of　my　teeth　and　gums；　my　double　teeth；　my　single　teeth；　my　stopped
  teeth；　and　my　sound。　　In　this　Arcadian　rest；　I　am　fearless　of　him
  as　of　a　harmless；　powerless　creature　in　a　Scotch　cap；　who　adores　a
  young　lady　in　a　voluminous　crinoline；　at　a　neighbouring　billiard…
  room；　and　whose　passion　would　be　uninfluenced　if　every　one　of　her
  teeth　were　false。　　They　may　be。　　He　takes　them　all　on　trust。
  In　secluded　corners　of　the　place　of　my　seclusion；　there　are　little
  shops　withdrawn　from　public　curiosity；　and　never　two　together；
  where　servants'　perquisites　are　bought。　　The　cook　may　dispose　of
  grease　at　these　modest　and　convenient　marts；　the　butler；　of
  bottles；　the　valet　and　lady's　maid；　of　clothes；　most　servants；
  indeed；　of　most　things　they　may　happen　to　lay　hold　of。　　I　have　been
  told　that　in　sterner　times　loving　correspondence；　otherwise
  interdicted；　may　be　maintained　by　letter　through　the　agency　of　some
  of　these　useful　establishments。　　In　the　Arcadian　autumn；　no　such
  device　is　necessary。　　Everybody　loves；　and　openly　and　blamelessly
  loves。　　My　landlord's　young　man　loves　the　whole　of　one　side　of　the
  way　of　Old　Bond…street；　and　is　beloved　several　doors　up　New　Bond…
  street　besides。　　I　never　look　out　of　window　but　I　see　kissing　of
  hands　going　on　all　around　me。　　It　is　the　morning　custom　to　glide
  from　shop　to　shop　and　exchange　tender　sentiments；　it　is　the　evening
  custom　for　couples　to　stand　hand　in　hand　at　house　doors；　or　roam；
  linked　in　that　flowery　manner；　through　the　unpeopled　streets。
  There　is　nothing　else　to　do　but　love；　and　what　there　is　to　do；　is
  done。
  In　unison　with　this　pursuit；　a　chaste　simplicity　obtains　in　the
  domestic　habits　of　Arcadia。　　Its　few　scattered　people　dine　early；
  live　moderately；　sup　socially；　and　sleep　soundly。　　It　is　rumoured
  that　the　Beadles　of　the　Arcade；　from　being　the　mortal　enemies　of
  boys；　have　signed　with　tears　an　address　to　Lord　Shaftesbury；　and
  subscribed　to　a　ragged　school。　　No　wonder！　　For；　they　might　turn
  their　heavy　maces　into　crooks　and　tend　sheep　in　the　Arcade；　to　the
  purling　of　the　water…carts　as　they　give　the　thirsty　streets　much
  more　to　drink　than　they　can　carry。
  A　happy　Golden　Age；　and　a　serene　tranquillity。　　Charming　picture；
  but　it　will　fade。　　The　iron　age　will　return；　London　will　come　back
  to　town；　if　I　show　my　tongue　then　in　Saville…row　for　half　a　minute
  I　shall　be　prescribed　for；　the　Doctor's　man　and　the　Dentist's　man
  will　then　pretend　that　these　days　of　unprofessional　innocence　never
  existed。　　Where　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Klem　and　their　bed　will　be　at　that
  time；　passes　human　knowledge；　but　my　hatter　hermitage　will　then
  know　them　no　more；　nor　will　it　then　know　me。　　The　desk　at　which　I
  have　written　these　meditations　will　retributively　assist　at　the
  making　out　of　my　account；　and　the　wheels　of　gorgeous　carriages　and
  the　hoofs　of　high…stepping　horses　will　crush　the　silence　out　of
  Bond…street　…　will　grind　Arcadia　away；　and　give　it　to　the　elements
