Now I almost know as little of the Chinese language, as I do of the mechanism of Lippius’s clockwork; so, why these should have jostled themselves into the two first articles of my list⸺I leave to the curious as a problem of Nature. I own it looks like one of her ladyship’s obliquities; and they who court her, are interested in finding out her humour as much as I.
When these curiosities are seen, quoth I, half addressing myself to my valet de place, who stood behind me⸺’twill be no hurt if we go to the church of St. Irenæus , and see the pillar to which Christ was tied⸺and after that, the house where Pontius Pilate lived⸺’Twas at the next town, said the valet de place—at Vienne ; I am glad of it, said I, rising briskly from my chair, and walking across the room with strides twice as long as my usual pace⸺“for so much the sooner shall I be at the Tomb of the two lovers .”
What was the cause of this movement, and why I took such long strides in uttering this⸺I might leave to the curious too; but as no principle of clockwork is concerned in it⸺’twill be as well for the reader if I explain it myself.