The Man Who Kept His Money in a Box

by Anthony Trollope

　　I first saw the man who kept his money in a box in the midst of theravine of the Via Mala. I interchanged a few words with him or withhis wife at the hospice, at the top of the Splugen; and I becameacquainted with him in the courtyard of Conradi's hotel at Chiavenna.It was, however, afterwards at Bellaggio, on the lake of Como, thatthat acquaintance ripened into intimacy. A good many years haverolled by since then, and I believe this little episode in his lifemay be told without pain to the feelings of any one.His name was -; let us for the present say that his name was Greene.How he learned that my name was Robinson I do not know, but I rememberwell that he addressed me by my name at Chiavenna. To go back,however, for a moment to the Via Mala;--I had been staying for a fewdays at the Golden Eagle at Tusis,--which, by-the-bye, I hold to bethe best small inn in all Switzerland, and its hostess to be, or tohave been, certainly the prettiest landlady,--and on the day of mydeparture southwards, I had walked on, into the Via Mala, so that thediligence might pick me up in the gorge. This pass I regard as one ofthe grandest spots to which my wandering steps have ever carried me,and though I had already lingered about it for many hours, I nowwalked thither again to take my last farewell of its dark toweringrocks, its narrow causeway and roaring river, trusting to my friendthe landlady to see that my luggage was duly packed upon thediligence. I need hardly say that my friend did not betray her trust.As one goes out from Switzerland towards Italy, the road through theVia Mala ascends somewhat steeply, and passengers by the diligence maywalk from the inn at Tusis into the gorge, and make their way throughthe greater part of the ravine before the vehicle will overtake them.This, however, Mr. Greene with his wife and daughter had omitted todo. When the diligence passed me in the defile, the horses trottingfor a few yards over some level portion of the road, I saw a man'snose pressed close against the glass of the coupe window. I saw moreof his nose than of any other part of his face, but yet I couldperceive that his neck was twisted and his eye upturned, and that hewas making a painful effort to look upwards to the summit of the rocksfrom his position inside the carriage.There was such a roar of wind and waters at the spot that it was notpracticable to speak to him, but I beckoned with my finger and thenpointed to the road, indicating that he should have walked. Heunderstood me, though I did not at the moment understand his answeringgesture. It was subsequently, when I knew somewhat of his habits,that he explained to me that on pointing to his open mouth, he hadintended to signify that he would be afraid of sore throat in exposinghimself to the air of that damp and narrow passage.I got up into the conductor's covered seat at the back of thediligence, and in this position encountered the drifting snow of theSplugen. I think it is coldest of all the passes. Near the top ofthe pass the diligence stops for awhile, and it is here, if Iremember, that the Austrian officials demand the travellers'passports. At least in those days they did so. These officials havenow retreated behind the Quadrilatere,--soon, as we hope, to make afurther retreat,--and the district belongs to the kingdom of UnitedItaly. There is a place of refreshment or hospice here, into which weall went for a few moments, and I then saw that my friend with theweak throat was accompanied by two ladies."You should not have missed the Via Mala," I said to him, as he stoodwarming his toes at the huge covered stove."We miss everything," said the elder of the two ladies, who, however,was very much younger than the gentleman, and not very much older thanher companion."I saw it beautifully, mamma," said the younger one; whereupon mammagave her head a toss, and made up her mind, as I thought, to take somelittle vengeance before long upon her step-daughter. I observed thatMiss Greene always called her step-mother mamma on the first approachof any stranger, so that the nature of the connection between themmight be understood. And I observed also that the elder lady alwaysgave her head a toss when she was so addressed."We don't mean to enjoy ourselves till we get down to the lake ofComo," said Mr. Greene. As I looked at him cowering over the stove,and saw how oppressed he was with great coats and warm wrappings forhis throat, I quite agreed with him that he had not begun to enjoyhimself as yet. Then we all got into our places again, and I saw nomore of the Greenes till we were standing huddled together in thelarge courtyard of Conradi's hotel at Chiavenna.Chiavenna is the first Italian town which the tourist reaches by thisroute, and I know no town in the North of Italy which is so closelysurrounded by beautiful scenery. The traveller as he falls down to itfrom the Splugen road is bewildered by the loveliness of the valleys,--that is to say, if he so arranges that he can see them withoutpressing his nose against the glass of a coach window. And then fromthe town itself there are walks of two, three, and four hours, which Ithink are unsurpassed for wild and sometimes startling beauties. Onegets into little valleys, green as emeralds, and surrounded on allsides by grey broken rocks, in which Italian Rasselases might havelived in perfect bliss; and then again one comes upon distant views upthe river courses, bounded far away by the spurs of the Alps, whichare perfect,--to which the fancy can add no additional charm.Conradi's hotel also is by no means bad; or was not in those days.For my part I am inclined to think that Italian hotels have received aworse name than they deserve; and I must profess that, looking merelyto creature comforts, I would much sooner stay a week at the GoldenKey at Chiavenna, than with mine host of the King's Head in thethriving commercial town of Muddleboro, on the borders of Yorkshireand Lancashire.I am always rather keen about my room in travelling, and havingsecured a chamber looking out upon the mountains, had returned to thecourt-yard to collect my baggage before Mr. Greene had succeeded inrealising his position, or understanding that he had to take uponhimself the duties of settling his family for the night in the hotelby which he was surrounded. When I descended he was stripping off theoutermost of three great coats, and four waiters around him werebeseeching him to tell them what accommodation he would require. Mr.Greene was giving sundry very urgent instructions to the conductorrespecting his boxes; but as these were given in English, I was notsurprised to find that they were not accurately followed. The man,however, was much too courteous to say in any language that he did notunderstand every word that was said to him. Miss Greene was standingapart, doing nothing. As she was only eighteen years of age, it wasof course her business to do nothing; and a very pretty little girlshe was, by no means ignorant of her own beauty, and possessed ofquite sufficient wit to enable her to make the most of it.Mr. Greene was very leisurely in his proceedings, and the four waiterswere almost reduced to despair."I want two bed-rooms, a dressing-room, and some dinner," he said atlast, speaking very slowly, and in his own vernacular. I could not inthe least assist him by translating it into Italian, for I did notspeak a word of the language myself; but I suggested that the manwould understand French. The waiter, however, had understood English.Waiters do understand all languages with a facility that ismarvellous; and this one now suggested that Mrs. Greene should followhim up-stairs. Mrs. Greene, however, would not move