“‘Very good,’ replied the lazzarone, ‘we will take him.’

“‘But I shall say just what I please before him.’

“‘In that case I wish you a good morning.’

“‘No, no; you must remain.’

“’Allow me to give you a piece of advice then.  If you want to say what you please before the invalid, take a deaf one.’

“‘Ooh!’ cried the Englishman, delighted with the advice, ’by all means a deaf one.  Here is a piaster for you for having thought of it.’  The lazzarone ran to the guard-house, and soon returned with an old soldier who was as deaf as a post.

“They began the usual round of the curiosities, during which the Englishman continued calling King Ferdinand any thing but a gentleman, of all which the invalid heard nothing, and the lazzarone took no notice.  They visited the Via dei Sepolchri, the houses of Diomedes and Cicero.  At last they came to Sallust’s house, in one of the rooms of which was a fresco that hit the Englishman’s fancy exceedingly.  He immediately sat down, took a pencil and a blank book from his pocket, and began copying it.  He had scarcely made a stroke, however, when the soldier and the lazzarone approached him.  The former was going to speak, but the latter took the words out of his mouth.

“‘Eccellenza,’ said he, ‘it is forbidden to copy the fresco.’

“‘Oh!’ said the Englishman, ‘I must make this copy.  I will pay for it.’

“‘It is not allowed, even if you pay.’

“’But I will pay ten times its value if necessary; I must copy it, it is so funny.’

“‘If you do, the invalid will put you in the guard-room.’

“‘Pshaw!  An Englishman has a right to draw any thing he likes.’  And he went on with his sketch.  The invalid approached him with an inexorable countenance.

“‘Pardon me, Eccellenza,’ said the lazzarone; ’but would you like to copy not only this fresco, but as many more as you please?’

“‘Certainly I should, and I will too.’

“‘Then, let me give you a word of advice.  Take a blind invalid.’

“‘Ooh!’ cried the Englishman, still more enchanted with this second hint than with the first.  ’By all means, a blind invalid.  Here are two piasters for the idea.’

“They left Sallust’s house, the deaf man was paid and discharged, and the lazzarone went to the guard-room, and brought back an invalid who was stone-blind and led by a black poodle.

“The Englishman wished to return immediately to continue his drawing, but the lazzarone persuaded him to delay it, in order to avoid exciting suspicion.  They continued their rambles, therefore, guided by the invalid, or rather by his dog, who displayed a knowledge of Pompeii that might have qualified him to become a member of the antiquarian society.  After visiting the blacksmith’s shop, Fortunata’s house, and the public oven, they returned to the abode of Sallust, where the Englishman finished his sketch, while the lazzarone chatted with the blind man, and kept him amused.  Continuing their lounge, he made a number of other drawings, and in a couple of hours his book was half full.