nt gold chain, red
coral shirt-studs, onyx sleeve-buttons, and a porte-monnaie containing
fifty scudi, etc., etc. He was the theatrical hero of the hotel for two
days, and the recipient of many drinks. Time, the cater of things, never
digested this falsehood, and months after the youth had left, I learned
that he had lost all his jewelry and money at--twenty-deck poker.

A few nights after Caper was domiciled in the Via Babuino, Rocjean
called on him, and as he entered his room, carefully extinguished a
taper, and was putting it in his pocket, when Caper asked him what that
was for?

'That! it's a _cerina_. Have you been two weeks in Rome, and not found
out that? Why, how did you get up-stairs at night?'

'There was a lamp in the entry.'

'None there to-night, so I had to light this. It's only a long piece of
wick, dipped in wax; you see you can roll it up in a ball, and carry it
in your pocket, so! Without this and a box of matches, you can never
hope to be a good Roman. You must have seen that where the houses have
any front-doors, three quarters of them are open all night long; for, as
on every floor of a house, there live different families, they find it
saves trouble--trouble is money in Rome--to leave the door unclosed.
These dark entries, for they are seldom lighted, offer a grand chance
for intrigues, and when you have lived here as long as I have, you will
find out that they--improve the chances. A _cerina_, in addition to
keeping you from breaking your neck, by tumbling down stone stairs,
gives light to avoid the stray dogs that sleep around loose, and to see
if there is any enemy around who wants to give you a few inches of cold
steel. You may laugh at robbers here; but you may cry for mercy in vain
to a Roman who seeks _vendetta_--revenge, you know. Bad way to use
foreign words; but we all do it here. Speak an Italianized English after
a time, the effect of had examples. But come, if you want to see Rome by
moonlight, it's time we were off.'

As they reached the street, Caper asked Rocjean where he could buy the
_cerina_.

'At any _dragheria_' said the latter.

'Good, there is a druggist's store up the street--Borioni's.'

'A _dragheria_ means a grocery-store in Rome. If you want molasses,
however, you must go to the _farmacia_ for it, [that is the Roman for
druggist's shop,] and you will buy it by the ounce.'

'Live and learn,' said Caper, as they entered the grocery and bought the
_cerina_-price