which was astonishing, while all the time they kept screaming, 'One!' 'Four!' 'Three!' 'Two!' 'Five!' etc., etc. 'Ha!' said Caper, 'this is something like; 'tis an arithmetical, mathematical, etcetrical school in the open air. The dirtiest one is very quick; he will learn to count five in no time. But I don't see the necessity of saying "three" when the other brings down four fingers, or saying "five" when he shows two. But I suppose it is all right; he hasn't learned to give the right names yet.' He learned later that they were gambling. While these men were shouting, there came along an ugly old woman with a tambourine and a one-legged man with a guitar, and seeing prey in the shape of Caper at his window, they pounced on him, as it were, and poured forth the most ear-rending discord; the old lady singing, the old gentleman backing up against a wall and scratching at an accompaniment on a jangling old guitar. The old lady had a bandana handkerchief tied over her head, and whilst she watched Caper she cast glances up and down the street, to see if some rich stranger, or _milordo_, was not coming to throw her a piece of silver. 'What are you howling about?' shouted Caper down to her. 'A new Neapolitan canzonetta, signore; all about a young man who grieves for his sweetheart, because he thinks she is not true to him, and what he says to her in a serenade.' And here she screechingly sung,-- But do not rage, I beg, my dear; I want you for my wife, And morning, noon, and night likewise, I'll love you like my life. CHORUS. I only want to get a word, My charming girl, from thee. You know, Ninella, I can't breathe, Unless your heart's for me! 'Well,' said Caper, 'if this is Italian music, I don't _see_ it.' The one-legged old gentleman clawed away at the strings of the guitar. 'I say,'_llustrissimo_,' shouted Caper down to him, 'what kind of strings are those on your instrument?' '_Excellenza_, catgut,' he shouted, in answer. '_Benissimo!_ I prefer cats in the original packages. There's a _paolo_: travel!' Caper had the misfortune to make the acquaintance of a professor of the mandolin, a wire-strung instrument, resembling a long-necked squash cut in two, to be played on with a quill, and which, with a guitar and violin, makes a concert that thrills you to the bones and cuts the nerves away.