till she had seenthat her boxes were all right; and as Mrs. Greene was also a prettywoman, I found myself bound to apply myself to her assistance."Oh, thank you," said she. "The people are so stupid that one canreally do nothing with them. And as for Mr. Greene, he is of no useat all. You see that box, the smaller one. I have four hundredpounds' worth of jewellery in that, and therefore I am obliged to lookafter it.""Indeed," said I, rather startled at this amount of confidence onrather a short acquaintance. "In that case I do not wonder at yourbeing careful. But is it not rather rash, perhaps--""I know what you are going to say. Well, perhaps it is rash. Butwhen you are going to foreign courts, what are you to do? If you havegot those sort of things you must wear them."As I was not myself possessed of anything of that sort, and had nointention of going to any foreign court, I could not argue the matterwith her. But I assisted her in getting together an enormous pile ofluggage, among which there were seven large boxes covered with canvas,such as ladies not uncommonly carry with them when travelling. Thatone which she represented as being smaller than the others, and asholding jewellery, might be about a yard long by a foot and a halfdeep. Being ignorant in those matters, I should have thought itsufficient to carry all a lady's wardrobe for twelve months. When theboxes were collected together, she sat down upon the jewel-case andlooked up into my face. She was a pretty woman, perhaps thirty yearsof age, with long light yellow hair, which she allowed to escape fromher bonnet, knowing, perhaps, that it was not unbecoming to her whenthus dishevelled. Her skin was very delicate, and her complexiongood. Indeed her face would have been altogether prepossessing hadthere not been a want of gentleness in her eyes. Her hands, too, weresoft and small, and on the whole she may be said to have beenpossessed of a strong battery of feminine attractions. She also wellknew how to use them."Whisper," she said to me, with a peculiar but very proper aspirationon the h--"Wh-hisper," and both by the aspiration and the use of theword I knew at once from what island she had come. "Mr. Greene keepsall his money in this box also; so I never let it go out of my sightfor a moment. But whatever you do, don't tell him that I told youso."I laid my hand on my heart, and made a solemn asseveration that Iwould not divulge her secret. I need not, however, have troubledmyself much on that head, for as I walked up stairs, keeping my eyeupon the precious trunk, Mr. Greene addressed me."You are an Englishman, Mr. Robinson," said he. I acknowledged that Iwas."I am another. My wife, however, is Irish. My daughter,--by a formermarriage,--is English also. You see that box there.""Oh, yes," said I, "I see it." I began to be so fascinated by the boxthat I could not keep my eyes off it."I don't know whether or no it is prudent, but I keep all my moneythere; my money for travelling, I mean.""If I were you, then," I answered, "I would not say anything about itto any one.""Oh, no, of course not," said he; "I should not think of mentioningit. But those brigands in Italy always take away what you have aboutyour person, but they don't meddle with the heavy luggage.""Bills of exchange, or circular notes," I suggested."Ah, yes; and if you can't identify yourself, or happen to have aheadache, you can't get them changed. I asked an old friend of mine,who has been connected with the Bank of England for the last fiftyyears, and he assured me that there was nothing like sovereigns.""But you never get the value for them.""Well, not quite. One loses a franc, or a franc and a half. Butstill, there's the certainty, and that's the great matter. An Englishsovereign will go anywhere," and he spoke these words withconsiderable triumph."Undoubtedly, if you consent to lose a shilling on each sovereign.""At any rate, I have got three hundred and fifty in that box," hesaid. "I have them done up in rolls of twenty-five pounds each."I again recommended him to keep this arrangement of his as private aspossible,--a piece of counsel which I confess seemed to me to be muchneeded,--and then I went away to my own room, having first accepted aninvitation from Mrs. Greene to join their party at dinner. "Do," saidshe; "we have been so dull, and it will be so pleasant."I did not require to be much pressed to join myself to a party inwhich there was so pretty a girl as Miss Greene, and so attractive awoman as Mrs. Greene. I therefore accepted the invitation readily,and went away to make my toilet. As I did so I passed the door of Mr.Greene's room, and saw the long file of boxes being borne into thecentre of it.I spent a pleasant evening, with, however, one or two slightdrawbacks. As to old Greene himself, he was all that was amiable; butthen he was nervous, full of cares, and somewhat apt to be a bore. Hewanted information on a thousand points, and did not seem tounderstand that a young man might prefer the conversation of hisdaughter to his own. Not that he showed any solicitude to preventconversation on the part of his daughter. I should have beenperfectly at liberty to talk to either of the ladies had he not wishedto engross all my attention to himself. He also had found it dull tobe alone with his wife and daughter for the last six weeks.He was a small spare man, probably over fifty years of age, who gaveme to understand that he had lived in London all his life, and hadmade his own fortune in the city. What he had done in the city tomake his fortune he did not say. Had I come across him there I shouldno doubt have found him to be a sharp man of business, quite competentto teach me many a useful lesson of which I was as ignorant as aninfant. Had he caught me on the Exchange, or at Lloyd's, or in thebig room of the Bank of England, I should have been compelled to askhim everything. Now, in this little town under the Alps, he was asmuch lost as I should have been in Lombard Street, and was readyenough to look to me for information. I was by no means chary ingiving him my counsel, and imparting to him my ideas on things ingeneral in that part of the world;--only I should have preferred to beallowed to make myself civil to his daughter.In the course of conversation it was mentioned by him that theyintended to stay a few days at Bellaggio, which, as all the worldknows, is a central spot on the lake of Como, and a favourite resting-place for travellers. There are three lakes which all meet here, andto all of which we give the name of Como. They are properly calledthe lakes of Como, Colico, and Lecco; and Bellaggio is the spot atwhich their waters join each other. I had half made up my mind tosleep there one night on my road into Italy, and now, on hearing theirpurpose, I declared that such was my intention."How very pleasant," said Mrs. Greene. "It will be quite delightfulto have some one to show us how to settle ourselves, for really--""My dear, I'm sure you can't say that you ever have much trouble.""And who does then, Mr. Greene? I am sure Sophonisba does not do muchto help me.""You won't let me," said Sophonisba, whose name I had not beforeheard. Her papa had called her Sophy in the yard of the inn.Sophonisba Greene! Sophonisba Robinson did not sound so badly in myears, and I confess that I had tried the names together. Her papa hadmentioned to me that he had no other child, and had mentioned alsothat he had made his fortune.And then there was a little family contest as to the amount oftravelling labour which fell to the lot of each of the party, duringwhich I retired to one of the windows of the big front room in whichwe were sitting. And how much of this labour there is incidental to atourist's