Finally, with a gesture of politeness, he inquired whether I would permit him "_di fare un po' di pulizia_"-- to clean up a little, and this he proceeded to do with much briskness.

Excepting the good Sculco, my chambermaid was altogether the most civilized person I met at Cotrone.

He had a singular amiability of nature, and his boyish spirits were not yet subdued by the pestilent climate.

If I thanked him for anything, he took off his cap, bowed with comical dignity, and answered "_Grazie a voi, Signore_." Of course these people never used the third person feminine of polite Italian.

Dr.Sculco did so, for I had begun by addressing him in that manner, but plainly it was not familiar to his lips.