116 INVOCATION OF SAIKTS. 



she does," pointing to the picture. " You have 

 no idea," he continued, " how good she is to us ; 

 e* una eccellente persona, Signore/* 



I chanced to turn my eyes towards a picture 

 of our Saviour, which appeared to be quite in 

 the background compared to the position of that 

 of the Virgin, with all her candles, nosegays, 

 and decorations in the shape of small pieces of 

 silver and tin with eyes, legs, arms, &c., stamped 

 upon them, in commemoration of the cures on 

 those members performed by this miraculous 

 picture, and I asked if they prayed to him as 

 much as to the Virgin. " I will explain it to 

 you," he said ; " you, Signore, are his Excel- 

 lency's aide-de-camp. Well, I want to ask a 

 favour of his Excellency. I am a poor, ignorant 

 man, who do not know how to address myself 

 to so great a person, nor to explain to him my 

 wants ; so I go to you first, tell you my whole 

 story, and then, on one word from you to his Ex- 

 cellency, I get what I want." 



I walked with one of these caloyers to the top 

 of a mountain, to see the magnificent prospect, 

 and to visit a small church belonging to the con- 

 vent, and dedicated to St. George, where is kept 



