just a broken old man!" He spat upon the ground and appeared to ruminate
upon his hard fortune.

I was greatly disgusted by now at the false position in which I had been
put, and should assuredly have found my tongue had I not perceived that
the trick was succeeding. One of the officers said that he would go to
perdition rather than have a mute heathen on his hands, the other
encouraged the Capuchin to hope for the best. The Grand Duke might
rally; he had the strength of a cow and the obstinacy of an old woman.
In fact, I was pushed over the frontier after my supposed owner without
further ceremony, and soon joined him. The old scoundrel moved painfully
off, dragging one leg after the other; but no sooner had the winding of
the road concealed him than, erect and replete once more, he clapped me
heartily on the back and began to crow and caper his delight in the
mountain airs. I watched him with mingled feelings, half gratitude, half
disgust.




CHAPTER XI

I EXERCISE COMMON SENSE, IMAGINATION AND CHARITY


"Was not that fine comedy in an old grey-bearded Capuchin dog?" cried
the frate, leaping about and cracking his fingers. "Could you have
bettered it? Could any man living have bettered it? Confess me an old
rogue-in-grain, or I break every bone in your body."