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two； 〃I would not stand to be called Portuguese by Nelson himself。〃
Jack was rather fond of talking about Nelson； and hearing people
talk about him； so that it is not improbable that he may have
sailed with him； and with respect to his having been King Pharaoh's
butler； all I have to say is； I am not disposed to give the
downright lie to the report。 Jack was always ready to do a kind
turn to a poor servant out of place； and has often been known to
assist such as were in prison； which charitable disposition he
perhaps acquired from having lost a good place himself； having seen
the inside of a prison； and known the want of a meal's victuals；
all which trials King Pharaoh's butler underwent； so he may have
been that butler； at any rate； I have known positive conclusions
come to on no better premisses； if indeed as good。 As for the
story of his coming direct from Satan's kitchen； I place no
confidence in it at all； as Black Jack had nothing of Satan about
him but blackness； on which account he was called Black Jack。 Nor
am I disposed to give credit to a report that his hatred of the
Portuguese arose from some ill treatment which he had once
experienced when on shore； at Lisbon； from certain gentlewomen of
the place； but rather conclude that it arose from an opinion he
entertained that the Portuguese never paid their debts； one of the
ambassadors of that nation； whose house he had served； having left
Paris several thousand francs in his debt。 This is all that I have
to say about Black Jack； without whose funny jokes and good
ordinary I should have passed my time in Paris in a very
disconsolate manner。
'After we had been at Paris between two and three months； we left
it in the direction of Italy； which country the family had a great
desire to see。 After travelling a great many days in a thing
which； though called a diligence； did not exhibit much diligence；
we came to a great big town； seated around a nasty salt…water
bason； connected by a narrow passage with the sea。 Here we were to
embark； and so we did as soon as possible； glad enough to get away
… at least I was； and so I make no doubt were the rest； for such a
place for bad smells I never was in。 It seems all the drains and
sewers of the place run into that same salt bason； voiding into it
all their impurities； which； not being able to escape into the sea
in any considerable quantity； owing to the narrowness of the
entrance； there accumulate； filling the whole atmosphere with these
same outrageous scents； on which account the town is a famous
lodging…house of the plague。 The ship in which we embarked was
bound for a place in Italy called Naples； where we were to stay
some time。 The voyage was rather a lazy one； the ship not being
moved by steam； for at the time of which I am speaking； some five
years ago； steam…ships were not so plentiful as now。 There were
only two passengers in the grand cabin； where my governor and his
daughters were； an Italian lady and a priest。 Of the lady I have
not much to say； she appeared to be a quiet respectable person
enough； and after our arrival at Naples I neither saw nor heard
anything more of her； but of the priest I shall have a good deal to
say in the sequel （that； by the bye； is a word I learnt from the
professor of rhetoric）； and it would have been well for our family
had they never met him。
'On the third day of the voyage the priest came to me； who was
rather unwell with sea…sickness； which he； of course； felt nothing
of … that kind of people being never affected like others。 He was
a finish…looking man of about forty…five； but had something strange
in his eyes； which I have since thought denoted that all was not
right in a certain place called the heart。 After a few words of
condolence； in a broken kind of English； he asked me various
questions about our family； and I； won by his seeming kindness；
told him all I knew about them … of which communicativeness I
afterwards very much repented。 As soon as he had got out of me all
he desired； he left me； and I observed that during the rest of the
voyage he was wonderfully attentive to our governor； and yet more
to the young ladies。 Both； however； kept him rather at a distance；
the young ladies were reserved； and once or twice I heard our
governor cursing him between his teeth for a sharking priest。 The
priest； however； was not disconcerted； and continued his
attentions； which in a little time produced an effect； so that； by
the time we landed at Naples； our great folks had conceived a kind
of liking for the man； and when they took their leave invited him
to visit them； which he promised to do。 We hired a grand house or
palace at Naples； it belonged to a poor kind of prince； who was
glad enough to let it to our governor； and also his servants and
carriages； and glad enough were the poor servants； for they got
from us what they never got from the prince … plenty of meat and
money； and glad enough； I make no doubt； were the horses for the
provender we gave them； and I daresay the coaches were not sorry to
be cleaned and furbished up。 Well； we went out and came in； going
to see the sights； and returning。 Amongst other things we saw was
the burning mountain； and the tomb of a certain sorcerer called
Virgilio； who made witch rhymes； by which he could raise the dead。
Plenty of people came to see us； both English and Italians； and
amongst the rest the priest。 He did not come amongst the first；
but allowed us to settle and become a little quiet before he showed
himself； and after a day or two he paid us another visit； then
another； till at last his visits were daily。
'I did not like that Jack Priest； so I kept my eye upon all his
motions。 Lord！ how that Jack Priest did curry favour with our
governor and the two young ladies； and he curried； and curried；
till he had got himself into favour with the governor； and more
especially with the two young ladies； of whom their father was
doatingly fond。 At last the ladies took lessons in Italian of the
priest； a language in which he was said to be a grand proficient；
and of which they had hitherto known but very little； and from that
time his influence over them； and consequently over the old
governor； increased； till the tables were turned； and he no longer
curried favour with them； but they with him … yes； as true as my
leg aches； the young ladies curried； and the old governor curried
favour with that same priest； when he was with them； they seemed
almost to hang on his lips； that is； the young ladies； and as for
the old governor； he never contradicted him； and when the fellow
was absent； which； by the bye； was not often； it was； 〃Father so…
and…so said this；〃 and 〃Father so…and…so said that〃； 〃Father so…
and…so thinks we should do so…and…so； or that we should not do so…
and…so。〃 I at first thought that he must have given them
something； some philtre or the like； but one of the English maid…
servants； who had a kind of respect for me； and who saw much more
behind the scenes than I did； informed me that he was continually
instilling strange notions into their heads； striving； by every
possible method； to make them despise the religion of their own
land； and take up that of the foreign country in which they were。
And sure enough； in a little time； the girls had altogether left
off going to an English chapel； and were continually visiting
places of Italian worship。 The old governor； it is true； still
went to his church； but he appeared to be hesitating between two
opinions； and once； when he was at dinner； he said to two or three
English friends that； since he had become better acquainted with
it； he had conceived a much more favourable opinion of the Catholic
religion than he had previously entertained。 In a word； the priest
ruled the house； and everything was done according to his will and
pleasure； by degrees he persuaded the young ladies to drop their
English acquaintances； whose place he supplied with Italians；
chiefly females。 My poor old governor would not have had a person
to speak to … for he never could learn the language … but for two
or three Englishmen who used to come occasionally and take a bottle
with him in a summer…house； whose company he could not be persuaded
to resign； notwithstanding the entreaties of his daughters；
instigated by the priest； whose grand endeavour seemed to be to
render the minds of all three foolish； for his own ends。 And if he
was busy above stairs with the governor； there was another busy
below with us poor English servants； a kind of subordinate priest；
a low Italian； as he could speak no language but his own； he was
continually jabbering to us in that； and by hearing him the maids
and myself contrived to pick up a good deal of the language； so
that we understood mo