Florence to Trieste | Page 6

women from Rome to Leghorn, and from Leghorn to Pisa, and from
Pisa to Florence, paying for their board all the way.
"The vetturino will never take me as bail for such an amount," I said to
Medini, "and even if he would I should never be so foolish as to
contract such a debt."
"Let me have a word with you in the next room," said he; "I will put the
matter clearly before you."

"Certainly."
Two of the police would have prevented his going into the next room,
on the plea that he might escape through the window, but I said I would
be answerable for him.
Just then the poor vetturino came in and kissed my hand, saying that if
I would go bail for the count he would let me have three months
wherein to find the money.
As it happened it was the same man who had taken me to Rome with
the Englishwoman who had been seduced by the actor l'Etoile. I told
him to wait a moment.
Medini who was a great talker and a dreadful liar thought to persuade
me by shewing me a number of open letters, commending him in
pompous terms to the best houses in Florence. I read the letters, but I
found no mention of money in them, and I told him as much.
"I know," said he, "but there is play going on in these houses, and I am
sure of gaining immense sums."
"You may be aware that I have no confidence in your good luck."
"Then I have another resource."
"What is that?"
He shewed me a bundle of manuscript, which I found to be an excellent
translation of Voltaire's "Henriade" into Italian verse. Tasso himself
could not have done it better. He said he hoped to finish the poem at
Florence, and to present it to the grand duke, who would be sure to
make him a magnificent present, and to constitute him his favourite.
I would not undeceive him, but I laughed to myself, knowing that the
grand duke only made a pretence of loving literature. A certain Abbe
Fontaine, a clever man, amused him with a little natural history, the
only science in which he took any interest. He preferred the worst prose
to the best verse, not having sufficient intellect to enjoy the subtle
charms of poetry. In reality he had only two passions--women and
money.
After spending two wearisome hours with Medini, whose wit was great
and his judgment small, after heartily repenting of having yielded to my
curiosity and having paid him a visit, I said shortly that I could do
nothing for him. Despair drives men crazy; as I was making for the
door, he seized me by the collar.
He did not reflect in his dire extremity that he had no arms, that I was

stronger than he, that I had twice drawn his blood, and that the police,
the landlord, the vetturirco, and the servants, were in the next room. I
was not coward enough to call for help; I caught hold of his neck with
both hands and squeezed him till he was nearly choked. He had to let
go at last, and then I took hold of his collar and asked him if he had
gone mad.
I sent him against the wall, and opened the door and the police came in.
I told the vetturino that I would on no account be Medini's surety, or be
answerable for him in any way.
Just as I was going out, he leapt forward crying that I must not abandon
him.
I had opened the door, and the police, fearing he would escape, ran
forward to get hold of him. Then began an interesting battle. Medini,
who had no arms, and was only in his dressing-gown, proceeded to
distribute kicks, cuffs, and blows amongst the four cowards, who had
their swords at their sides, whilst I held the door to prevent the
Irishman going out and calling for assistance.
Medini, whose nose was bleeding and his dress all torn, persisted in
fighting till the four policemen let him alone. I liked his courage, and
pitied him.
There was a moment's silence, and I asked his two liveried servants
who were standing by me why they had not helped their master. One
said he owed him six months' wages, and the other said he wanted to
arrest him on his own account.
As Medini was endeavouring to staunch the blood in a basin of water,
the vetturino told him that as I refused to be his surety he must go to
prison.
I was moved by the scene that I had witnessed, and said to the
vetturino,
"Give him a fortnight's respite, and if he escapes before the expiration