Rollo in Rome | Page 8

caterpillars in America," said Rollo, "that
wind their silk up into balls. I mean to get some of the balls when I go
home, and see if I can unwind them."
"That will be an excellent plan," said Mr. George.
"If I can only find the end," said Rollo.
"There must be some art required to find the end," rejoined Mr. George,
"and then I believe there is some preparation which is necessary to
make the cocoons unwind."
"I wish I knew what it was," said Rollo.
"You can inquire of some of the people when we stop to dine," replied
Mr. George.
"But I don't know enough Italian for that," said Rollo.
"That's a pity," said Mr. George.
In the mean time the horses trotted and galloped on until they had gone
about ten miles, and then at length the postilions brought them up at the
door of an inn, in a village. Fresh horses were standing all ready at the
door, with new postilions. The postilions that had been driving took out
their horses and led them away, and then came themselves to the
window of the coupé and held out their caps for their buono mano, as
they call it; that is, for a small present.
Every body in Italy, who performs any service, expects, in addition to
being paid the price regularly agreed upon for the service, to receive a
present, greater or smaller according to the nature of the case. This
present is called the buono mano.[2]
[Footnote 2: Pronounced bono mahno.]
The postilions always expect a buono mano from the passengers in the
stage coach, especially from those who ride in the coupé.

Rollo gave them a few coppers each, for himself and for Mr. George,
and just as he had done so, a young man without any hat upon his head,
but with a white napkin under his arm, came out of the hotel, and
advancing to the window of the coupé asked Mr. George and Rollo, in
French, if they wished to take any thing.
"No," said Mr. George. "Not any thing."
"Yes, uncle George," said Rollo, "let us go and see what they have
got."
He said this, of course, in English, but immediately changing his
language into French, he asked the waiter what they could have.
The waiter said that they could have some hot coffee. There would not
be time for any thing else.
"Let us have some hot coffee, uncle George," said Rollo, eagerly.
"Very well," said Mr. George.
So Rollo gave the order, and the waiter went into the house. In a
moment he returned with two cups of very nice coffee, which he
brought on a tray. By this time, however, the fresh horses were almost
harnessed, so that it was necessary to drink the coffee quick. But there
was no difficulty in doing this, for it was very nice, and not too hot.
Rollo had barely time to give back the cups and pay for the coffee
before the diligence began to move. The postilions started the horses
with a strange sort of a cry, that they uttered while standing beside
them, and then leaped into the saddles just as they were beginning to
run.
The journey was continued much in this way during the whole day. The
country was delightful; the road was hard and smooth as a floor, and
the horses went very fast. In a word, Rollo had a capital ride.
After traversing a comparatively level country for some miles, the road
entered a mountainous region, where there was a long ascent. At the

foot of this ascent was a post house, and here they put on six horses
instead of four. Of course there were now three postilions. But although
the country was mountainous, the ascent was not steep, for the road
was carried up by means of long windings and zigzags, in such a
manner that the rise was very regular and gradual all the way. The
consequence was, that the six horses took the diligence on almost as
fast up the mountains as the four had done on the level ground.
About five o'clock in the afternoon the diligence made a good stop, in
order to allow the passengers to dine.
"We will go in and take dinner with the rest," said Mr. George, "and so
save the things that we have put up for a moonlight supper on the
Pontine Marshes."
"Yes," said Rollo, "I shall like that very much. Besides, I want to go
and take dinner with them here, for I want to see how they do it."
The place where the diligence stopped was a town called Mola di Gaeta.
It stood in a very picturesque situation, near the sea. For though the
road, in leaving Naples,