CHAPTER VIII.
My Misfortunes in Chiozza--Father Stephano--The Lazzaretto at Ancona--The Greek Slave--My Pilgrimage to Our Lady of Loretto--I Go to Rome on Foot, and From Rome to Naples to Meet the Bishop--I Cannot Join Him--Good Luck Offers Me the Means of Reaching Martorano, Which Place I Very Quickly Leave to Return to Naples [Illustration: 1c08.jpg] The retinue of the ambassador, which was styled "grand," appeared to me very small.

It was composed of a Milanese steward, named Carcinelli, of a priest who fulfilled the duties of secretary because he could not write, of an old woman acting as housekeeper, of a man cook with his ugly wife, and eight or ten servants.
We reached Chiozza about noon.

Immediately after landing, I politely asked the steward where I should put up, and his answer was: "Wherever you please, provided you let this man know where it is, so that he can give you notice when the peotta is ready to sail.

My duty," he added, "is to leave you at the lazzaretto of Ancona free of expense from the moment we leave this place.

Until then enjoy yourself as well as you can." The man to whom I was to give my address was the captain of the peotta.