Page:The genius - Carl Grosse tr Joseph Trapp 1796.djvu/430

 ing anonymous letters, representing our danger, and some of the servants reported, that every night certain persons deeply muffled up, were lingering about the house to watch our motions. We went out well armed every day, and, returned home at twilight, avoiding all narrow passes and lanes.

One night, the weather being uncommonly beautiful and serene, we resolved to stay some hours longer than we were wont to do at a coffee-house on St. Mark's Square, and ordered some sherbet to be brought us before the door. Owing to the great number of guests, we were obliged to wait a good while before we could get served. At last the waiter forced his way with some difficulty through the crowd, and brought us the desired liquor, with some ices on a dish, Just as he was going to present it, a person in a green cloak, with his hat, deeply slouched over his face hustled the waiter, apparently without design, and made him drop the ices and spill the liquor, which fell on the ground.