I went to Palestrina because all foreigners go there, and are to be heard of from other parts of the mountains in that place.

It was a long and tiresome journey; the jolting stage-coach shook me very much.
There was a stout woman inside, with a baby that squealed; there was a very dirty old country curate, who looked as though he had not shaved for a week, or changed his collar for a month.

But he talked intelligently, though he talked too much, and he helped to pass the time until I was weary of him.

We jolted along over the dusty roads, and were at least thankful that it was not yet hot.
In the evening we reached Palestrina, and stopped before the inn in the market-place, as tired and dusty as might be.

The woman went one way, and the priest the other, and I was left alone.