He quickly assisted me to change my wet clothes for a warm dressing-gown, and then brought a glass of mulled port wine, but performed these duties with such an air of unbroken gravity that I was inwardly amused while I admired the fellow's reticence.

When I was about to retire for the night, I tossed him a napoleon.

He eyed it musingly and inquiringly; then he asked: "Your excellency desires to purchase something ?" "Your silence, my friend, that is all!" I replied, with a laugh.
"Understand me, Vincenzo, you will serve yourself and me best by obeying implicitly, and asking no questions.

Fortunate is the servant who, accustomed to see his master drunk every night, swears to all outsiders that he has never served so sober and discreet a gentleman! That is your character, Vincenzo--keep to it, and we shall not quarrel." He smiled gravely, and pocketed my piece of gold without a word--like a true Tuscan as he was.

The sentimental servant, whose fine feelings will not allow him to accept an extra "tip," is, you may be sure, a humbug.