pursuits! And how often these little contests do arise upona journey! Who has ever travelled and not known them? I had taken upsuch a position at the window as might, I thought, have removed me outof hearing; but nevertheless from time to time a word would catch myear about that precious box. "I have never taken MY eyes off it sinceI left England," said Mrs. Greene, speaking quick, and with aconsiderable brogue super induced by her energy. "Where would it havebeen at Basle if I had not been looking after it?" "Quite safe," saidSophonisba; "those large things always are safe." "Are they, Miss?That's all you know about it. I suppose your bonnet-box was quitesafe when I found it on the platform at--at--I forget the name of theplace?""Freidrichshafen," said Sophonisba, with almost an unnecessary amountof Teutonic skill in her pronunciation. "Well, mamma, you have toldme of that at least twenty times." Soon after that, the ladies tookthem to their own rooms, weary with the travelling of two days and anight, and Mr. Greene went fast asleep in the very comfortless chairin which he was seated.At four o'clock on the next morning we started on our journey."Early to bed, and early to rise,Is the way to be healthy, and wealthy, and wise."We all know that lesson, and many of us believe in it; but if thelesson be true, the Italians ought to be the healthiest and wealthiestand wisest of all men and women. Three or four o'clock seems to themquite a natural hour for commencing the day's work. Why we shouldhave started from Chiavenna at four o'clock in order that we might bekept waiting for the boat an hour and a half on the little quay atColico, I don't know; but such was our destiny. There we remained anhour and a half; Mrs. Greene sitting pertinaciously on the oneimportant box. She had designated it as being smaller than theothers, and, as all the seven were now ranged in a row, I had anopportunity of comparing them. It was something smaller,--perhaps aninch less high, and an inch and a half shorter. She was a sharpwoman, and observed my scrutiny. "I always know it," she said in aloud whisper, "by this little hole in the canvas," and she put herfinger on a slight rent on one of the ends. "As for Greene, if one ofthose Italian brigands were to walk off with it on his shoulders,before his eyes, he wouldn't be the wiser. How helpless you men are,Mr. Robinson!""It is well for us that we have women to look after us.""But you have got no one to look after you;--or perhaps you have lefther behind?""No, indeed. I'm all alone in the world as yet. But it's not my ownfault. I have asked half a dozen.""Now, Mr. Robinson!" And in this way the time passed on the quay atColico, till the boat came and took us away. I should have preferredto pass my time in making myself agreeable to the younger lady; butthe younger lady stood aloof, turning up her nose, as I thought, ather mamma.I will not attempt to describe the scenery about Colico. The littletown itself is one of the vilest places under the sun, having noaccommodation for travellers, and being excessively unhealthy; butthere is very little either north or south of the Alps,--and, perhaps,I may add, very little elsewhere,--to beat the beauty of the mountainswhich cluster round the head of the lake. When we had sat upon thoseboxes that hour and a half, we were taken on board the steamer, whichhad been lying off a little way from the shore, and then we commencedour journey. Of course there was a good deal of exertion and carenecessary in getting the packages off from the shore on to the boat,and I observed that any one with half an eye in his head might haveseen that the mental anxiety expended on that one box which was markedby the small hole in the canvas far exceeded that which was extendedto all the other six boxes. "They deserve that it should be stolen,"I said to myself, "for being such fools." And then we went down tobreakfast in the cabin."I suppose it must be safe," said Mrs. Greene to me, ignoring the factthat the cabin waiter understood English, although she had justordered some veal cutlets in that language."As safe as a church," I replied, not wishing to give much apparentimportance to the subject."They can't carry it off here," said Mr. Greene. But he was innocentof any attempt at a joke, and was looking at me with all his eyes."They might throw it overboard," said Sophonisba. I at once made upmy mind that she could not be a good-natured girl. The moment thatbreakfast was over, Mrs. Greene returned again up-stairs, and I foundher seated on one of the benches near the funnel, from which she couldkeep her eyes fixed upon the box. "When one is obliged to carry aboutone's jewels with one, one must be careful, Mr. Robinson," she said tome apologetically. But I was becoming tired of the box, and thefunnel was hot and unpleasant, therefore I left her.I had made up my mind that Sophonisba was ill-natured; but,nevertheless, she was pretty, and I now went through some littlemanoeuvres with the object of getting into conversation with her.This I soon did, and was surprised by her frankness. "How tired youmust be of mamma and her box," she said to me. To this I made someanswer, declaring that I was rather interested than otherwise in thesafety of the precious trunk. "It makes me sick," said Sophonisba,"to hear her go on in that way to a perfect stranger. I heard whatshe said about her jewellery.""It is natural she should be anxious," I said, "seeing that itcontains so much that is valuable.""Why did she bring them?" said Sophonisba. "She managed to live verywell without jewels till papa married her, about a year since; and nowshe can't travel about for a month without lugging them with hereverywhere. I should be so glad if some one would steal them.""But all Mr. Greene's money is there also.""I don't want papa to be bothered, but I declare I wish the box mightbe lost for a day or so. She is such a fool; don't you think so, Mr.Robinson?"At this time it was just fourteen hours since I first had made theiracquaintance in the yard of Conradi's hotel, and of those fourteenhours more than half had been passed in bed. I must confess that Ilooked upon Sophonisba as being almost more indiscreet than hermother-in-law. Nevertheless, she was not stupid, and I continued myconversation with her the greatest part of the way down the laketowards Bellaggio.These steamers which run up and down the lake of Como and the LagoMaggiore, put out their passengers at the towns on the banks of thewater by means of small rowing-boats, and the persons who are about todisembark generally have their own articles ready to their hands whentheir turn comes for leaving the steamer. As we came near toBellaggio, I looked up my own portmanteau, and, pointing to thebeautiful wood-covered hill that stands at the fork of the waters,told my friend Greene that he was near his destination. "I am veryglad to hear it," said he, complacently, but he did not at the momentbusy himself about the boxes. Then the small boat ran up alongsidethe steamer, and the passengers for Como and Milan crowded up theside."We have to go in that boat," I said to Greene."Nonsense!" he exclaimed."Oh, but we have.""What! put our boxes into that boat," said Mrs. Greene. "Oh dear!Here, boatman! there are seven of these boxes, all in white likethis," and she pointed to the one that had the hole in the canvas."Make haste. And there are two bags, and my dressing case, and Mr.Greene's portmanteau. Mr. Greene, where is your portmanteau?"The boatman whom she addressed, no doubt did not understand a word ofEnglish, but nevertheless he knew what she meant, and, being wellaccustomed to the work, got all the luggage together in an incrediblysmall number of moments."If you will get down into