shouldfindyouinthisplace，towhichhegavemeinstructionsnotveryclear。But，nowIamhere，Icravepermissiontoremainalittletime，inorderthatImayholdsomecommunionwithyou。’
　　’Well，’saidI，’sinceyouarecome，youarewelcome；pleasetostepthisway。’
　　ThereuponIconductedthemaninblacktothefireplace，whereBellewasstanding，whohadrisenfromherstoolonmyspringinguptogoinquestofthestranger。Themaninblacklookedatherwithevidentcuriosity，thenmakingherratheragracefulbow，’Lovelyvirgin，’saidhe，stretchingouthishand，’allowmetosaluteyourfingers。’
　　’Iamnotinthehabitofshakinghandswithstrangers，’saidBelle。
　　’Ididnotpresumetorequesttoshakehandswithyou，’saidthemaninblack，’Imerelywishedtobepermittedtosalutewithmylipstheextremityofyourtwoforefingers。’
　　’Ineverpermitanythingofthekind，’saidBelle；’Idonotapproveofsuchunmanlyways，theyareonlybefittingthosewholurkincornersorbehindtrees，listeningtotheconversationofpeoplewhowouldfainbeprivate。’
　　’Doyoutakemeforalistenerthen？’saidthemaninblack。
　　’Ay，indeedIdo，’saidBelle；’theyoungmanmayreceiveyourexcuses，andputconfidenceinthem，ifheplease，butformypartIneitheradmitthemnorbelievethem；’andthereuponflingingherlonghairback，whichwashangingoverhercheeks，sheseatedherselfonherstool。
　　’Come，Belle，’saidI，’Ihavebiddenthegentlemanwelcome，I
　　beseechyou，therefore，tomakehimwelcome；heisastranger，whereweareathome，therefore，evendidwewishhimaway，weareboundtotreathimkindly。’
　　’That’snotEnglishdoctrine，’saidthemaninblack。
　　’IthoughttheEnglishpridedthemselvesontheirhospitality，’
　　saidI。
　　’Theydoso，’saidthemaninblack；’theyareproudofshowinghospitalitytopeopleabovethem，thatis，tothosewhodonotwantit，butofthehospitalitywhichyouwerenowdescribing，andwhichisArabian，theyknownothing。NoEnglishmanwilltolerateanotherinhishouse，fromwhomhedoesnotexpectadvantageofsomekind，andtothosefromwhomhedoeshecanbecivilenough。AnEnglishmanthinksthat，becauseheisinhisownhouse，hehasarighttobeboorishandbrutaltoanyonewhoisdisagreeabletohim，asallthosearewhoarereallyinwantofassistance。ShouldahuntedfugitiverushintoanEnglishman’shouse，beseechingprotection，andappealingtothemaster’sfeelingsofhospitality，theEnglishmanwouldknockhimdowninthepassage。’
　　’Youaretoogeneral，’saidI，’inyourstrictures。Lord-，theunpopularToryminister，wasoncechasedthroughthestreetsofLondonbyamob，and，beingindangerofhislife，tookshelterintheshopofaWhiglinen-draper，declaringhisownunpopularname，andappealingtothelinen-draper’sfeelingsofhospitality；
　　whereuponthelinen-draper，utterlyforgetfulofallpartyrancour，noblyrespondedtotheappeal，andtellinghiswifetoconducthislordshipupstairs，jumpedoverthecounter，withhisellinhishand，andplacinghimselfwithhalf-a-dozenofhisassistantsatthedoorofhisboutique，manfullyconfrontedthemob，tellingthemthathewouldallowhimselftobetorntoathousandpieceserehewouldpermitthemtoinjureahairofhislordship’shead：whatdoyouthinkofthat？’
　　’He!he!he!’titteredthemaninblack。
　　’Well，’saidI，’Iamafraidyourownpracticeisnotverydifferentfromthatwhichyouhavebeenjustnowdescribing；yousidedwiththeRadicalinthepublic-houseagainstme，aslongasyouthoughthimthemostpowerful，andthenturnedagainsthimwhenyousawhewascowed。Whathaveyoutosaytothat？’
　　’Oh，whenoneisinRome，ImeanEngland，onemustdoastheydoinEngland；Iwasmerelyconformingtothecustomofthecountry，he!
