get there in good time. Now I will ask you to leave me."

"Tis your honour is for leaving, not I," said he, "and though I shall be
taking a liberty, it's in a case of bad-is-the-best I do believe." He
took off his jacket and put it on the bed.

"What are you proposing, Beppo?" said I.

"A strait-waistcoat," said he, and came at me with determination.

I was his master in a very few minutes, for I was much stronger than he
reckoned for. When I had him at my discretion, I let him get up and thus
addressed him:

"I have every reason to be extremely offended with you," I said, "but I
believe that you have acted honestly. Let me, however, recommend you not
to interfere in the private and personal affairs of gentlemen until you
have fitted yourself to understand them. I am going upon a journey in a
manner which appears becoming to one who is responsible for these
lamentable troubles. I shall leave my property here in your charge, but
will ask you to accept such of those articles as are on the floor as may
be of use to you. When you see me again it will be as your indulgent
master; but he who now bids you farewell is unworthy to shake your
hand."

He nevertheless took my hand and kissed it devotedly immediately
afterwards he had fallen upon my discarded trifles.

"Excellency! Excellency!" he cried, gasping, "what bounty! what
splendour of soul!" He fingered my watch, listened to it. "It goes yet--