  in　granite　powder。
  CHAPTER　XVII　…　THE　ITALIAN　PRISONER
  The　rising　of　the　Italian　people　from　under　their　unutterable
  wrongs；　and　the　tardy　burst　of　day　upon　them　after　the　long　long
  night　of　oppression　that　has　darkened　their　beautiful　country；　have
  naturally　caused　my　mind　to　dwell　often　of　late　on　my　own　small
  wanderings　in　Italy。　　Connected　with　them；　is　a　curious　little
  drama；　in　which　the　character　I　myself　sustained　was　so　very
  subordinate　that　I　may　relate　its　story　without　any　fear　of　being
  suspected　of　self…display。　　It　is　strictly　a　true　story。
  I　am　newly　arrived　one　summer　evening；　in　a　certain　small　town　on
  the　Mediterranean。　　I　have　had　my　dinner　at　the　inn；　and　I　and　the
  mosquitoes　are　coming　out　into　the　streets　together。　　It　is　far
  from　Naples；　but　a　bright；　brown；　plump　little　woman…servant　at　the
  inn；　is　a　Neapolitan；　and　is　so　vivaciously　expert　in　panto…mimic
  action；　that　in　the　single　moment　of　answering　my　request　to　have　a
  pair　of　shoes　cleaned　which　I　have　left　up…stairs；　she　plies
  imaginary　brushes；　and　goes　completely　through　the　motions　of
  polishing　the　shoes　up；　and　laying　them　at　my　feet。　　I　smile　at　the
  brisk　little　woman　in　perfect　satisfaction　with　her　briskness；　and
  the　brisk　little　woman；　amiably　pleased　with　me　because　I　am
  pleased　with　her；　claps　her　hands　and　laughs　delightfully。　　We　are
  in　the　inn　yard。　　As　the　little　woman's　bright　eyes　sparkle　on　the
  cigarette　I　am　smoking；　I　make　bold　to　offer　her　one；　she　accepts
  it　none　the　less　merrily；　because　I　touch　a　most　charming　little
  dimple　in　her　fat　cheek；　with　its　light　paper　end。　　Glancing　up　at
  the　many　green　lattices　to　assure　herself　that　the　mistress　is　not
  looking　on；　the　little　woman　then　puts　her　two　little　dimple　arms
  a…kimbo；　and　stands　on　tiptoe　to　light　her　cigarette　at　mine。　　'And
  now；　dear　little　sir；'　says　she；　puffing　out　smoke　in　a　most
  innocent　and　cherubic　manner；　'keep　quite　straight　on；　take　the
  first　to　the　right　and　probably　you　will　see　him　standing　at　his
  door。'
  I　gave　a　commission　to　'him；'　and　I　have　been　inquiring　about　him。
  I　have　carried　the　commission　about　Italy　several　months。　　Before　I
  left　England；　there　came　to　me　one　night　a　certain　generous　and
  gentle　English　nobleman　（he　is　dead　in　these　days　when　I　relate　the
  story；　and　exiles　have　lost　their　best　British　friend）；　with　this
  request：　　'Whenever　you　come　to　such　a　town；　will　you　seek　out　one
  Giovanni　Carlavero；　who　keeps　a　little　wine…shop　there；　mention　my
  name　to　him　suddenly；　and　observe　how　it　affects　him？'　　I　accepted
  the　trust；　and　am　on　my　way　to　discharge　it。
  The　sirocco　has　been　blowing　all　day；　and　it　is　a　hot　unwholesome
  evening　with　no　cool　sea…breeze。　　Mosquitoes　and　fire…flies　are
  lively　enough；　but　most　other　creatures　are　faint。　　The　coquettish
  airs　of　pretty　young　women　in　the　tiniest　and　wickedest　of　dolls'
  straw　hats；　who　lean　out　at　opened　lattice　blinds；　are　almost　the
