rter from the
Austrian army, trying to get back to Hesse Cassel; and an Italian image
carrier, with a green parrot and a well-filled purse, going back to
finish his days at Lucca.

Now none of these were elements of a very exalted or exclusive rank;
they were each and all of them taken from the very base of the social
pyramid; and yet, would it be believed that they regarded our entrance
amongst them as an act of rare impudence!

A more polished company might have been satisfied with averted heads or
cold looks; these were less equivocal. One called out to the landlord
to know if he expected any gypsies; another, affecting to treat us as
solicitors for their patronage, said he had no "batzen" to bestow on
buffoonery; a third suggested we should get up our theatricals under
the cart-shed outside, and beat the drum when we were ready; and the
deserter, a poor weak-looking, mangy wretch with a ragged fatigue-jacket
and broken boots, put his arm round Catinka's waist, to draw her on his
knee, for the which she dealt him such a slap on the face as fairly sent
him on the floor, in which ignoble position.

Vaterchen kicked him again and again. In an instant all were upon us.
Carters, pedlers, and image men assailed us furiously. I suppose I beat
somebody; I know that several beat _me_. The impression left upon me
when all was over was of a sort of human kaleidoscope, where the people
turned every way without ceasing. Now we seemed all on our feet, now on
our heads, now on the floor, now in the air, Vaterchen flying about like
a demon, while Tinte-, fleck stood in a corner, with a gleaming stiletto
in hand, saying something in Calabrian, which sounded like an invitation
to come and be killed.

The police came at last; and, after a noisy scene of accusation and
denial, the weight of evidence went against us, and we were marched off
to prison, poor old Vaterchen crying like a child, for all the disgrace
and misery he had brought on his benefactor: and while he kissed my
hand, swearing that a whole life's devotion would not be enough to
recompense me for what he had been the means of inflicting on me,
Catinka took it more easily, her chief regret apparently being, that
nobody came near enough to give her a chance with her knife, which she
assured us she wielded with a notable skill, and could, with a jerk,
send flying through a door, like a javelin, at full six paces' distance;
nor, indeed, was it without considerable persuasi