The state herald., 1912-09-06
SIN CARLO UzEAZ2E

shoots up again; there in the distance
you see goat milked-at SO much
per glass-before the customers very
eyes; yonder is cart full of snails;
other edibles are In sight, and in your
confused constituencies the smells of
these mingle with the well-nigh In
terminable cries of the venders. the
chatter of women, the noisomeness of
children.
AT last, after long walt. here is
the landlady; middle-aged, prema-
turely wrinkled woman, with very
shrewd eyes. which examine you with
a curious and careful scrutiny. You
ascend with her laboriously up the
wide stone stairs, made of lava. as we
later discovered-to the fourth story,
and, passing along a number OF curl
GUS long corridors which run mostly
around the areaway OF the skyllght.
centered in the building. we come
upon a small door. presenting even a
more exaggerated dIminutive appear
ance because of the jamb that Is sure
ly at least two feet in depth. Your
first feeling is that you are about TO
enter vault. an impression that is
quickly dissipated once you enter the
room, which is very large and even
more amazingly high. Other much
larger doors are here. leading to other
rooms. overhung heavily with curtains
and draperies. leading to the balcony
overlooking two streets.
You Hageie.
Then begins the haggling about the
price: you are expected. following the
advice OF the guidebooks. ito preserve
outwardly calm demeanor." Out
wardly" should be in italics. for Ger.
tainly inside OF you you are boiling
with rage as you watch lhe voluble
landlady gestlculatlng. expostulating.
arguing haranguing. waxing eloquent,
putting all her facial muscles into
play, like an emotional acrtess. and
all OF this to impress you with the
fact that the room Ia cheap Mt her
price You are helpless against the
torrential outpour OF words. all you
can do. not knowing the language. is
TO name your price and say "Bastal"
1t is an indispensable word. and means
enough" you must say II quickly. de-
cislvely. leaving no doubt as to your
meaning. Then shake your head and
hedge away to the door-never fear.
she won't let you go. You effect n
compromise. and Immediately you
pay her n deposit her face smiles like
the sun after n storm. Then you are
taken In hand by the porter-oh. yes.
that trunk' Drat that trunk
That night we returned to our apart
ment trlfo past midnight. The por-
ter, sitting In his dark hole by dim
oandlellght. opened his eyes drowsiiy.
We put into his hand 30 centesimi, n
legalized exaction which Naples en-.
forces upon strollers who turn In after
~ O'Clock. Those long corridors had
n sinister look by night, and this as
peet OF tho place was increased by the
dead silence and darkness OF the large
house. Upon entering our room We
fastened the door on itH fllmsy latch.
The feeble flicker OF the candle In
that enormous room failed to shed
light In tho corners. and the apart
ment assumed the forbiddlng charae.
ter Of some great underworld We or
nmlned susplcloualy the large doors;
there was no way Of knowing whether
they were fastened or not and from
behind them could be heard the regu.
lar deep breathing OF home one asleep.
Tho huge mlrrored wardrobe next fell
under our investigation. and that yield.
ed neither q live Cammoriat. nor the
uLeleton OF yictim-but only n won.
,h'a largo hat Thus reanaured. va
nndrosaed. put out the llght. and wen,
20 bed. For long time. however. |
lay thinking what an uneanny place
A. vhs. and visions of tho House
Of usher and the murderouH Cam
Imorinta presented themselves before
my eyes. but, thanks 20 the fatigue Of
a strrnuoua day Of uightHos these
gradually became blur and finally
we're altogether loat In sleep. After
tho nrst night this feeling Of appre.
bonslnn wore on After all, Naples Ia
built up almos, entirely Of Just such
houaaai To be- sure, there IL the new
marter, with its large, rrstsntiouA
lookinE hotels made 10 accommodate
English and American visi,ors-but
il il not In this quarter that Nespol
ilan life ia TO DO studied