  only　airs　stirring。　　Very　ugly　and　haggard　old　women　with　distaffs；
  and　with　a　grey　tow　upon　them　that　looks　as　if　they　were　spinning
  out　their　own　hair　（I　suppose　they　were　once　pretty；　too；　but　it　is
  very　difficult　to　believe　so）；　sit　on　the　footway　leaning　against
  house　walls。　　Everybody　who　has　come　for　water　to　the　fountain；
  stays　there；　and　seems　incapable　of　any　such　energetic　idea　as
  going　home。　　Vespers　are　over；　though　not　so　long　but　that　I　can
  smell　the　heavy　resinous　incense　as　I　pass　the　church。　　No　man
  seems　to　be　at　work；　save　the　coppersmith。　　In　an　Italian　town　he
  is　always　at　work；　and　always　thumping　in　the　deadliest　manner。
  I　keep　straight　on；　and　come　in　due　time　to　the　first　on　the　right：
  a　narrow　dull　street；　where　I　see　a　well…favoured　man　of　good
  stature　and　military　bearing；　in　a　great　cloak；　standing　at　a　door。
  Drawing　nearer　to　this　threshold；　I　see　it　is　the　threshold　of　a
  small　wine…shop；　and　I　can　just　make　out；　in　the　dim　light；　the
  inscription　that　it　is　kept　by　Giovanni　Carlavero。
  I　touch　my　hat　to　the　figure　in　the　cloak；　and　pass　in；　and　draw　a
  stool　to　a　little　table。　　The　lamp　（just　such　another　as　they　dig
  out　of　Pompeii）　is　lighted；　but　the　place　is　empty。　　The　figure　in
  the　cloak　has　followed　me　in；　and　stands　before　me。
  'The　master？'
  'At　your　service；　sir。'
  'Please　to　give　me　a　glass　of　the　wine　of　the　country。'
  He　turns　to　a　little　counter；　to　get　it。　　As　his　striking　face　is
  pale；　and　his　action　is　evidently　that　of　an　enfeebled　man；　I
  remark　that　I　fear　he　has　been　ill。　　It　is　not　much；　he　courteously
  and　gravely　answers；　though　bad　while　it　lasts：　　the　fever。
  As　he　sets　the　wine　on　the　little　table；　to　his　manifest　surprise　I
  lay　my　hand　on　the　back　of　his；　look　him　in　the　face；　and　say　in　a
  low　voice：　　'I　am　an　Englishman；　and　you　are　acquainted　with　a
  friend　of　mine。　　Do　you　recollect　…　？'　and　I　mentioned　the　name　of
  my　generous　countryman。
  Instantly；　he　utters　a　loud　cry；　bursts　into　tears；　and　falls　on
  his　knees　at　my　feet；　clasping　my　legs　in　both　his　arms　and　bowing
  his　head　to　the　ground。
  Some　years　ago；　this　man　at　my　feet；　whose　over…fraught　heart　is
  heaving　as　if　it　would　burst　from　his　breast；　and　whose　tears　are
  wet　upon　the　dress　I　wear；　was　a　galley…slave　in　the　North　of
  Italy。　　He　was　a　political　offender；　having　been　concerned　in　the
  then　last　rising；　and　was　sentenced　to　imprisonment　for　life。　　That
  he　would　have　died　in　his　chains；　is　certain；　but　for　the
  circumstance　that　the　Englishman　happened　to　visit　his　prison。
  It　was　one　of　the　vile　old　prisons　of　Italy；　and　a　part　of　it　was
  below　the　waters　of　the　harbour。　　The　place　of　his　confinement　was
  an　arched　under…ground　and　under…water　gallery；　with　a　grill…gate
  at　the　entrance；　through　which　it　received　such　light　and　air　as　it
  got。　　Its　condition　was　insufferably　foul；　and　a　stranger　could
  hardly　breathe　in　it；　or　see　in　it　with　the　aid　of　a　torch。　　At　the
  upper　end　of　this　dungeon；　and　consequently