the boat," I said, "I will see that theluggage follows you before I leave the deck.""I won't stir," she said, "till I see that box lifted down. Takecare; you'll let it fall into the lake. I know you will.""I wish they would," Sophonisba whispered into my ear.Mr. Greene said nothing, but I could see that his eyes were asanxiously fixed on what was going on as were those of his wife. Atlast, however, the three Greens were in the boat, as also were all thepackages. Then I followed them, my portmanteau having gone downbefore me, and we pushed off for Bellaggio. Up to this period most ofthe attendants around us had understood a word or two of English, butnow it would be well if we could find some one to whose ears Frenchwould not be unfamiliar. As regarded Mr. Greene and his wife, they, Ifound, must give up all conversation, as they knew nothing of anylanguage but their own. Sophonisba could make herself understood inFrench, and was quite at home, as she assured me, in German. And thenthe boat was beached on the shore at Bellaggio, and we all had to goagain to work with the object of getting ourselves lodged at the hotelwhich overlooks the water.I had learned before that the Greenes were quite free from any troublein this respect, for their rooms had been taken for them before theyleft England. Trusting to this, Mrs. Greene gave herself noinconsiderable airs the moment her foot was on the shore, and orderedthe people about as though she were the Lady Paramount of Bellaggio.Italians, however, are used to this from travellers of a certaindescription. They never resent such conduct, but simply put it downin the bill with the other articles. Mrs. Greene's words on thisoccasion were innocent enough, seeing that they were English; but hadI been that head waiter who came down to the beach with his nice blackshiny hair, and his napkin under his arm, I should have thought hermanner very insolent.Indeed, as it was, I did think so, and was inclined to be angry withher. She was to remain for some time at Bellaggio, and therefore itbehoved her, as she thought, to assume the character of the grand ladyat once. Hitherto she had been willing enough to do the work, but nowshe began to order about Mr. Greene and Sophonisba; and, as itappeared to me, to order me about also. I did not quite enjoy this;so leaving her still among her luggage and satellites, I walked up tothe hotel to see about my own bed-room. I had some seltzer water,stood at the window for three or four minutes, and then walked up anddown the room. But still the Greenes were not there. As I had put inat Bellaggio solely with the object of seeing something more ofSophonisba, it would not do for me to quarrel with them, or to allowthem so to settle themselves in their private sitting-room, that Ishould be excluded. Therefore I returned again to the road by whichthey must come up, and met the procession near the house.Mrs. Greene was leading it with great majesty, the waiter with theshiny hair walking by her side to point out to her the way. Then cameall the luggage,--each porter carrying a white canvas-covered box.That which was so valuable no doubt was carried next to Mrs. Greene,so that she might at a moment's notice put her eye upon the well-knownvaluable rent. I confess that I did not observe the hole as the trainpassed by me, nor did I count the number of the boxes. Seven boxes,all alike, are very many; and then they were followed by three othermen with the inferior articles,--Mr. Greene's portmanteau, thecarpetbag, &e., &c. At the tail of the line, I found Mr. Greene, andbehind him Sophonisba. "All your fatigues will be over now," I saidto the gentleman, thinking it well not to be too particular in myattentions to his daughter. He was panting beneath a terrible great-coat, having forgotten that the shores of an Italian lake are not socold as the summits of the Alps, and did not answer me. "I'm sure Ihope so," said Sophonisba. "And I shall advise papa not to go anyfarther unless he can persuade Mrs. Greene to send her jewels home.""Sophy, my dear," he said, "for Heaven's sake let us have a littlepeace since we are here." From all which I gathered that Mr. Greenhad not been fortunate in his second matrimonial adventure. We thenmade our way slowly up to the hotel, having been altogether distancedby the porters, and when we reached the house we found that thedifferent packages were already being carried away through the house,some this way and some that. Mrs. Green, the meanwhile, was talkingloudly at the door of her own sitting-room."Mr. Greene," she said, as soon as she saw her heavily oppressedspouse,--for the noonday sun was up,--"Mr. Greene, where are you?""Here, my dear," and Mr. Greene threw himself panting into the cornerof a sofa."A little seltzer water and brandy," I suggested. Mr. Greene's inmostheart leaped at the hint, and nothing that his remonstrant wife couldsay would induce him to move, until he had enjoyed the deliciousdraught. In the mean time the box with the hole in the canvas hadbeen lost.Yes; when we came to look into matters, to count the packages, and tofind out where we were, the box with the hole in the canvas was notthere. Or, at any rate, Mrs. Greene said it was not there. I workedhard to look it up, and even went into Sophonisba's bed-room in mysearch. In Sophonisba's bed-room there was but one canvas-coveredbox. "That is my own," said she, "and it is all that I have, exceptthis bag.""Where on earth can it be?" said I, sitting down on the trunk inquestion. At the moment I almost thought that she had beeninstrumental in hiding it."How am I to know?" she answered; and I fancied that even she wasdismayed. "What a fool that woman is!""The box must be in the house," I said."Do find it, for papa's sake; there's a good fellow. He will be sowretched without his money. I heard him say that he had only twopounds in his purse.""Oh, I can let him have money to go on with," I answered grandly. Andthen I went off to prove that I was a good fellow, and searchedthroughout the house. Two white boxes had by order been leftdownstairs, as they would not be needed; and these two were in a largecupboard of the hall, which was used expressly for stowing awayluggage. And then there were three in Mrs. Greene's bed-room, whichhad been taken there as containing the wardrobe which she wouldrequire while remaining at Bellaggio. I searched every one of thesemyself to see if I could find the hole in the canvas. But the hole inthe canvas was not there. And let me count as I would, I could makeout only six. Now there certainly had been seven on board thesteamer, though I could not swear that I had seen the seven put intothe small boat."Mr. Greene," said the lady standing in the middle of her remainingtreasures, all of which were now open, "you are worth nothing whentravelling. Were you not behind?" But Mr. Greene's mind was full,and he did not answer."It has been stolen before your very eyes," she continued."Nonsense, mamma," said Sophonisba. "If ever it came out of thesteamer it certainly came into the house.""I saw it out of the steamer," said Mrs. Greene, "and it certainly isnot in the house. Mr. Robinson, may I trouble you to send for thepolice?