Page:Pictures of life in Mexico Vol 1.djvu/299

Rh plaster female figure: it fell immediately, face downwards, the Grecian nose was broken off, and rolled upon the floor.

This was a dire event for poor Nicolo! The figure being a prominent one, and well known to the frequenters of the establishment, concealment was quite out of the question; and what to do on the emergency the little man did not know: it was a warm morning, and as he cogitated on the subject, in an agony of apprehension, the perspiration stood in beads upon his forehead. Presently a bright thought entered his head; and, with an exclamation of relief, he proceeded to act upon it: in his heat and earnestness he stripped off his jaceti and sash, placed them hurriedly in a recess at the other end of the apartment, and rushed to a packet of fine plaster kept in a private drawer: he mixed a small quantity of the powder with water and other ingredients, and with its aid commenced an attempt to "re-set" the nose to its proper countenance, without more ado.

He could not adjust the wilful feature to his liking, however, for a considerable time: the plaster was at first too dry, and set fast too quickly; then he made it too liquid, and it would not adhere. At last, when he had