When half-way up, my driver rested his horses and came to speak a word; we conversed merrily.

He was to make straight for the hotel, where shelter and food awaited us--a bottle of wine, ha! ha! He knew the hotel, of course?
Oh yes, he knew the hotel; it stood just at the entrance to the town; we should arrive in half an hour.
Looking upwards I saw nothing but a mass of ancient ruins, high fragments of shattered wall, a crumbling tower, and great windows through which the clouds were visible.

Inhabited Squillace lay, no doubt, behind.

I knew that it was a very small place, without any present importance; but at all events there was an albergo, and the mere name of albergo had a delightful sound of welcome after such a journey.

Here I would stay for the night, at all events; if the weather cleared, I might be glad to remain for two or three days.