Betowelled

The painter had set himself, with, I doubt not, fair moral intent, to exhibit a skeleton wrapped up in a winding-sheet; but, like the unlucky artist immortalized by Gifford, who proposed painting a lion, but produced merely a dog, his skill had failed in seconding his intentions, and, instead of achieving a Death in a shroud, he had achieved but a monkey grinning in a towel. His contemporaries, however, unlike those of Gifford’s artist, do not seem to have found out the mistake, and so the betowelled monkey has come to hold a conspicuous place among the solemnities of the Cathedral.

Both saunas offer discount to the under 26’s, and provide clean towels and robes. A patient and steady parade of betowelled torsos pad barefoot along the carpeted passageways, passing by the entrances to rooms occupied by those customers who have positioned themselves on the bunks to best advantage in the hope of attracting a suitable gentleman caller.

I was largely submerged in the bath, happily steaming off the remains of the head-cold, when there was a knock on the bedroom door. Betowelled, I opened it.