"'Then, your excellence, we will continue our walk.'
"'Your master has engaged to take me to Florenco in six hours,' said the Prince.
"'Where is the paper that says that—the written paper, your excellence?'
"'Paper! what need of a paper for so simple a matter? I have no paper.'
"'Then, your excellence, we will continue our walk.'
"'Ah, we will see that!' said the Prince.
"'Yes, we will see that!' said the driver.
"Hereupon the prince spoke to his German servant, Frantz, who was sitting beside the coachman, and bade him administer due correction to this refractory fellow.
"Frantz descended from the voiture without uttering a word, pulled down the driver from his seat, and pummelled him with true German gravity. Then pointing to the road, helped him on his box, and reseated himself by his side. The driver proceeded—a little slower than before. One wearies of all things in this world, even of beating a coachman. The prince, reasoning with himself that, fast or slow, he must at length arrive at his journey's end, counselled the princess his mother to compose herself to sleep; and, burying himself in one corner of the carriage, gave her the example.
"The driver occupied six hours in going from Livorno to Pontedera; just four hours more than was necessary. Arrived at Pontedera, he invited the Prince to descend, as he was about to change the carriage.