"A gallant man!" said the Englishman. "I'd have your gallant man hang'd
like a dog!"
"To dare to meddle with Englishmen!" said Mr. Hobbs.
"And such a family as the Popkinses!" said Mr. Dobbs.
"They ought to come upon the country for damages!" said Mr. Hobbs.
"Our ambassador should make a complaint to the government of Naples,"
said Mr. Dobbs.
"They should be requested to drive these rascals out of the country,"
said Hobbs.
"If they did not, we should declare war against them!" said Dobbs.
The Englishman was a little wearied by this story, and by the ultra
zeal of his countrymen, and was glad when a summons to their supper
relieved him from a crowd of travellers. He walked out with his
Venetian friends and a young Frenchman of an interesting demeanor, who
had become sociable with them in the course of the conversation. They
directed their steps toward the sea, which was lit up by the rising
moon. The Venetian, out of politeness, left his beautiful wife to be
escorted by the Englishman. The latter, however, either from shyness or
reserve, did not avail himself of the civility, but walked on without
offering his arm. The fair Venetian, with all her devotion to her
husband, was a little nettled at a want of gallantry to which her
charms had rendered her unaccustomed, and took the proffered arm of the
Frenchman with a pretty air of pique, which, however, was entirely lost
upon the phlegmatic delinquent.
