by selling secret medicines--and I am told your
specifics have in truth an evil smell."

"It is false!" burst out the doctor, as Nello moved away his razor; "it
is false! I will show the pills and the powders to these honourable
signori--and the salve--it has an excellent odour--an odour of--of
salve." He started up with the lather on his chin, and the cloth round
his neck, to search in his saddle-bag for the belied medicines, and
Nello in an instant adroitly shifted the shaving-chair till it was in
the close vicinity of the horse's head, while Sandro, who had now
returned, at a sign from his master placed himself near the bridle.

"Behold, Messeri!" said the doctor, bringing a small box of medicines
and opening it before them.

"Let any signor apply this box to his nostrils and he will find an
honest odour of medicaments--not indeed of pounded gems, or rare
vegetables from the East, or stones found in the bodies of birds; for I
practise on the diseases of the vulgar, for whom heaven has provided
cheaper and less powerful remedies according to their degree: and there
are even remedies known to our science which are entirely free of cost--
as the new _tussis_ may be counteracted in the poor, who can pay for no
specifics, by a resolute holding of the breath. And here is a paste
which is even of savoury odour, and is infallible against melancholia,
being concocted under the conjunction of Jupiter and Venus; and I have
seen it allay spasms."

"Stay, Maestro," said Nello, while the doctor had his lathered face
turned towards the group near the door, eagerly holding out his box, and
lifting out one specific after another; "here comes a crying contadina
with her baby. Doubtless she is in search of you; it is perhaps an
opportunity for you to show this honourable company a proof of your
skill. Here, buona donna! here is the famous doctor. Why, what is the
matter with the sweet _bimbo_?"

This question was addressed to a sturdy-looking, broad-shouldered
contadina, with her head-drapery folded about her face so that little
was to be seen but a bronzed nose and a pair of dark eyes and eyebrows.
She carried her child packed up in the stiff mummy-shaped case in which
Italian babies have been from time immemorial introduced into society,
turning its face a little towards her bosom, and making those sorrowful
grimaces which women are in the habit of using as a sort of pulleys to
draw down reluctant tears.

"Oh, for the l