He brought us before the beautiful bust,—for it was beautiful,—and sprang back and struck an attitude,—
"Ah, look, genteelmen!—beautiful, grand,—bust Christopher Columbo!— beautiful bust, beautiful pedestal!"
The doctor put up his eye-glass,—procured for such occasions:—
"Ah,—what did you say this gentleman's name was?"
"Christopher Colombo! ze great Christopher Colombo!"
"Christopher Colombo,—the great Christopher Colombo. Well, what did he do?"
"Discover America!—discover America—oh, ze diable!"
"Discover America? No,—that statement will hardly wash. We are just from
America ourselves. Christopher Colombo,—pleasant name,—is—is he dead?"
"Oh, corpo di Bacco!—three hundred year!"
"What did he die of?"