“D—­n the house—­it’s a mere trick—­I’ll not eat anything, just to spite them,” said the Englishman, still more crusty at the prospect of being so long without his dinner.

“They say your honor’s very wrong,” said John, “to set off at this late hour.  The road’s full of highwaymen.”

“Mere tales to get custom.”

“The estafette which passed us was stopped by a whole gang,” said John, increasing his emphasis with each additional piece of information.

“I don’t believe a word of it.”

“They robbed him of his breeches,” said John, giving at the same time a hitch to his own waist-band.

“All humbug!”

Here the dark, handsome young man stepped forward and addressing the Englishman very politely in broken English, invited him to partake of a repast he was about to make.  “Thank’ee,” said the Englishman, thrusting his hands deeper into his pockets, and casting a slight side glance of suspicion at the young man, as if he thought from his civility he must have a design upon his purse.

“We shall be most happy if you will do us that favor,” said the lady, in her soft Venetian dialect.  There was a sweetness in her accents that was most persuasive.  The Englishman cast a look upon her countenance; her beauty was still more eloquent.  His features instantly relaxed.  He made an attempt at a civil bow.  “With great pleasure, signora,” said he.

In short, the eagerness to “get on” was suddenly slackened; the determination to famish himself as far as Fondi by way of punishing the landlord was abandoned; John chose the best apartment in the inn for his master’s reception, and preparations were made to remain there until morning.

The carriage was unpacked of such of its contents as were indispensable for the night.  There was the usual parade of trunks and writing-desks, and portfolios, and dressing-boxes, and those other oppressive conveniences which burden a comfortable man.  The observant loiterers about the inn door, wrapped up in great dirt-colored cloaks, with only a hawk’s eye uncovered, made many remarks to each other on this quantity of luggage that seemed enough for an army.  And the domestics of the inn talked with wonder of the splendid dressing-case, with its gold and silver furniture that was spread out on the toilette table, and the bag of gold that chinked as it was taken out of the trunk.  The strange “Milor’s” wealth, and the treasures he carried about him, were the talk, that evening, over all Terracina.

The Englishman took some time to make his ablutions and arrange his dress for table, and after considerable labor and effort in putting himself at his ease, made his appearance, with stiff white cravat, his clothes free from the least speck of dust, and adjusted with precision.  He made a formal bow on entering, which no doubt he meant to be cordial, but which any one else would have considered cool, and took his seat.