--at once, if you please, sir."I had been at Bellaggio twice before, but nevertheless I was ignorantof their system of police. And then, again, I did not know what wasthe Italian for the word."I will speak to the landlord," I said."If you will have the goodness to send for the police at once, I willbe obliged to you." And as she thus reiterated her command, shestamped with her foot upon the floor."There are no police at Bellaggio," said Sophonisba."What on earth shall I do for money to go on with?" said Mr. Greene,looking piteously up to the ceiling, and shaking both his hands.And now the whole house was in an uproar, including not only thelandlord, his wife and daughters, and all the servants, but also everyother visitor at the hotel. Mrs. Greene was not a lady who hid eitherher glories or her griefs under a bushel, and, though she spoke onlyin English, she soon made her protestations sufficiently audible. Sheprotested loudly that she had been robbed, and that she had beenrobbed since she left the steamer. The box had come on shore; of thatshe was quite certain. If the landlord had any regard either for hisown character or for that of his house, he would ascertain before anhour was over where it was, and who had been the thief. She wouldgive him an hour. And then she sat herself down; but in two minutesshe was up again, vociferating her wrongs as loudly as ever. All thiswas filtered through me and Sophonisba to the waiter in French, andfrom the waiter to the landlord; but the lady's gestures required notranslation to make them intelligible, and the state of her mind onthe matter was, I believe, perfectly well understood.Mr. Greene I really did pity. His feelings of dismay seemed to bequite as deep, but his sorrow and solicitude were repressed into moredecorum. "What am I to do for money?" he said. "I have not ashilling to go on with!" And he still looked up at the ceiling."You must send to England," said Sophonisba."It will take a month," he replied."Mr. Robinson will let you have what you want at present," addedSophonisba. Now I certainly had said so, and had meant it at thetime. But my whole travelling store did not exceed forty or fiftypounds, with which I was going on to Venice, and then back to Englandthrough the Tyrol. Waiting a month for Mr. Greene's money fromEngland might be even more inconvenient to me than to him. Then itoccurred to me that the wants of the Greene family would be numerousand expensive, and that my small stock would go but a little way amongso many. And what also if there had been no money and no jewels inthat accursed box! I confess that at the moment such an idea didstrike my mind. One hears of sharpers on every side committingdepredations by means of most singular intrigues and contrivances.Might it not be possible that the whole batch of Greenes belonged tothis order of society. It was a base idea, I own; but I confess thatI entertained it for a moment.I retired to my own room for a while that I might think over all thecircumstances. There certainly had been seven boxes, and one had hada hole in the canvas. All the seven had certainly been on board thesteamer. To so much I felt that I might safely swear. I had notcounted the seven into the small boat, but on leaving the largervessel I had looked about the deck to see that none of the Greenetrappings were forgotten. If left on the steamer, it had been so leftthrough an intent on the part of some one there employed. It wasquite possible that the contents of the box had been ascertainedthrough the imprudence of Mrs. Greene, and that it had been conveyedaway so that it might be rifled at Como. As to Mrs. Greene'sassertion that all the boxes had been put into the small boat, Ithought nothing of it. The people at Bellaggio could not have knownwhich box to steal, nor had there been time to concoct the plan incarrying the boxes up to the hotel. I came at last to thisconclusion, that the missing trunk had either been purloined andcarried on to Como,--in which case it would be necessary to lose notime in going after it; or that it had been put out of sight in someuncommonly clever way, by the Greenes themselves, as an excuse forborrowing as much money as they could raise and living without paymentof their bills. With reference to the latter hypothesis, I declaredto myself that Greene did not look like a swindler; but as to Mrs.Greene--! I confess that I did not feel so confident in regard toher.Charity begins at home, so I proceeded to make myself comfortable inmy room, feeling almost certain that I should not be able to leaveBellaggio on the following morning. I had opened my portmanteau whenI first arrived, leaving it open on the floor as is my wont. Somepeople are always being robbed, and are always locking up everything;while others wander safe over the world and never lock up anything.For myself, I never turn a key anywhere, and no one ever purloins fromme even a handkerchief. Cantabit vacuus--, and I am alwayssufficiently vacuus. Perhaps it is that I have not a handkerchiefworth the stealing. It is your heavy-laden, suspicious, mal-adroitGreenes that the thieves attack. I now found out that theaccommodating Boots, who already knew my ways, had taken my travellinggear into a dark recess which was intended to do for a dressing-room,and had there spread my portmanteau open upon some table or stool inthe corner. It was a convenient arrangement, and there I left itduring the whole period of my sojourn.Mrs. Greene had given the landlord an hour to find the box, and duringthat time the landlord, the landlady, their three daughters, and allthe servants in the house certainly did exert themselves to theutmost. Half a dozen times they came to my door, but I wasluxuriating in a washing-tub, making up for that four-o'clock startfrom Chiavenna. I assured them, however, that the box was not there,and so the search passed by. At the end of the hour I went back tothe Greenes according to promise, having resolved that some one mustbe sent on to Como to look after the missing article.There was no necessity to knock at their sitting-room door, for it waswide open. I walked in, and found Mrs. Greene still engaged inattacking the landlord, while all the porters who had carried theluggage up to the house were standing round. Her voice was loud abovethe others, but, luckily for them all, she was speaking English. Thelandlord, I saw, was becoming sulky. He spoke in Italian, and we noneof us understood him, but I gathered that he was declining to doanything further. The box, he was certain, had never come out of thesteamer. The Boots stood by interpreting into French, and, acting assecond interpreter, I put it into English.Mr. Greene, who was seated on the sofa, groaned audibly, but saidnothing. Sophonisba, who was sitting by him, beat upon the floor withboth her feet."Do you hear, Mr. Greene?" said she, turning to him. "Do you mean toallow that vast amount of property to be lost without an effort? Areyou prepared to replace my jewels?""Her jewels!" said Sophonisba, looking up into my face. "Papa had topay the bill for every stitch she had when he married her." Theselast words were so spoken as to be audible only by me, but her firstexclamation was loud enough. Were they people for whom it would beworth my while to delay my journey, and put myself to seriousinconvenience with reference to money?A few minutes afterwards I found myself with Greene on the terracebefore the house. "What ought I to do?" said he."Go to Como," said I, "and look after your box. I will remain hereand go on board the return steamer. It may perhaps be there.""But I can't speak a word of Italian," said he."Take the Boots," said I."But I can't speak a word of French." And then it ended in myundertaking to go to Como. I swear that the thought struck me that Imight as well take my portmanteau with me, and cut and run when I gotthere. The Greenes were nothing to me.I did not, however, do this. I made the poor man a promise, and Ikept it. I took merely a dressing-bag, for I knew that I must sleepat Como; and, thus resolving to disarrange all my plans, I started. Iwas in the midst of beautiful scenery, but I found it quite impossibleto draw any enjoyment from it;--from that or from anything around me.My whole mind was given up to anathemas