arture, by remarking that
another packet from Malaga was expected within a week, which probably
would convey the rightful courier, in search of his missing baggage, and
I was by no means desirous of being confronted with the real Simon Pure.

I am not sure that this latter consideration did not weigh most with me
in the matter, since the novelty of my situation and the sense of its
creature-comforts might have induced me to linger a little longer in a
capacity even as humble. With such people as the Grimes's, the courier
was supreme, and his rule despotic. From the hour at which they were to
dine, to what they were to eat,--how they were to spend the day, what
to see, and what to avoid,--were all at his dictation; while from the
landlord came a perfect volley of civilities that plainly showed who was
the real personage to whom adulation was due. If my masters dined on a
chicken, _I_ fed upon ortolans; while _they_ made wry faces over their
"Chiante," I luxuriated on Chateau La Rose or Chambertin. For _my_
table were reserved the oysters of Venice, the fresh "sardines" of
Gorgona, the delicate mutton of Pistoja, the delicious Becafica of the
Vai d'Arno, while Piscia was ransacked for my dessert, till I saw myself
surrounded with rarities that even in my great days I scarcely dreamed
of.

There was a kind of "abandon," too, in this mode of life that pleased me
well,--a delightful sense of irresponsibility pervaded everything I did
or imagined.

The courier knows nothing of that hesitation which besets his master at
the thought of some costly indulgence. _He_ neither doubts nor denies
himself. The Emperor of Russia may have bespoke the post-horses,
but _he_ knows how to bribe even against the Czar himself, and would
intrigue for the fish intended for a cardinal's Friday dinner. He is
perhaps the only traveller who is indifferent to the bill,--nay, he even
glories in its extravagance, as increasing his own percentage. I was
beginning to see and appreciate all these advantages when caution
admonished me to escape. The real Raflfaello was doubtless already at
sea, and might arrive ere I had evacuated the territory.

I only waited, then, to see "my family" snugly housed at Pisa, when I
proceeded to tender my resignation. It was very flattering to my vanity
to see the distress my announcement created; they evidently felt like a
crew about to be deserted by the pilot in a difficult navigation. They
were but indifferent lingu