money, my friend, and leave me the cloak, I cannot possibly
part with it." He thought at first I was joking, but when he perceived
I was in earnest, he flew into a rage at my demand, called me a fool,
and we at length came to blows. In the scuffle, I was fortunate enough
to secure the cloak, and was about to run off with it, when the young
man called the police to his assistance, and brought me before the
magistrate. The latter was much surprised at the accusation, and
awarded the cloak to my opponent. I now offered the young man twenty,
fifty, eighty, nay, a hundred zechinos, if he would let me have it. My
gold effected what my entreaties could not. He took my money, I went
off triumphant with the cloak, and was obliged to submit to be called
mad by all Florence. But I cared little for the opinion of the people,
since I knew more than they, viz: that I still gained by my bargain.

I awaited the night with impatience. About the same time as before I
went to the Ponte Vecchio, with the cloak under my arm. The figure
approached me with the last stroke of the clock, and I could not be
mistaken as to its identity. "Have you the cloak?" was the question.
"I have, sir," I answered, "but it cost me a hundred zechinos." "I
know it," he replied; "here are four hundred for it." With these words
he stepped to the broad balustrade and counted down the gold, four
hundred pieces, which sparkled beautifully in the moonlight; their
glitter delighted my heart, which, alas! little imagined that this was
its last joy. I put the money in my pocket, and was going to take a
close survey of the kind unknown, but he had on a mask, through which
his dark eyes flashed at me frightfully. "I thank you, sir, for your
kindness," said I. "What else do you desire of me? for I must tell you
beforehand that it must be nothing underhanded." "Unnecessary fear,"
he replied, as he wrapped the cloak round him. "I want your assistance
as a physician, not, however, for one living, but for one who is dead."

"How can that be?" I exclaimed, astonished. He beckoned me to follow
him, and related as follows: "I came here from foreign lands with my
sister, and have lived with her at the house of a friend, where she
died suddenly yesterday. Her relatives wish her to be buried
to-morrow; and by an ancient custom in our family every member is to be
buried in the vault of our ancestors, where many who died in foreign
countries now repose embalmed. I