At present Peppiniello looks idle enough. He is
stretched at full leng^ upon the ground, watching a
game which two other boys are playing with peach-
stones, a natural substitute for marbles ; but he has a
keen eye for business, and makes more money than
any of the fraternity. This his comrades attribute to
his luck ; but it is really the result of a number of
small observations. Thus, more than a year and a
half ago he noticed that when four or five of them sat in
a row those at the two ends were sure to sell their wares
quickest ; for if the purchaser is in haste he will buy
of the first that he sees, and hurry on ; if he is at
leisure he will probably inspect all the piles, and,
finding them pretty much alike, he will take his tobacco
of the last, in order that he may not have to retrace
his steps. Some months passed before he made a
second discovery, namely, that the spot he now occu-
pies is the best for its purpose in all Naples, because
the mechanics who pass along the Strada del Molo
are generally anxious to get to or from their work as
quickly as may be, while, on the other hand, the boat-
men who return from the landing-place have usually
finished their task, and have noUiing very particular
to do. As soon as he had noticed this, he made a
point of occupying the corner before any of his com-

B 2



4 STORIES OF NAPLES AND THE CAMORRA

rades were astir, and he has now almost a prescriptive
right to it Some of his success must also be attributed
to his good-nature. When his wares are exhausted,
or there is no hope of custom, he is always ready to
run an errand for the men who are working near.