　　he!butIbegyourpardonhere，asIdidinthepublic-house。I
　　madeamistake。’
　　’Well，’saidI，’wewilldropthematter，butprayseatyourselfonthatstone，andIwillsitdownonthegrassnearyou。’
　　Themaninblack，afterprofferingtwoorthreeexcusesforoccupyingwhathesupposedtobemyseat，satdownuponthestone，andIsquatteddown，gypsy-fashion，justoppositetohim，Bellesittingonherstoolataslightdistanceonmyright。AfteratimeIaddressedhimthus：’AmItoreckonthisamerevisitofceremony？shoulditproveso，itwillbe，Ibelieve，thefirstvisitofthekindeverpaidme。’
　　’Willyoupermitmetoask，’saidthemaninblack-’theweatherisverywarm，’saidhe，interruptinghimself，andtakingoffhishat。
　　Inowobservedthathewaspartlybald，hisredhairhavingdiedawayfromtheforepartofhiscrown-hisforeheadwashigh，hiseyebrowsscanty，hiseyesgrayandsly，withadownwardtendency，hisnosewasslightlyaquiline，hismouthratherlarge-akindofsneeringsmileplayedcontinuallyonhislips，hiscomplexionwassomewhatrubicund。
　　’Abadcountenance，’saidBelle，inthelanguageoftheroads，observingthatmyeyeswerefixedonhisface。
　　’Doesnotmycountenancepleaseyou，fairdamsel？’saidthemaninblack，resuminghishat，andspeakinginapeculiarlygentlevoice。
　　’How，’saidI，’doyouunderstandthelanguageoftheroads？’
　　’AslittleasIdoArmenian，’saidthemaninblack；’butI
　　understandlookandtone。’
　　’SodoI，perhaps，’retortedBelle；’and，totellyouthetruth，I
　　likeyourtoneaslittleasyourface。’
　　’Forshame，’saidI；’haveyouforgotwhatIwassayingjustnowaboutthedutiesofhospitality？Youhavenotyetansweredmyquestion，’saidI，addressingmyselftotheman，’withrespecttoyourvisit。’
　　’Willyoupermitmetoaskwhoyouare？’
　　’DoyouseetheplacewhereIlive？’saidI。
　　’Ido，’saidthemaninblack，lookingaround。
　　’Doyouknowthenameofthisplace？’
　　’IwastolditwasMumpers’orGypsies’Dingle，’saidthemaninblack。
　　’Good，’saidI；’andthisforgeandtent，whatdotheylooklike？’
　　’LiketheforgeandtentofawanderingZigan；IhaveseenthelikeinItaly。’
　　’Good，’saidI；’theybelongtome。’
　　’Areyou，then，agypsy？’saidthemaninblack。
　　’WhatelseshouldIbe？’
　　’ButyouseemtohavebeenacquaintedwithvariousindividualswithwhomIhavelikewisehadacquaintance；andyouhaveevenalludedtomatters，andevenwords，whichhavepassedbetweenmeandthem。’
　　’Doyouknowhowgypsieslive？’saidI。
　　’Byhammeringoldiron，Ibelieve，andtellingfortunes。’
　　’Well，’saidI，’there’smyforge，andyonderissomeiron，thoughnotold，andbyyourownconfessionIamasoothsayer。’
　　’Buthowdidyoucomebyyourknowledge？’
　　’Oh，’saidI，’ifyouwantmetorevealthesecretsofmytrade，I
　　have，ofcourse，nothingfurthertosay。Gotothescarletdyer，andaskhimhowhedyescloth。’
　　’Whyscarlet？’saidthemaninblack。’Isitbecausegypsiesblushlikescarlet？’
　　’Gypsiesneverblush，’saidI；’butgypsies’cloaksarescarlet。’
　　’Ishouldalmosttakeyouforagypsy，’saidthemaninblack，’butfor-’
　　’Forwhat？’saidI。
　　’ButforthatsamelessoninArmenian，andyourgeneralknowledgeoflanguages；asforyourmannersandappearanceIwillsaynothing，’saidthemaninblack，withatitter。
　　’Andwhyshouldnotagypsypossessaknowledgeoflanguages？’saidI。
　　’Becausethegypsyraceisperfectlyilliterate，’saidthemaninblack；’theyarepossessed，itistrue，ofaknavishacuteness，andareparticularlynotedforgivingsubtleandevasiveanswers-andinyouranswers，Iconfess，youremindmeofthem；butthatoneoftheraceshouldacquirealearnedlanguageliketheArmenian，andhaveageneralknowledgeofliterature，isathingcheiononcredoafatto。’
　　’Whatdoyoutakemefor？’saidI。
　　’Why，’saidthemaninblack，’Ishouldconsideryoutobeaphilologist，who，forsomepurpose，hastakenupagypsylife；butIconfesstoyouthatyourwayofansweringquestionsisfartooacuteforaphilologist。’
　　’Andwhyshouldnotaphilologistbeabletoanswerquestionsacutely？’saidI。
　　’Becausethephilologicalraceisthemoststupidunderheaven，’
　　saidthemaninblack；’theyarepossessed，itistrue，ofacertainfacultyforpickingupwords，andamemoryforretainingthem；butthatanyoneofthesectshouldbeabletogivearationalanswer，tosaynothingofanacuteone，onanysubject-
　　eventhoughthesubjectwerephilology-isathingofwhichIhavenoidea。’
　　’ButyoufoundmegivingalessoninArmeniantothishandmaid？’
　　’IbelieveIdid，’saidthemaninblack。
　　’Andyouheardmegivewhatyouaredisposedtocallacuteanswerstothequestionsyouaskedme？’
　　’IbelieveIdid，’saidthemaninblack。
　　’AndwouldanyonebutaphilologistthinkofgivingalessoninArmeniantoahandmaidinadingle？
　　’Ishouldthinknot，’saidthemaninblack。
　　’Well，then，don’tyouseethatitispossibleforaphilologisttogivenotonlyarational，butanacuteanswer？’
　　’Ireallydon’tknow，’saidthemaninblack。
　　’What’sthematterwithyou？’saidI。
　　’Merelypuzzled，’saidthemaninblack。
　　’Puzzled？
　　’Yes。’
　　’Reallypuzzled？’
　　’Yes。’
　　’Remainso。’
　　’Well，’saidthemaninblack，rising，’puzzledornot，Iwillnolongertrespassuponyourandthisyounglady’sretirement；onlyallowme，beforeIgo，toapologiseformyintrusion。’