It is a sign of plenty: the warm spot of colour against the rough masonry does good to eye and heart.
My hotel afforded me little amusement after the _Concordia_ at Cotrone, yet it did not lack its characteristic features.

I found, for instance, in my bedroom a printed notice, making appeal in remarkable terms to all who occupied the chamber.

The proprietor--thus it ran--had learnt with extreme regret that certain travellers who slept under his roof were in the habit of taking their meals at other places of entertainment.

This practice, he desired it to be known, not only hurt his personal feelings--_tocca il suo morale_--but did harm to the reputation of his establishment.

Assuring all and sundry that he would do his utmost to maintain a high standard of culinary excellence, the proprietor ended by begging his honourable clients that they would bestow their kind favours on the restaurant of the house--_signora pregare i suoi respettabili clienti perche vogliano benignarsi il ristorante_; and therewith signed himself--Coriolano Paparazzo.
For my own part I was not tempted to such a breach of decorum; the fare provided by Signor Paparazzo suited me well enough, and the wine of the country was so good that it would have covered many defects of cookery.
Of my fellow-guests in the spacious dining-room I can recall only two.
They were military men of a certain age, grizzled officers, who walked rather stiffly and seated themselves with circumspection.