In every ruined abbey and castle there is a
servant who brings in a comic element and re-
lieves the strained feelings. Peter, Annette, and
Paulo are all faithful but garrulous, and often
bring disaster upon their masters by overzeal
in their service.
When Vivaldi, the hero of The Italian, is
brought before the tribunal of the inquisition,
his faithful servant, Paulo, rails bitterly at the
treatment his master has received. Vivaldi,
well knowing the danger which they both incur
by too free speech, bids him speak in a whisper:

" ' A whisper,' shouted Paulo, ' I scorn to speak
in a whisper. I will speak so loud that every
word I say shall ring in the ears of all those
old black devils on the benches yonder, ay,
and those on that mountebank stage, too, that
sit there looking so grim and angry, as if they
longed to tear us in pieces. They — '

" ' Silence,' said Vivaldi with emphasis. 'Paulo,
I command you to be silent.'

"'They shall know a bit of my mind," contin-



Ann Radcliffe 99

ued Paulo, without noticing Vivaldi. ' I will tell
them what they have to expect from all their
cruel usage of my poor master. Where do
they expect to go to when they die, I wonder?
Though for that matter, they can scarcely go
to a worse place than that they are in already,
and I suppose it is knowing that which makes
them not afraid of being ever so wicked. They
shall hear a little plain truth for once in their
lives, however; they shall hear — ' "

But by this time Paulo is dragged from the
room.
