"October 24," he writes, "I received from Signora Silvestre, called
the widow, the skin of a goat branded in the neck. - (I am not to
give it up unless they give me proof that she is the rightful
owner.) Mem. I delivered it to Mr. Peter Job (Signor Pietro
Giobbe).
"October 27. - I receive two small skins of a goat, very thin and
branded in the neck, from Giuseppe Gianote of Campertogno.
"October 29. - I receive three skins of a chamois from Signor
Antonio Cinere of Alagna, branded in the neck." Then there is a
subsequent entry written small. "I receive also a little gray
marmot's skin weighing thirty ounces."
I am sorry I did not get a sheet with the tanner's name. I am sure
he was an excellent person, and might have been trusted with any
number of skins, branded or unbranded. It is nearly a hundred
years ago since that little gray marmot's skin was tanned in the
Val Sesia; but the wretch will not lie quiet in his grave; he
walks, and has haunted me once a month or so any time this ten
years past. I will see if I cannot lay him by prevailing on him to
haunt some one or other of my readers.
CHAPTER XX - Sanctuary on Monte Bisbino
But to return to S. Cristoforo.
