IX.

THE ERUPTION.

The Deluge of Ashes.--The Deluge of Fire.--The Flight
of the Pompeians.--The Preoccupations of the Pompeian
Women.--The Victims: the Family of Diomed; the
Sentinel; the Woman Walled up in a Tomb; the Priest
of Isis; the Lovers clinging together, etc.--The
Skeletons.--The Dead Bodies moulded by Vesuvius. 232



DIALOGUE.

(IN A BOOKSTORE AT NAPLES.)


A TRAVELLER (_entering_).--Have you any work on Pompeii?

THE SALESMAN.--Yes; we have several. Here, for instance, is
Bulwer's "Last Days of Pompeii."

TRAVELLER.--Too thoroughly romantic.

SALESMAN.--Well, here are the folios of Mazois.

TRAVELLER.--Too heavy.

SALESMAN.--Here's Dumas's "Corricolo."