At the same time there prevailed certain forms of civility, which seemed a trifle excessive.

For instance, when the Doctor entered my room, and I gave him "_Buon giorno_," he was wont to reply, "_Troppo gentile_!"-- too kind of you! My newspaper boy came regularly for a few days, always complaining of feverish symptoms, then ceased to appear.

I made inquiry: he was down with illness, and as no one took his place I suppose the regular distribution of newspapers in Cotrone was suspended.

When the poor fellow again showed himself, he had a sorry visage; he sat down by my bedside (rain dripping from his hat, and mud, very thick, upon his boots) to give an account of his sufferings.

I pictured the sort of retreat in which he had lain during those miserable hours.