These illustrious ladies appeared so lovely on the sign, -- they presented to the astonished eyes such an assemblage of lilies and roses, the enchanting result of the change of style in Pittrino -- they assumed the poses of sirens so Anacreontically -- that the principal echevin, when admitted to view this capital piece in the salle of Cropole, at once declared that these ladies were too handsome, of too animated a beauty, to figure as a sign in the eyes of passers-by.

With halting steps I paced the streets, and passed the sign of The Crossed Harpoons --but it looked too expensive and jolly there.

This sign I give unto you: every people speaketh its language of good and evil: this its neighbour understandeth not.