friendly and reasonable way to give me the crucifix."

"Never," said I. "Without it I am lost to Tuscany."

"With it," replied the officer, "you are lost to the world for some
time. This indecent profession of opinion--What! a wooden cross as big
as a dagger! Give it to me at once, and follow me to the tribunal of the
police."

I confess that I grew cold before such irrational tyranny. "You are
going the way to work, sir," I said, "to make me an atheist. I shall
yield only to force."

Vain protest! "Have it as you will," said the officer, and signed to the
sbirri, who came forward at once, cleaving the crowd with their drawn
swords. "This young man is illuminated," said the officer; "take him to
the tribunal, and look into his papers." I saw that submission was my
only course, and took it. The police led me away.

A much more severe scrutiny of my miserable passport than had taken
place at Ferrara followed upon this. Nothing but the "assured manner" of
Issachar was allowed to stand up for me. My nose was fatally straight,
my hair fatally out of curl. I was asked was I a Jew? and had I dared to
pretend it, I know not to what extremes they might not have proceeded.
But I had never learned to lie; I admitted at once that I had bought the
passport. Instant action was taken upon this. My crucifix was burnt, the
passport confiscated. I was given six hours in which to leave Bologna,
and did not take three. I departed in a towering rage, which perhaps did
me good, and devoured the leagues between the city and the mountains at
a pace which I am sure did me credit. The lengthening shadows of these