against this odious box, as towhich I had undoubtedly heavy cause of complaint. What was the box tome? I went to Como by the afternoon steamer, and spent a long drearyevening down on the steamboat quays searching everywhere, andsearching in vain. The boat by which we had left Colico had gone backto Colico, but the people swore that nothing had been left on boardit. It was just possible that such a box might have gone on to Milanwith the luggage of other passengers.I slept at Como, and on the following morning I went on to Milan.There was no trace of the box to be found in that city. I went roundto every hotel and travelling office, but could hear nothing of it.Parties had gone to Venice, and Florence, and Bologna, and any of themmight have taken the box. No one, however, remembered it; and Ireturned back to Como, and thence to Bellaggio, reaching the latterplace at nine in the evening, disappointed, weary, and cross."Has Monsieur found the accursed trunk?" said the Bellaggio Boots,meeting me on the quay."In the name of the--, no. Has it not turned up here?""Monsieur," said the Boots, "we shall all be mad soon. The poormaster, he is mad already." And then I went up to the house."My jewels!" shouted Mrs. Greene, rushing to me with her armsstretched out as soon as she heard my step in the corridor. I am surethat she would have embraced me had I found the box. I had not,however, earned any such reward. "I can hear nothing of the boxeither at Como or Milan," I said."Then what on earth am I to do for my money?" said Mr. Greene.I had had neither dinner nor supper, but the elder Greenes did notcare for that. Mr. Greene sat silent in despair, and Mrs. Greenestormed about the room in her anger. "I am afraid you are verytired," said Sophonisba."I am tired, and hungry, and thirsty," said I. I was beginning to getangry, and to think myself ill used. And that idea as to a family ofswindlers became strong again. Greene had borrowed ten napoleons fromme before I started for Como, and I had spent above four in myfruitless journey to that place and Milan. I was beginning to fearthat my whole purpose as to Venice and the Tyrol would be destroyed;and I had promised to meet friends at Innspruck, who,--who were verymuch preferable to the Greenes. As events turned out, I did meetthem. Had I failed in this, the present Mrs. Robinson would not havebeen sitting opposite to me.I went to my room and dressed myself, and then Sophonisba presidedover the tea-table for me. "What are we to do?" she asked me in aconfidential whisper."Wait for money from England.""But they will think we are all sharpers," she said; "and upon my wordI do not wonder at it from the way in which that woman goes on." Shethen leaned forward, resting her elbow on the table and her face onher hand, and told me a long history of all their family discomforts.Her papa was a very good sort of man, only he had been made a fool ofby that intriguing woman, who had been left without a sixpence withwhich to bless herself. And now they had nothing but quarrels andmisery. Papa did not always got the worst of it;--papa could rousehimself sometimes; only now he was beaten down and cowed by the lossof his money. This whispering confidence was very nice in its way,seeing that Sophonisba was a pretty girl; but the whole matter seemedto be full of suspicion."If they did not want to take you in in one way, they did in another,"said the present Mrs. Robinson, when I told the story to her atInnspruck. I beg that it may be understood that at the time of mymeeting the Greenes I was not engaged to the present Mrs. Robinson,and was open to make any matrimonial engagement that might have beenpleasing to me.On the next morning, after breakfast, we held a council of war. I hadbeen informed that Mr. Greene had made a fortune, and was justified inpresuming him to be a rich man. It seemed to me, therefore, that hiscourse was easy. Let him wait at Bellaggio for more money, and whenhe returned home, let him buy Mrs. Greene more jewels. A poor manalways presumes that a rich man is indifferent about his money. Butin truth a rich man never is indifferent about his money, and poorGreene looked very blank at my proposition."Do you mean to say that it's gone for ever?" he asked."I'll not leave the country without knowing more about it," said Mrs.Greene."It certainly is very odd," said Sophonisba. Even Sophonisba seemedto think that I was too off-hand."It will be a month before I can get money, and my bill here will besomething tremendous," said Greene."I wouldn't pay them a farthing till I got my box," said Mrs. Greene."That's nonsense," said Sophonisba. And so it was. "Hold yourtongue, Miss!" said the step-mother."Indeed, I shall not hold my tongue," said the step-daughter. PoorGreene! He had lost more than his box within the last twelve months;for, as I had learned in that whispered conversation over the tea-table with Sophonisba; this was in reality her papa's marriage trip.Another day was now gone, and we all went to bed. Had I not been veryfoolish I should have had myself called at five in the morning, andhave gone away by the early boat, leaving my ten napoleons behind me.But, unfortunately, Sophonisba had exacted a promise from me that Iwould not do this, and thus all chance of spending a day or two inVenice was lost to me. Moreover, I was thoroughly fatigued, andalmost glad of any excuse which would allow me to lie in bed on thefollowing morning. I did lie in bed till nine o'clock, and then foundthe Greenes at breakfast."Let us go and look at the Serbelloni Gardens," said I, as soon as thesilent meal was over; "or take a boat over to the Sommariva Villa.""I should like it so much," said Sophonisba."We will do nothing of the kind till I have found my property," saidMrs. Greene. "Mr. Robinson, what arrangement did you make yesterdaywith the police at Como?""The police at Como?" I said. "I did not go to the police.""Not go to the police? And do you mean to say that I am to be robbedof my jewels and no efforts made for redress? Is there no such thingas a constable in this wretched country? Mr. Greene, I do insist uponit that you at once go to the nearest British consul.""I suppose I had better write home for money," said he."And do you mean to say that you haven't written yet?" said I,probably with some acrimony in my voice."You needn't scold papa," said Sophonisba."I don't know what I am to do," said Mr. Greene, and he began walkingup and down the room; but still he did not call for pen and ink, and Ibegan again to feel that he was a swindler. Was it possible that aman of business, who had made his fortune in London, should allow hiswife to keep all her jewels in a box, and carry about his own money inthe same?"I don't see why you need be so very unhappy, papa," said Sophonisba."Mr. Robinson, I'm sure, will let you have whatever money you may wantat present." This was pleasant!"And will Mr. Robinson return me my jewels which were lost, I mustsay, in a great measure, through his carelessness," said Mrs. Greene.This was pleasanter!"Upon my word, Mrs. Greene, I must deny that," said I, jumping up."What on earth could I have done more than I did do? I have been toMilan and nearly fagged myself to death.""Why didn't you bring a policeman back with you?""You would tell everybody on board the boat what there was in it,"said I."I told nobody but you," she answered."I suppose you mean to imply that I've taken the box," I rejoined. Sothat on this, the third or fourth day of our acquaintance, we did notgo on together quite pleasantly.But what annoyed me, perhaps, the most, was the confidence with whichit seemed to be Mr. Greene's intention to lean upon my resources. Hecertainly had not written home yet, and had taken my ten