ure street of no good
repute. A tortoise hangs in his needy shop, nor are stuffed alligators
lacking. Understanding that he was resorted to by such as have need of
philters and love-potions, or are incommoded by the longevity of parents
and uncles, I was about to have him arrested, when I received a report
which gave me pause. This concerned the singular intimacy which appeared to
subsist between him and our enemies. When he left home, it was averred, he
was attended by troops of them obedient to his beck and call, and spies had
observed him banqueting them at his counter, the rats sitting erect and
comporting themselves with perfect decorum. I resolved to investigate the
matter for myself. Looking into his house through an unshuttered window, I
perceived him in truth surrounded by feasting and gambolling rats; but when
the door was opened in obedience to my attendants' summons, he appeared to
be entirely alone. Laying down a pestle and mortar, he greeted me by name
with an easy familiarity which for the moment quite disconcerted me, and
inquired what had procured him the honour of my visit. Recovering myself,
and wishing to intimidate him:

"'I desire in the first place,' I said, 'to point out to you your grave
transgression of municipal regulations in omitting to paint your name over
your shop.'

"'Call me Rattila,' he rejoined with unconcern, 'and state your further
business.'

"I felt myself on the wrong tack, and hastened to interrogate him
respecting his relations with our adversaries. He frankly admitted his
acquaintance with rattery in all its branches, and his ability to deliver
the city from this scourge, but his attitude towards your Holiness was so
deficient in respect that I question whether I ought to report it."

"Proceed, son," said the Pope; "we will not be deterred from providing for
the public weal by the ribaldry of a ratcatcher."

"He scoffed at what he termed your Holiness's absurd position, and affirmed
that the world had seldom beheld, or would soon behold again, so ridiculous
a spectacle as a Pope besieged by rats. 'I can help your master,' he
continued, 'and am willing; but my honour, like his, is aspersed in the
eyes of the multitude, and he must come to my aid, if I am to come to his.'

"I prayed him to be more explicit, and offered to be the bearer of any
communication to your Holiness.

"'I will unfold myself to no one but the Pope himself,' he replied, 'and
the interview must take p