beaten, to contradict himself as it were, and depart from his plan. While he was thinking of all this, however, a brilliant expedient occurred to him. Though he was reluctant to tell his own story, he was not disposed to screen himself by any fiction of excuses from the consequences of anything he had done; and it was undeniable that he had “got into a row” on the previous night. No Englishman, he reflected, would think the worse of a young fellow who had knocked down a drunken sailor to prevent him from molesting a woman; but it would be as well to go and tell the story of this little incident in case of any ulterior proceedings. Harry fairly chuckled over his own wisdom in hitting upon so admirable a way of presenting himself to the representative of his country. He had never before felt himself so clever. He munched his dry bread and drank his coffee with a wry face, but something like a mental relish at least. Little Paolo’s friendly conscience would not need to be strained. He would be able to bear witness of the facts in all sincerity, and, if anything were to come of it, there would be at least a friend in court, a valuable advocate secured. Antonio, the waiter, drew near while Harry came to this conclusion, and watched him dispatching his simple refreshment with friendly looks. The Italians admired the young Englishman’s fine limbs, and height and strength, and they made a pet of him because he was a stranger and helpless; perhaps the waiter was not without an eye to substantial rewards, but he had at the same time a most friendly eye to Harry’s helplessness, and an amiable desire to make him comfortable. He stood and watched him eating with sympathy. “Ze gentleman would like an egg, perhaps, Sarr?” he said. “I should like half-a-dozen,” said Harry with a sigh; “but no, no, never mind--never mind; for the present this will do.” “Ze gentlemen Italian eat no breakfast,” said Antonio; “ze eat--after; but I will command for ze English gentleman, if it makes pleasure to him, ze English breakfast. There is already one here.” “One--breakfast!” said Harry, surprised. “One,” said Antonio, with a finger in the air, “English-man, and two tree Americans; ze eat of ze beef in ze early morning. It is extraordinary: eat of ze beef when you comes out of your bed. But it is the same--it is the same; that makes nothing to our padrone; and I will command it for ze gentleman if he will.” “I wish you would,” said Harry, “another time; dry bread is not much to breakfast upon: and the bread is very queer stuff.” “It is good bread,” said Antonio, “Sarr, very good bread; bettare far than ze bread of London;” he nodded his head as he spoke with self-satisfaction. “Ze gentleman would like me go wid him--show him all ze places, and ze grand catedral, and all that ze English gentleman go over ze world to see?” “No, Antonio; I don’t care about cathedrals, but you can come with me to the English Consul’s if you like, and show me the way.”