My Short But Rather Too Gay Visit To Ancona--Cecilia, Marina, Bellino--the Greek Slave of the Lazzaretto--Bellino Discovers Himself I arrived in Ancona on the 25th of February, 1744, and put up at the best inn.

Pleased with my room, I told mine host to prepare for me a good meat dinner; but he answered that during Lent all good Catholics eat nothing but fish.
"The Holy Father has granted me permission to eat meat." "Let me see your permission." "He gave it to me by word of mouth." "Reverend sir, I am not obliged to believe you." "You are a fool." "I am master in my own house, and I beg you will go to some other inn." Such an answer, coupled to a most unexpected notice to quit, threw me into a violent passion.

I was swearing, raving, screaming, when suddenly a grave-looking individual made his appearance in my room, and said to me: "Sir, you are wrong in calling for meat, when in Ancona fish is much better; you are wrong in expecting the landlord to believe you on your bare word; and if you have obtained the permission from the Pope, you have been wrong in soliciting it at your age; you have been wrong in not asking for such permission in writing; you are wrong in calling the host a fool, because it is a compliment that no man is likely to accept in his own house; and, finally, you are wrong in making such an uproar." Far from increasing my bad temper, this individual, who had entered my room only to treat me to a sermon, made me laugh.
"I willingly plead guilty, sir," I answered, "to all the counts which you allege against me; but it is raining, it is getting late, I am tired and hungry, and therefore you will easily understand that I do not feel disposed to change my quarters.

Will you give me some supper, as the landlord refuses to do so ?" "No," he replied, with great composure, "because I am a good Catholic and fast.

But I will undertake to make it all right for you with the landlord, who will give you a good supper." Thereupon he went downstairs, and I, comparing my hastiness to his calm, acknowledged the man worthy of teaching me some lessons.