The Man Who Kept His Money in a Box

A wandering narrator finds himself in the dramatic gorge of the Via Mala, where the roar of river and wind makes conversation a challenge. In a cramped carriage he spots an odd man—Mr. Greene—who seems more preoccupied with protecting his throat than the scenery, and who insists on keeping his money locked away in a small box. Their brief exchange, set against the chill of the Splugen pass and the bustling hospice, hints at a peculiar blend of caution and curiosity that defines Greene’s character.

Later, their paths cross again in the bustling courtyard of a Chiavenna hotel and on the tranquil shores of Lake Como, where the narrator watches Greene’s careful habits unfold among lively travelers. The story offers a vivid portrait of 19th‑century Alpine travel, blending humor with subtle tension as a man’s modest obsession with his hidden savings meets the generous, sometimes chaotic world around him.