Life of Count Rumford. 303 



lady's shaking about her saddle, declaring it would turn, desir- 

 ing it to be fixed differently. This being complied with, the 

 cavalcade began its march, the Baron on the splendid Fawn, a 

 lady on each side of him, the aids and others behind ; and novel 

 was the sight, the ladies being dressed and seated nearly as the 

 English. The ' English Garden ' was the place destined for 

 the ride ; but to reach it a part of the streets of the town 

 were to be passed through, and many were the curious ones at 

 the windows to see the sight. All things went on well thus 

 far, and would have without doubt continued so, had not the 

 younger of the ladies, without due consideration, giving a whip 

 to her horse, set out, soon losing sight of the company, the 

 timidity of the other lady rendering it impossible for them to 

 follow. The Baron much frightened at seeing this young per- 

 son go off alone in unknown roads and winding paths, looked to 

 his aid Spreti to tell him to follow her ; but before the words 

 could be got out of his mouth the other one, Taxis, was on the 

 gallop. On arriving home in safety, relieved of our riding- 

 habits, we assembled as usual at the supper-table of my father 

 to take each of us a basin of chocolate. I made bad dinners, 

 not being fond of foreign cookery ; was fond of chocolate, but 

 never had half enough of it. Our respectable, charming guest 

 was the Countess of Nogarola, who will be often mentioned in 

 this narrative. 



" The Palace, my father's lodgings, was a building three 

 stories high, sixty or sixty-five feet in front, running back 

 possibly three times that distance, with an open space enclosed, 

 already mentioned, called the court. The second floor, my fa- 

 ther's habitation, was composed of two halls, one front and the 

 other back; the one with windows on the street and also on 

 the court extending the width of the front part of the palace; the 

 back premises, with windows on the rear ; and on the court 

 were the rooms my father particularly occupied. There were 

 three staircases, a gallery, and eight rooms ; the gallery, uniting 

 the two halls, consequently gave a passage throughout the 

 house, and gave the whole a handsome appearance. The floors 

 were of different-colored marble, or of smooth stone, resembling 



