I  was  intensely  amused  one  day  when
I  took  a  small  wooden  box  to  the  post-
office  in  Salzburg,  to  send  by  post.  It
contained  only  a  small  stag's  head,  carved
in  wood,  which  I  wished  copied,  and  was
to  go  no  further  than  Ebensee.  It  was
solemnly  received  by  an  official,  who  lei-
surely read  the  du'ection,  and  with  official
dignity  tm-ned  the  box  over.  It  was  then
handed  to  another,  who,  after  inspecting
it  as  cautiously  and  minutely  as  if  it  had
been  an  infernal  machuie,  consulted  a  third.
When  a  rather  lengthened  consultation  was
ended,  they  informed  me  that  they  regretted
they  could  not  send  it,  as  there  were  no
seals  to  it.  I  said  I  had  no  sealing-wax,
and  that  as  it  was  so  light,  I  thought  it
would  go  perfectly  well  without.  Such  a
thing,  they  said,  was  not  to  be  thought
of.     I  cast  an  imploring  look  at  a  big  stick


Affi,xing  Seals.  273

of  sealing-wax,  nearly  as  thick  as  my
"wnst,  which  was  lying  on  a  desk ;  but
that  mute  appeal  to  official  benevolence
remained  unanswered.  I  supposed  they  con-
sidered it  would  be  a  wholesome  lesson  in
Imperial  routine  if  I  had  to  take  a  little
trouble.
