Sotheladycametoanunderstandingwiththebeldam, that, assoonassheseteyesonaboythatoftencamealongthatstreet, andofwhomtheladygaveheraparticulardescription, shewouldknowwhatshewastodo: andthereupontheladygaveherachunkofsaltmeat, 'schambertheboyofwhomshehadspoken, andnotlongafteranother, suchbeingthehumourofthelady,who, standinginperpetualdreadofherhusband, wasdisposed, inthisparticular, , herhusbandbeingtosupintheeveningwithafriendnamedErcolano, theladybadethebeldambringheraboyasprettyanddaintyaswastobefoundinPerugia;, lo, Pietro'svoicewasheardatthedoor, ; butbeingfain, ifshemight, toscreentheboy, andknowingnotwhereelsetoconveyorconcealhim, bestowedhimunderahen-coopthatstoodinaverandahardbythechamberinwhichtheyweresupping, andthrewoveritasorrymattressthatshehadthatdayemptiedofitsstraw;whichdoneshehastenedtoopenthedoortoherhusband; sayingtohimasheentered:—"Youhavegulpedyoursuppermightyquicklyto-night." WheretoPietroreplied:—"Wehavenotsomuchastastedit.""Howso?" enquiredthelady."Iwilltellthee," saidPietro."Nosoonerwerewesetattable, Ercolano,hiswife, andI, thanweheardasneezeclosetous, towhich, though 'twasrepeated, wepaidnoheed; butasthesneezercontinuedtosneezeathird, afourth,afifth, andmanyanothertimetoboot, weallbegantowonder, andErcolano, whowassomewhatoutofhumourwithhiswife, becauseshehadkeptusalongtimeatthedoorbeforesheopenedit, burstoutinasortofragewith:—'Whatmeansthis? Whois'tthatthussneezes?' andmadeofftoastairhardby, beneathwhichandclosetoitsfootwasawoodencloset, ofthesortwhich, whenfolkarefurnishingtheirhouses,theycommonlycausetobeplacedthere, , heundidthewicket,andnosoonerhadheopeneditthanoutflewneversostrongastenchofbrimstone; albeitwehadalreadybeensalutedbyawhiffofit, andcomplainedthereof,buthadbeenputoffbytheladywith:—''TisbutthatawhileagoIbleachedmyveilswithbrimstone, havingsprinkleditonadish, thattheymightcatchitsfumes,whichdishIthenplacedunderthestair, sothatitstillsmellsalittle.'
