The people seemed as cheerful and light—hearted as ever.The volcano was one of their crosses，and they bore it patiently.The theatres would remain closed for some weeks to come，but the great Museo Nationale was open，and Uncle John and his nieces were much interested in the bronze and marble statuary that here form the greatest single collection in all the world.
It was at the Museum that Mr.Merrick was arrested for the ?rst time in his life，an experience he never afterward forgot.
Bad money is so common in Naples that Uncle John never accepted any change from anyone，but obtained all his silver coins and notes directly from the Banca Commerciale Italiana，a government institution.One morning he drove with the girls to the museum and paid the cabman a lira，but before he could ascend the steps the man was after him and holding out a leaden coin，claiming that his fare had given him bad money and must exchange it for good.This is so common a method of swindling that Uncle John paid no heed to the demands of the cabman until one of the Guard Municipale，inhis uniform of dark blue with yellow buttons and cap，placeda restraining hand upon the American's shoulder.
Uncle John angrily shook him off，but the man persisted，and an interpreter employed by the museum stepped forward and explained that unless the cabman was given a good coin in exchange for the bad one the guard would be obliged to take him before a commissionaire，or magistratea.
"But I gave him a good coin—a lira direct from the bank，"declared Uncle John.
"He exhibits a bad one，"returned the interpreter，calmly."He's a swindler！""He is a citizen of Naples，and entitled to a just payment，"said the other，shrugging his shoulders.
"You are all leagued together，"said Uncle John，indignantly."But you will get no more money out of me，I promise you."The result was that the stubborn American was placed under arrest.Leaving the girls at the museum in charge of Ferralti，who had made no attempt to interfere in the disputebut implored Uncle John to pay and avoid trouble，the angryprisoner was placed in the same cab he had arrived in and，with the of?cer seated beside him，was publicly driven to the of?ce of the magistrate.
This of?cial understood no English，but he glowered andfrowned ?ercely when the American was brought before him.The guard and the cabman stood with bared bowed heads and inlow tones preferred the charge against the prisoner；but Uncle John swaggereda up to the desk and pounded his clinched ?st upon it while he roared a de?ance of Italian injustice and threatened to "bring over a few war—ships and blow Naples into kingdom come！"The magistrate was startled，and ordered the prisonersearched for concealed weapons.Uncle John doubled his ?sts and dared the guard to touch him.
Then the cabman was dispatchedb for someone who could speak English，and when an interpreter arrived the American told him to send for the United States consul and also to inform the magistrate that nothing but war between America and Italy could wipe out the affrontc that had been thrust upon him.
The magistrate was disturbed，and preferred not to sendfor the consul.He offered to release Uncle John if he would give the cabman a good lira in exchange for the bad one.The of?cial fee would be ?ve lira—or say three lira—or even two.Uncle John ?atly refused to pay anything to anybody.Only war could settle this international complication—bloody and bitter war.The consul must cable at once for war—ships and troops.He would insist upon it.All compromise was now impossible ！
The magistrate was frightened.The guard's eyes bulged withd horror and he trembled visibly.It was evident theyhad made a grave mistake in arresting this mad American，who was evidently a personage of great importance and able to declare war at a moment's notice.The cabman，the magistrate，the guard and the interpreter put their heads together and chattered voluble Italian—all speaking at once in excited tones—while Uncle John continued to warn them at the top of his lungs that their country was doomed to suddenannihilationa and they were the culpritsb responsible for the coming calamity.
As a result they bundled the irate American into the carriage again and drove him poste haste back to the museum，where they deposited him upon the steps.Then in a ?ash the guard and the cabman disappeared from sight and were seen no more.
The victor smiled proudly as his nieces rushed toward him."Did you have to pay another lira，Uncle？"asked Patsy，anxiously.
"Not on your life，my dear，"mopping his brow vigorously."They're a lot of cutthroatsc and assassinsd—policemen，magistrates and all—but when the eagle screams they're wise enough to duck."The girls laughed.
"And did the eagle scream，then？"Patsy enquired.
"Just a little，my dear；but if it whispered it would sound mighty loud in this mummified old world.But we've lost enough time for one day.Come；let's go see 'Narcissus'and the 'Dancing Faun.'"