the Martens would not permit him, and the scene was about to 

 recommence. I then took the cane, and they retired into a 

 corner of the room, but still kept their eyes flxed upon their 

 enemy. As it was the time for their meal, I had some meat 

 brought upon a plate, and gave it lo this gentleman, at the 

 same time placing one of the Martens upon his knee. The 

 Marten took the meat with a grunting noise ; the other Marten 



