at the window, and engage with you for the five
piastres.

"This treaty concluded, you are sacred to all the world; in
five minutes the report is spread through all Livorno that you
are _engaged_. You may then go where you please; every one
salutes you, wishes you _bon voyage_; you would think yourself
amongst the most disinterested people in the world."--P. 94.

The only question that remains to be decided is that of the
drink-money--the _buona-mano_, as the Italian calls it. This is a matter
of grave importance, and should be gravely considered. On this
_buona-mano_ depends the rapidity of your journey; for the time may vary
at the will of the driver from six to twelve hours. Hereupon M. Dumas
tells an amusing story of a Russian prince, which not only proves how
efficient a cause this _buona mano_ may be in the accomplishment of the
journey, but also illustrates very forcibly a familiar principle of our
own jurisprudence, and a point to which the Italian traveller must pay
particular attention. We doubt if the necessity of a written agreement,
in order to enforce the terms of a contract, was ever made more
painfully evident than in the following instance:--

"The Prince C---- had arrived, with his mother and a German
servant, at Livorno. Like every other traveller who arrives at
Livorno, he had sought immediately the most expeditious means
of departure. These, as we have said, present themselves in
sufficient abundance; the only difficulty is, to know how to
use them.

"The vetturini had learnt from the industrious porters that
they had to deal with a prince. Consequently they demanded
twelve piastres instead of ten, and the prince, instead of
offering five, conceded the twelve piastres, but stipulated
that this should include every thing, especially the
_buona-mano_, which the master should settle with the driver.
'Very good,' said the vetturini; the prince paid his twelve
piastres, and the carriage started off, with him and his
baggage, at full gallop. It was nine o'clock in the morning:
according to his calculation, the Prince would be at Florence
about three or four in the afternoon.

"They had advanced about a quarter of a league when the horses
relaxed their speed, and began to walk step by step. As to the
driver, he sang upon his seat, interrupting himself now and
then to gossip with such acquainta