He was a short, thick, strongly-built fellow of about thirty-seven, with a swarthy face, raven-black hair, high forehead, and dark deep eyes, full of intelligence and great determination.

He was dressed in a velveteen coat, with broad lappets, red waistcoat, velveteen breeches, buttoning a little way below the knee; white stockings apparently of lamb's-wool and high-lows.
"Buona sera ?" said I.
"Buona sera, signore!" said the Italian.
"Will you have a glass of brandy and water ?" said I in English.
"I never refuse a good offer," said the Italian.
He sat down, and I ordered a glass of brandy and water for him and another for myself.
"Pray speak a little Italian to him," said the good landlady to me.

"I have heard a great deal about the beauty of that language, and should like to hear it spoken." "From the Lago di Como ?" said I, trying to speak Italian.
"Si, signore! but how came you to think that I was from the Lake of Como ?" "Because," said I, "when I was a ragazzo I knew many from the Lake of Como, who dressed much like yourself.

They wandered about the country with boxes on their backs and weather-glasses in their hands, but had their head-quarters at N.where I lived." "Do you remember any of their names ?" said the Italian.
"Giovanni Gestra and Luigi Pozzi," I replied.
"I have seen Giovanni Gestra myself," said the Italian, "and I have heard of Luigi Pozzi.

Giovanni Gestra returned to the Lago--but no one knows what is become of Luigi Pozzi." "The last time I saw him," said I, "was about eighteen years ago at Coruna in Spain; he was then in a sad drooping condition, and said he bitterly repented ever quitting N." "E con ragione," said the Italian, "for there is no place like N.for doing business in the whole world.