. The crowd
daunted me at first; but finding it too intent to heed us, I drew
breath and was observing it at leisure when my eyes fell on the back
of a man who, bending over a stall on my right, held forth a cabbage
in one hand while with the other--so far as the basket on his arm
allowed--he gesticulated violently, cheapening the price against an
equally voluble saleswoman.

Good heavens! That back--that voice--surely I knew them!

The man turned, holding the cabbage aloft and calling gods, mortals,
and especially the population of Genoa, to witness. It was Mr.
Pett!--and, catching sight of me, he stared wildly, almost dropping
the vegetable.

"Angels and ministers--" here, at a quick sign of warning from me, he
checked himself sharply. "_O anima profetica, il mio zio!_ . . .
Devil a doubt but it sounds better in Shakespeare's mother-English,"
he added, as I hurried him aside; and then--for he still grasped the
cabbage, and the stallwoman was shouting after him for a thief.
"You'll excuse me, signora. Two soldi, I think you said? It is an
infamy. What? Your cabbage has a good heart? Ah, but has it ever
loved? Has it ever leapt in transport, recognizing a long-lost
friend? Importunate woman, take your fee, basely extracted from me
in a moment of weakness. O, heel of Achilles! O, locks of Samson!
Go to, Delilah, and henceforth for this may a murrain light on thy
cucumbers!

"Though, strictly speaking," said Mr. Fett, as I drew him away and
down the street leading to the quay, "I believe murrain to be a
disease peculiar to cattle. Well, my friend, and how goes it with
you? For me"--here he tapped his basket, in which the cabbage
crowned a pile of green-stuff--"I am reduced to _buying_ my salads."
He wheeled about, following my glance, and saluted the Princess, who
had followed and overtaken us.

"Man," said I, "you shall tell us your story as soon as ever you have
helped us to a safe lodging. But here are we--and there, coming
towards us along the quay, are two comrades--four Corsicans in all,
whose lives, if the Genoese detect us, are not worth five minutes'
purchase."

"Then, excuse me," said Mr. Fett, becoming serious of a sudden, "but
isn't it a damned foolish business that brings you?"

"It may be," I answered. "But the point is, Can you help us?"

"To a lodging? Why, certainly, as luck has it, I can take you
straight--no, not straight exactly, but the devil of a way round--to
one where