, that, as Scaife declares, he
went further than dealing on a cash basis--and so got the nickname of
Caparra, or the Pledge--so well did he know the value of cash. _Il
martel d'argento rompe le porte di ferro_, or--

"A hammer of silver, as we see,
Breaks the iron gates of poverty."

THE GOBLIN OF LA VIA DEL CORNO

"Oh for one blast of that dread horn,
On Fontarabian echoes borne,
When Roland brave and Olivier,
And every paladin and peer
At Roncesvalles died."--_Walter Scott_.

"The Korrigan who ever wears a horn."

The Via del Corno is a narrow street passing from the Via del Leone. I
have found the following story in reference to the origin of its name,
which, if not authentic, is at least amusing and original:

LA VIA DEL CORNO.

"There was in what is now known as the Via del Corno an ancient palace,
which a long time ago was inhabited only by a certain gentleman and a
goblin. {21}

"Nor had he any servants, because of all who came, none remained more
than one day for fear of the _folletto_. And as this spread far and
wide, people kept away from the Via del Corno after dark; but as this
also kept away thieves, and the goblin did all the house-work, the master
was all the better pleased. Only on one point did the two differ, and
that was the point of morality. Here the goblin was extremely strict,
and drew the line distinctly. Several times, as was the custom in those
wicked days, the Signore attempted to introduce a lady-friend to the
palazzo, but the goblin all night long, when not busied in pulling the
sheets from the fair sinner, was industriously occupied in strewing
nettles or burrs under her, or tickling the soles of her feet with a pen;
and then anon, when, sinking to sleep, she hoped for some remission of
the tease, he would begin to play interminable airs on a horn. It is
true that he played beautifully, like no earthly musician, but even
enchanting airs may be annoying when they prevent sleep.

"Nor did the lord fare the better, even when, inspired by higher motives,
he 'would a-wooing go.' For one lady or another had heard of the goblin,
and when they had not, it always happened that by some mysterious means
or other the match was broken off.

"Meantime the life led by the Signore was rather peculiar, as he slept
nearly all day, sallied forth for an hour or two to exercise, go to a
barber's, make his small purchase