'Like the savage, it cuts down the tree to gather the fruits.' They don't tax, they take everything." "And that's what our rulers are trying to bring us to.

'Tax vobiscum,'-- no, thank you!" said Mistigris.
"But that is what we _are_ coming to," said the count.

"Therefore, those who own land will do well to sell it.

Monsieur Schinner must have seen how things are tending in Italy, where the taxes are enormous." "Corpo di Bacco! the Pope is laying it on heavily," replied Schinner.
"But the people are used to it.

Besides, Italians are so good-natured that if you let 'em murder a few travellers along the highways they're contented." "I see, Monsieur Schinner," said the count, "that you are not wearing the decoration you obtained in 1819; it seems the fashion nowadays not to wear orders." Mistigris and the pretended Schinner blushed to their ears.
"Well, with me," said the artist, "the case is different.