He was a very old man, and was not much known to the younger society of the place.

But it struck me that _he_ was the man for the occasion.

So I rushed off to the Baths in one of the _bagherini_ (as the little light gigs of the country are called) which had conveyed the parties to the ground, and knocked up Sir Thomas.

Of course all the story came new to him, and he was very much inclined to wash his hands of it.

But on my representations that a life was at stake, his old professional habits prevailed, and he agreed to go back with me to Turrite Cava.
But no persuasions could induce him to trust himself to a _bagherino_.
And truly it would have shaken the old man well-nigh to pieces.