"I think I would rather dine at the hotel," thought Ben; but the diet was not by any means the worst thing of which he complained.
"If I were free I would not mind how poor and plain my fare was," he thought.
His companions finished dinner before him, and had leisure to bestow some attention upon him.
"My little gentleman, do you come from Rome?" asked the venerable old gentleman on his right.
"No, sir," answered Ben.
"I am sorry. I wished to ask you a question."
"Indeed, sir. Perhaps I might answer it even now. I have been in Florence."
"No; that will not do; and yet, perhaps you may have met persons coming from Rome?"
"I did, monsieur."
"Then perhaps they told you how things were going on."