The Man Who Kept His Money in a BoxTrollope, Anthony
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The Man Who Kept His Money in a Box
Trollope, Anthony
British -- Europe -- Fiction; Short stories; Travelers -- Fiction
And now, with many obsequious bows and assurances of deep respect, the
landlord and his family withdrew from the room. “Was there anything else
they could do for Mrs. Greene?” Mrs. Greene was all affability. She had
shown her jewels to the girls, and allowed them to express their
admiration in pretty Italian superlatives. There was nothing else she
wanted to-night. She was very happy and liked Bellaggio. She would stay
yet a week, and would make herself quite happy. And, though none of them
understood a word that the other said, each understood that things were
now rose-coloured, and so with scrapings, bows, and grinning smiles, the
landlord and all his myrmidons withdrew. Mr. Greene was still counting
his money, sovereign by sovereign, and I was still standing with my
folded arms upon my bosom.
“I believe I may now go,” said I.
“Good night,” said Mrs. Greene.
“Adieu,” said Sophonisba.
“I have the pleasure of wishing you good-bye,” said Mr. Greene.
And then I walked out of the room. After all, what was the use of saying
anything? And what could I say that would have done me any service? If
they were capable of thinking me a thief,—which they certainly
did,—nothing that I could say would remove the impression. Nor, as I
thought, was it suitable that I should defend myself from such an
imputation. What were the Greenes to me? So I walked slowly out of the
room, and never again saw one of the family from that day to this.
As I stood upon the beach the next morning, while my portmanteau was
being handed into the boat, I gave the Boots five zwanzigers. I was
determined to show him that I did not condescend to feel anger against
him.
He took the money, looked into my face, and then whispered to me, “Why
did you not give me a word of notice beforehand?” he said, and winked his
eye. He was evidently a thief, and took me to be another;—but what did
it matter?
I went thence to Milan, in which city I had no heart to look at anything;
thence to Verona, and so over the pass of the Brenner to Innspruck. When
I once found myself near to my dear friends the Walkers I was again a
happy man; and I may safely declare that, though a portion of my journey
was so troublesome and unfortunate, I look back upon that tour as the
happiest and the luckiest epoch of my life.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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