napoleons, asone friend may take a few shillings from another when he finds that hehas left his own silver on his dressing-table. What could he havewanted of ten napoleons? He had alleged the necessity of paying theporters, but the few francs he had had in his pocket would have beenenough for that. And now Sophonisba was ever and again prompt in herassurances that he need not annoy himself about money, because I wasat his right hand. I went upstairs into my own room, and counting allmy treasures, found that thirty-six pounds and some odd silver was theextent of my wealth. With that I had to go, at any rate, as far asInnspruck, and from thence back to London. It was quite impossiblethat I should make myself responsible for the Greenes' bill atBellaggio.We dined early, and after dinner, according to a promise made in themorning, Sophonisba ascended with me into the Serbelloni Gardens, andwalked round the terraces on that beautiful hill which commands theview of the three lakes. When we started I confess that I wouldsooner have gone alone, for I was sick of the Greenes in my very soul.We had had a terrible day. The landlord had been sent for so often,that he refused to show himself again. The landlady--though Italiansof that class are always courteous--had been so driven that shesnapped her fingers in Mrs. Greene's face. The three girls would notshow themselves. The waiters kept out of the way as much as possible;and the Boots, in confidence, abused them to me behind their back."Monsieur," said the Boots, "do you think there ever was such a box?""Perhaps not," said I; and yet I knew that I had seen it.I would, therefore, have preferred to walk without Sophonisba; butthat now was impossible. So I determined that I would utilise theoccasion by telling her of my present purpose. I had resolved tostart on the following day, and it was now necessary to make myfriends understand that it was not in my power to extend to them anyfurther pecuniary assistance.Sophonisba, when we were on the hill, seemed to have forgotten thebox, and to be willing that I should forget it also. But this wasimpossible. When, therefore, she told me how sweet it was to escapefrom that terrible woman, and leaned on my arm with all the freedom ofold acquaintance, I was obliged to cut short the pleasure of themoment."I hope your father has written that letter," said I."He means to write it from Milan. We know you want to get on, so wepurpose to leave here the day after to-morrow.""Oh!" said I thinking of the bill immediately, and remembering thatMrs. Greene had insisted on having champagne for dinner."And if anything more is to be done about the nasty box, it may bedone there," continued Sophonisba."But I must go to-morrow," said I, "at 5 a.m.""Nonsense," said Sophonisba. "Go to-morrow, when I,--I mean we,--aregoing on the next day!""And I might as well explain," said I, gently dropping the hand thatwas on my arm, "that I find,--I find it will be impossible for me--to--to--""To what?""To advance Mr. Greene any more money just at present." ThenSophonisba's arm dropped all at once, and she exclaimed, "Oh, Mr.Robinson!"After all, there was a certain hard good sense about Miss Greene whichwould have protected her from my evil thoughts had I known all thetruth. I found out afterwards that she was a considerable heiress,and, in spite of the opinion expressed by the present Mrs. Robinsonwhen Miss Walker, I do not for a moment think she would have acceptedme had I offered to her."You are quite right not to embarrass yourself," she said, when Iexplained to her my immediate circumstances; "but why did you makepapa an offer which you cannot perform? He must remain here now tillhe hears from England. Had you explained it all at first, the tennapoleons would have carried us to Milan." This was all true, and yetI thought it hard upon me.It was evident to me now, that Sophonisba was prepared to join herstep-mother in thinking that I had ill-treated them, and I had notmuch doubt that I should find Mr. Greene to be of the same opinion.There was very little more said between us during the walk, and whenwe reached the hotel at seven or half-past seven o'clock, I merelyremarked that I would go in and wish her father and mother good-bye."I suppose you will drink tea with us," said Sophonisba, and to this Iassented.I went into my own room, and put all my things into my portmanteau,for according to the custom, which is invariable in Italy when anearly start is premeditated, the Boots was imperative in his demandthat the luggage should be ready over night. I then went to theGreene's sitting-room, and found that the whole party was now aware ofmy intentions."So you are going to desert us," said Mrs. Greene."I must go on upon my journey," I pleaded in a weak apologetic voice."Go on upon your journey, sir!" said Mrs. Greene. "I would not for amoment have you put yourself to inconvenience on our account." Andyet I had already lost fourteen napoleons, and given up all prospectof going to Venice!"Mr. Robinson is certainly right not to break his engagement with MissWalker," said Sophonisba. Now I had said not a word about anengagement with Miss Walker, having only mentioned incidentally thatshe would be one of the party at Innspruck. "But," continued she, "Ithink he should not have misled us." And in this way we enjoyed ourevening meal.I was just about to shake hands with them all, previous to my finaldeparture from their presence, when the Boots came into the room."I'll leave the portmanteau till to-morrow morning," said he."All right," said I."Because," said he, "there will be such a crowd of things in the hall.The big trunk I will take away now.""Big trunk,--what big trunk?""The trunk with your rug over it, on which your portmanteau stood."I looked round at Mr., Mrs., and Miss Greene, and saw that they wereall looking at me. I looked round at them, and as their eyes met mineI felt that I turned as red as fire. I immediately jumped up andrushed away to my own room, hearing as I went that all their stepswere following me. I rushed to the inner recess, pulled down theportmanteau, which still remained in its old place, tore away my owncarpet rug which covered the support beneath it, and there saw--awhite canvas-covered box, with a hole in the canvas on the side nextto me!"It is my box," said Mrs. Greene, pushing me away, as she hurried upand put her finger within the rent."It certainly does look like it," said Mr. Greene, peering over hiswife's shoulder."There's no doubt about the box," said Sophonisba."Not the least in life," said I, trying to assume an indifferent look."Mon Dieu!" said the Boots."Corpo di Baccho!" exclaimed the landlord, who had now joined theparty."Oh--h--h--h--!" screamed Mrs. Greene, and then she threw herself hackon to my bed, and shrieked hysterically.There was no doubt whatsoever about the fact. There was the lost box,and there it had been during all those tedious hours of unavailingsearch. While I was suffering all that fatigue in Milan, spending myprecious zwanzigers in driving about from one hotel to another, thebox had been safe, standing in my own room at Bellaggio, hidden by myown rug. And now that it was found everybody looked at me as thoughit were all my fault.Mrs. Greene's eyes, when she had done being hysterical, were terrible,and Sophonisba looked at me as though I were a convicted thief."Who put the box here?" I said, turning fiercely upon the Boots."I did," said the Boots, "by Monsieur's express order.""By my order?" I exclaimed."Certainly," said the Boots."Corpo di Baccho!" said the landlord, and he also looked at me asthough I were a thief. In the mean time the landlady and the threedaughters had clustered round Mrs. Greene, administering to her