The official here is seen "pointing" on the scent (as he thinks) of contraband goods in one of Robinson's portmanteaus. He did not "find,"
but in the hunt, tossed R.'s "things" dreadfully. Brown revenged the wrongs of self and friends, by taking a full length, on the spot, of that imposing administrator, who stands over there, with the passports in his hand.
"Excelsior!"
An Italian view.
"Buon giorno."
EVENING ON THE LAGO MAGGIORE.
"'Knowest thou the land' where the grapes are as plentiful as blackberries in England; and where one has only to stop a minute at the roadside, and pull no end of 'em. O 'tis there! 'tis there! etc."
--_Robinson's letters to his kinsfolk._
MARIE.
Oh! Marie of the Lago d'Orta, maid of the inn, and most beautiful of waitresses, how well do I remember thee! How graceful were all thy movements; what natural ease, together with what a dignified reserve; --How truly a lady wert thou! You did not know it, but when you waited upon us, I always felt inclined to jump up from my chair, and open the door for you-- to take the dishes from your hands, to ask you respectfully to be seated, to wait upon you in fact. And O! How I did detest that wicked old landlady, your mistress, who used to bully and scold you. And I wonder whether you remember me. --_From a MS., very rare, in possession of Brown._
This picture represents Brown as he appeared, his feelings being "too many for him," on hearing that elderly she-dragon, the landlady, venting her ill-humour upon the gentle Marie. He stole out of the dining-room, looked over into the yard, and there beheld the furious old female shaking her fist, and pouring forth a torrent of abuse. Brown was not naturally of a savage temperament, but at that moment he felt that he could have--but it is best not to say what he could have done--it was too terrible for publication in these pages.
A BOAT AT ORTA.
A MOUNTAIN WALK.
Robinson, with warmth, and some distance behind,-- "What is the use of going on at that rate?"
Poor Jones! Who would have thought he could ever be tired!
Pleasant.
The accident that befell Robinson. --No. 1.
The accident that befell Robinson. --No. 2.
[ORTA.]
ROBINSON RETIRES FOR THE NIGHT.
To prevent anxiety, we had better state that he is tired--nothing else.
"Now do, Robinson, jump up like a good fellow; we ought to be starting now--and think how pleasant it will be, once you are up!"
[VARALLO.]
THE INN.
How Brown, returning from sketching, was beset by beggars in a lonely place.
[MILAN.]
They pay a visit to the marionette theatre.
A snob they saw writing his name upon roof of Milan cathedral.
ENLIGHTENED BEHAVIOUR IN A FOREIGN CHURCH.
We are happy to say, that B. J. and R. had no connection with the above party.
Robinson's determination to let his beard grow "naturally," had an absurd result, the hair growing in violent and abrupt crops in some places, and not at all in others; so that Jones, who was sensitive about appearances, (and whose own moustache was doing beautifully,) insisted at last upon R.'s being shaved, which event accordingly took place in the city of Milan. It was well that Robinson consented, for the barber eyed him eagerly, and as if he would spring upon him and shave him by force.
CAFe MILAN.--SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED ARRIVAL OF DISTINGUISHED FOREIGNERS.
The moment we seated ourselves in a cafe, 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 cafes 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.