Arthur, the English servant, was as good as his word. He dealt constantly with Francisco, and proved an excellent customer, buying from him during the whole season as much fruit as his master wanted. His master, who was an Englishman of distinction, was invited to take up his residence, during his stay in Italy, at the Count de F.’s villa, which was in the environs of Naples—an easy walk from Resina. Francisco had the pleasure of seeing his father’s vineyard often full of generous visitors, and Arthur, who had circulated the anecdote of the bruised melon, was, he said, “proud to think that some of this was his doing, and that an Englishman never forgot a good turn, be it from a countryman or foreigner.” “My dear boy,” said Francisco’s father to him, whilst Arthur was in the vineyard helping to tend the vines, “I am to thank you and your honesty, it seems, for our having our hands so full of business this season. It is fair you should have a share of our profits.” “So I have, father, enough and enough, when I see you and mother going on so well. What can I want more?” “Oh, my brave boy, we know you are a grateful, good son; but I have been your age myself; you have companions, you have little expenses of your own. Here; this vine, this fig-tree, and a melon a week next summer shall be yours. With these make a fine figure amongst the little Neapolitan merchants; and all I wish is that you may prosper as well, and by the same honest means, in managing for yourself, as you have done managing for me.” “Thank you, father; and if I prosper at all, it shall be by those means, and no other, or I should not be worthy to be called your son.” Piedro the cunning did not make quite so successful a summer’s work as did Francisco the honest. No extraordinary events happened, no singular instance of bad or good luck occurred; but he felt, as persons usually do, the natural consequences of his own actions. He pursued his scheme of imposing, as far as he could, upon every person he dealt with; and the consequence was, that at last nobody would deal with him. “It is easy to outwit one person, but impossible to outwit all the world,” said a man {309} who knew the world at least as well as either Piedro or his father.