In the lingo of the traffic reporters, gapers' block is a tie-up caused by motorists slowing down to gape at an accident.

Now that he was in his prime, there was no simian in all the mighty forest through which he roved that dared contest his right to rule, nor did the other and larger animals molest him.

Here were the tall white houses, with many windows and red roofs, the narrow streets and ample squares, the rude paving, the huge arched entrances into huge heavy quadrangular courts, the churches and the cathedral, with tall towers, capped with small Turkish domes, their doors thrown open, and mass celebrating; the pealing of the organ, and the odor of incense; a misericordia, or religious hospital, at your elbow, and an old gray convent perched on the hill above you;–all was just as it might have been in almost any Catholic country on the continent of Europe.

And last but certainly not least, to all the online book geeks (booktubers, tweeps, and bloggers), my sincere gratitude, as always, for your support and encouragement!