I poured my wine with a free hand, rejoicing to find it was wine once more, and not (at all events to my palate) a concoction of drugs.

The albergo was decent and well found; a cheerful prosperity declared itself in all I had yet seen.

After dinner I stepped out on to the balcony of my room to view the city's main street; but there was very scant illumination, and the moonlight only showed me high houses of modern build.

Few people passed, and never a vehicle; the shops were all closed.

I needed no invitation to sleep, but this shadowed stillness, and the fresh mountain air, happily lulled my thoughts.