"I am told that you can speak Welsh," said I; "is that true?"
"I have picked up a little of it, signore."
"He can speak it very well," said the landlady; "and glad should I
be, sir, to hear you and him speak Welsh together."
"So should I," said the daughter who was seated nigh us, "nothing
would give me greater pleasure than to hear two who are not
Welshmen speaking Welsh together."
"I would rather speak English," said the Italian; "I speak a little
Welsh, when my business leads me amongst people who speak no other
language, but I see no necessity for speaking Welsh here."
"It is a pity," said I, "that so beautiful a country as Italy
should not be better governed."
"It is, signore," said the Italian; "but let us hope that a time
will speedily come when she will be so."
"I don't see any chance of it," said I. "How will you proceed in
order to bring about so desirable a result as the good government
of Italy?"
"Why, signore, in the first place we must get rid of the
Austrians."
"You will not find it an easy matter," said I, "to get rid of the
Austrians; you tried to do so a little time ago, but miserably
failed."
"True, signore; but the next time we try perhaps the French will
help us."
"If the French help you to drive the Austrians from Italy," said I,
"you must become their servants.
