My hand was already on the door-knob, when the Sicilian caught me by
the arm; he had a look as of sudden inspiration.

"Ah! Excellence!" he cried, "what a city is this city of ours! It
gave birth to Empedocles! Empedocles! What a great man what a
great citizen! What audacity of thought! what virtue! what soul!
At the port over there is a statue of Empedocles, before which I
bare my head each time that I pass by! When Rafael, my son, was
going away to found an establishment of antiquities in the Rue
Lafitte, at Paris, I took him to the port, and there, at the foot
of that statue of Empedocles, I bestowed upon him my paternal
benediction! 'Always remember Empedocles!' I said to him. Ah!
Signor, what our unhappy country needs to-day is a new Empedocles!
Would you not like me to show you the way to his statue, Excellence?
I will be your guide among the ruins here. I will show you the temple
of Castor and Pollux, the temple of the Olympian Jupiter, the temple
of the Lucinian Juno, the antique well, the tomb of Theron, and the
Gate of Gold! All the professional guides are asses; but we--we
shall make excavations, if you are willing--and we shall discover
treasures! I know the science of discovering hidden treasures--the
secret art of finding their whereabouts--a gift from Heaven!"

I succeeded in tearing myself away from his grasp. But he ran after
me again, stopped me at the foot of the stairs, and said in my ear,

"Listen, Excellence. I will conduct you about the city; I will
introduce you to some Girgentines! What a race! what types! what
forms! Sicilian girls, Signor!--the antique beauty itself!"

"Go to the devil!" I cried at last, in anger, and rushed into the