TAORMINA. 
75 
well be considered as adding- insult to inj ury ; but having no 
alternative we paid the fees in order to get rid of the coun¬ 
sel, who were getting stronger every moment; and who had 
already enlisted the sympathies of every straggler in the street. 
COUNSEL FOR THE ACCUSED. 
Leaving Catania as soon as we could get a change of horses, 
we passed in sight of the Cyclopean isles, and about dark 
reached a town distant ten miles. Here we stopped for the 
night, much to the disgust of our Portuguese friend, who was 
rather sore in mind after the affair at Catania, and con¬ 
sequently could not tolerate an indifferent hotel. He was al¬ 
ways particular about hotels ; but this time he was uncom¬ 
monly fastidious. The Posta, where we stopped, had rooms 
good enough if they were only clean. Doctor Mendoza was 
incensed at the filth of this establishment. He excited him¬ 
self to such a degree on the subject of the bed-linen, that he 
ended by tearing his hair and rushing out in search of another 
hotel, and I was so fearful of some tragical act on his part, 
that I ran after him, imploring him to return. There were 
only two other hotels in the place, which he explored in the 
most violent manner ; darting furiously into the bedrooms, 
lifting up the bed-linen, making horrible faces of contempt 
