CAFÉ MILAN.—SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED ARRIVAL
OF DISTINGUISHED FOREIGNERS.
THE MOMENT WE SEATED OURSELVES IN A CAFÉ, AN AWFUL GROUP OF BEGGARS STOOD BEFORE US—SO SUDDENLY THAT THEY APPEARED TO HAVE COME UP THROUGH A TRAP-DOOR—AND DEMANDED ALMS. THEY WOULD NOT GO WITHOUT MONEY, AND WHEN THEY GOT IT THEY TOOK IT AS A RIGHT. IT WOULD NOT DO FOR ONE OF US TO “SETTLE” WITH THEM FOR THE WHOLE PARTY, FOR NO SOONER HAD I GIVEN THEM A COIN THAN THEY TURNED TO JONES, AND WHEN DONE WITH HIM, COOLLY SET UPON ROBINSON. THE INSTANT ONE TRIBE DEPARTED, A FRESH RELAIS ARRIVED, SO THAT THERE WAS A CONSTANT SUPPLY (OF BEGGARS) AND DEMAND (ON OUR PURSES).
NO PLACE SEEMED SAFE: IN THE MOST MAGNIFICENT AND LUXURIOUSLY-DECORATED CAFÉS THEY HAD PERFECT RIGHT OF WAY, THE CONTRAST BETWEEN THE RICH GILDING, GLASS, FOUNTAINS, ETC., OF THE ONE, AND THE RAGS, DIRT, AND DRAMATICALLY GOT-UP HORRORS OF THE OTHER BEING PICTURESQUE, BUT CERTAINLY NOT PLEASANT; AND YET, AS JONES REMARKED, THEY SAY THIS COUNTRY HAS NOT FREE INSTITUTIONS.
THE AMPHITHEATRE, VERONA.
JONES ASKS ROBINSON, WHETHER HE “SEES BEFORE HIM THE GLADIATOR DIE?” BUT ROBINSON MAINTAINS A DIGNIFIED SILENCE.
AUSTRIAN DETECTIVE STOPS BROWN TO EXAMINE HIS SKETCHING STOOL. IT PUZZLES HIM. THERE IS AN AIR OF MYSTERY ABOUT IT. IT MIGHT POSSIBLY BE A WEAPON TO BE USED FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES, OR AN INFERNAL MACHINE! WHO KNOWS? ON THE WHOLE, HE THINKS HE HAD BETTER DETAIN IT.