allmanner of Italian consolation. The box, and the money, and the jewelswere after all a reality; and much incivility can be forgiven to alady who has really lost her jewels, and has really found them again.There and then there arose a hurly-burly among us as to the manner inwhich the odious trunk found its way into my room. Had anybody beenjust enough to consider the matter coolly, it must have been quiteclear that I could not have ordered it there. When I entered thehotel, the boxes were already being lugged about, and I had spoken aword to no one concerning them. That traitorous Boots had done it,--no doubt without malice pretense; but he had done it; and now that theGreenes were once more known as moneyed people, he turned upon me, andtold me to my face, that I had desired that box to be taken to my ownroom as part of my own luggage!"My dear," said Mr. Greene, turning to his wife, "you should nevermention the contents of your luggage to any one.""I never will again," said Mrs. Greene, with a mock repentant air,"but I really thought--""One never can be sure of sharpers," said Mr. Greene."That's true," said Mrs. Greene."After all, it may have been accidental," said Sophonisba, on hearingwhich good-natured surmise both papa and mamma Greene shook theirsuspicious heads.I was resolved to say nothing then. It was all but impossible thatthey should really think that I had intended to steal their box; nor,if they did think so, would it have become me to vindicate myselfbefore the landlord and all his servants. I stood by therefore insilence, while two of the men raised the trunk, and joined theprocession which followed it as it was carried out of my room intothat of the legitimate owner. Everybody in the house was there bythat time, and Mrs. Greene, enjoying the triumph, by no means grudgedthem the entrance into her sitting-room. She had felt that she wassuspected, and now she was determined that the world of Bellaggioshould know how much she was above suspicion. The box was put downupon two chairs, the supporters who had borne it retiring a pace each.Mrs. Greene then advanced proudly with the selected key, and Mr.Greene stood by at her right shoulder, ready to receive his portion ofthe hidden treasure. Sophonisba was now indifferent, and threwherself on the sofa, while I walked up and down the roomthoughtfully,--meditating what words I should say when I took my lastfarewell of the Greenes. But as I walked I could see what occurred.Mrs. Greene opened the box, and displayed to view the ample folds of ahuge yellow woollen dressing-down. I could fancy that she would notwillingly have exhibited this article of her toilet, had she not feltthat its existence would speedily be merged in the presence of theglories which were to follow. This had merely been the padding at thetop of the box. Under that lay a long papier-mch case, and in thatwere all her treasures. "Ah, they are safe," she said, opening thelid and looking upon her tawdry pearls and carbuncles.Mr. Greene, in the mean time, well knowing the passage for his hand,had dived down to the very bottom of the box, and seized hold of asmall canvas bag. "It is here," said he, dragging it up, "and as faras I can tell, as yet, the knot has not been untied." Whereupon hesat himself down by Sophonisba, and employing her to assist him inholding them, began to count his rolls. "They are all right," saidhe; and he wiped the perspiration from his brow.I had not yet made up my mind in what manner I might best utter mylast words among them so as to maintain the dignity of my character,and now I was standing over against Mr. Greene with my arms folded onmy breast. I had on my face a frown of displeasure, which I am ableto assume upon occasions, but I had not yet determined what words Iwould use. After all, perhaps, it might be as well that I shouldleave them without any last words."Greene, my dear," said the lady, "pay the gentleman his tennapoleons.""Oh yes, certainly;" whereupon Mr. Greene undid one of the rolls andextracted eight sovereigns. "I believe that will make it right, sir,"said he, handing them to me.I took the gold, slipped it with an indifferent air into my waistcoatpocket, and then refolded my arms across my breast."Papa," said Sophonisba, in a very audible whisper, "Mr. Robinson wentfor you to Como. Indeed, I believe he says he went to Milan.""Do not let that be mentioned," said I."By all means pay him his expenses," said Mrs. Greene; "I would notowe him anything for worlds.""He should be paid," said Sophonisba."Oh, certainly," said Mr. Greene. And he at once extracted anothersovereign, and tendered it to me in the face of the assembledmultitude.This was too much! "Mr. Greene," said I, "I intended to be of serviceto you when I went to Milan, and you are very welcome to the benefitof my intentions. The expense of that journey, whatever may be itsamount, is my own affair." And I remained standing with my closedarms."We will be under no obligation to him," said Mrs. Greene; "and Ishall insist on his taking the money.""The servant will put it on his dressing-table," said Sophonisba. Andshe handed the sovereign to the Boots, giving him instructions."Keep it yourself, Antonio," I said. Whereupon the man chucked it tothe ceiling with his thumb, caught it as it fell, and with a well-satisfied air, dropped it into the recesses of his pocket. The air ofthe Greenes was also well satisfied, for they felt that they had paidme in full for all my services.And now, with many obsequious bows and assurances of deep respect, thelandlord and his family withdrew from the room. "Was there anythingelse they could do for Mrs. Greene?" Mrs. Greene was all affability.She had shown her jewels to the girls, and allowed them to expresstheir admiration in pretty Italian superlatives. There was nothingelse she wanted to-night. She was very happy and liked Bellaggio.She would stay yet a week, and would make herself quite happy. And,though none of them understood a word that the other said, eachunderstood that things were now rose-coloured, and so with scrapings,bows, and grinning smiles, the landlord and all his myrmidonswithdrew. Mr. Greene was still counting his money, sovereign bysovereign, and I was still standing with my folded arms upon my bosom."I believe I may now go," said I."Good night," said Mrs. Greene."Adieu," said Sophonisba."I have the pleasure of wishing you good-bye," said Mr. Greene.And then I walked out of the room. After all, what was the use ofsaying anything? And what could I say that would have done me anyservice? If they were capable of thinking me a thief,--which theycertainly did,--nothing that I could say would remove the impression.Nor, as I thought, was it suitable that I should defend myself fromsuch an imputation. What were the Greenes to me? So I walked slowlyout of the room, and never again saw one of the family from that dayto this.As I stood upon the beach the next morning, while my portmanteau wasbeing handed into the boat, I gave the Boots five zwanzigers. I wasdetermined to show him that I did not condescend to feel anger againsthim.He took the money, looked into my face, and then whispered to me, "Whydid you not give me a word of notice beforehand?" he said, and winkedhis eye. He was evidently a thief, and took me to be another;--butwhat did it matter?I went thence to Milan, in which city I had no heart to look atanything; thence to Verona, and so over the pass of the Brenner toInnspruck. When I once found myself near to my dear friends theWalkers I was again a happy man; and I may safely declare that, thougha portion of my journey was so troublesome and unfortunate, I lookback upon that tour as the happiest and the luckiest epoch of my life.

　　THE END.* * * * * * * * * * * *