382 LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY CHAP. XVI 



Arriving at 10.30 very tired, got humbugged by a 

 lying Neapolitan, who palmed himself off as the com- 

 missaire of the Hotel Bristol, and took us into an 

 omnibus belonging to another hotel, that of the Bristol 

 being, as he said, " broke." After a drive of three miles 

 or so got to the Bristol and found it shut up ! After a 

 series of adventures and a good deal of strong language 

 on my part, knocked up the people here, who took us in, 

 though the hotel was in reality shut up like most of 

 those in Naples. 1 



As usual the weather is " unusual " hot in the sun, 

 cold round the corner and at night. Moreover, I found 

 by yesterday's paper that the beastly Sicilians won't give 

 up their ten days' quarantina So all chance of getting 

 to Catania or Palermo is gone. I am not sure whether 

 we shall stay here for some time or go to Rome, but at 

 any rate we shall be here a week. 



Dohrn is away getting subsidies in Germany for his 

 new ship. We inspected the Aquarium this morning. 

 Eisig and Mayer are in charge. Madame is a good deal 

 altered in the course of the twelve years that have elapsed 

 since I saw her, but says she is much better than she was. 



As for myself, I got very much better when in North 

 Italy in spite of the piercing cold. But the fatigue of 

 the journey from Ancona here, and the worry at the end 

 of it, did me no good, and I have been seedy for a day 

 or two. However, I am picking up. 



I see one has to be very careful hera We had a 

 lovely drive yesterday out Pausilippo, but the wife got 

 chilled and was shaky this morning. However, we got 

 very good news of our daughter this evening, and that 

 has set us both up. 



My blessing for to-morrow will reach you after date. 

 Let us hear how everything went off. 



Your return in May project is really impracticable on 



1 Owing to the cholera and consequent dearth of travellers. 



