procession following arm in arm, dancing with joy.
It was delightful to be once more in. our dear Meadows; and there we stayed all day, and far into the night, cooking, eating, and playing around the statue of the good Duke.
The place looked like a pigsty the next day; there was not a single blade of grass left, and the print of our feet was stamped deep all over the ground, as a proof of the devotion with which his loyal subjects had feasted their suzerain. He must have been hard to please if he was not satisfied, and we on our part were delighted with the events of the day.
An inquiry was indeed started by the Procurator, who professed to be indignant, and threatened us with dire consequences; but on second thoughts he found it wiser to let the whole thing drop; since no one really wanted to close the door so happily re-opened.
This was the method we chose to show that we could be true subjects of the Duke and King, and yet insist on having our own way — for there is no denying that we are a stiff-necked generation — and this being done, the town seemed to pick up its spirits after the trials it had passed through, and we were once more all good friends together.
