Nevertheless, Don Pasquale (Signor
Cricelli's name when greeted by his fellow-citizens) several times
reminded me, without knowing it, of what I had read. For instance,
we entered a shop which he thought might interest me; the salesman
during our talk unobtrusively made up a little parcel of goods, and
asked, at length, whether I would take this with me or have it sent
to the hotel. That point I easily decided, but by no persistence
could I succeed in paying for the things. Smiling behind his
counter, the shopkeeper declined to name a price; Don Pasquale
declared that a payment under such circumstances was a thing unknown
in Catanzaro, and I saw that to say anything more would be to run
the risk of offending him. The same day he invited me to dinner, and
explained that we must needs dine at the hotel where I was staying,
this being the best place of entertainment in the town. I found that
my friend had a second reason for the choice; he wished to ascertain
whether I was comfortably lodged, and as a result of his friendly
offices, various little changes came about.
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