See him now! It is as if he were trying to wash off' the time-stains and earthly soil of a thousand years!" Dipping his hands into the capacious washbowl before him, the model rubbed them together with the utmost vehemence.

Ever and anon, too, he peeped into the water, as if expecting to see the whole Fountain of Trevi turbid with the results of his ablution.

Miriam looked at him, some little time, with an aspect of real terror, and even imitated him by leaning over to peep into the basin.

Recovering herself, she took up some of the water in the hollow of her hand, and practised an old form of exorcism by flinging it in her persecutor's face.
"In the name of all the Saints," cried she, "vanish, Demon, and let me be free of you now and forever!" "It will not suffice," said some of the mirthful party, "unless the Fountain of Trevi gushes with holy water." In fact, the exorcism was quite ineffectual upon the pertinacious demon, or whatever the apparition might be.

Still he washed his brown, bony talons; still he peered into the vast basin, as if all the water of that great drinking-cup of Rome must needs be stained black or sanguine; and still he gesticulated to Miriam to follow his example.