And yet, a singular guardian angel, this Stephano! I felt that the mysterious force which threw me in his hands was a punishment rather than a favour.
Nevertheless he was welcome, because I had no doubt of his relieving me from my difficulties,--and whatever might be the power that sent him to me, I felt that I could not do better than to submit to its influence; the destiny of that monk was to escort me to Rome.
"Chi va piano va sano," said the friar as soon as we were alone.

He had taken five days to traverse the road over which I had travelled in one day, but he was in good health, and he had met with no misfortune.

He told me that, as he was passing, he heard that an abbe, secretary to the Venetian ambassador at Rome, was lying ill at the inn, after having been robbed in Valcimara.

"I came to see you," he added, "and as I find you recovered from your illness, we can start again together; I agree to walk six miles every day to please you.

Come, let us forget the past, and let us be at once on our way." "I cannot go; I have lost my purse, and I owe twenty paoli." "I will go and find the amount in the name of Saint-Francis." He returned within an hour, but he was accompanied by the infamous constable who told me that, if I had let him know who I was, he would have been happy to keep me in his house.