THE NEXT MORNING Franz woke first, and instantly rang the bell. The sound had not yet died away when Signor Pastrini himself entered.
"Well, excellency," said the landlord triumphantly1, and without waiting for Franz to question him, "I feared yesterday, when I would not promise you anything, that you were too late--there is not a single carriage to be had--that is, for the last three days of the carnival2."
"Yes," returned Franz, "for the very three days it is most needed."
"What is the matter?" said Albert, entering; "no carriage to be had?"
"Just so," returned Franz, "you have guessed it."
"Well, your Eternal City is a nice sort of place."
"That is to say, excellency," replied Pastrini, who was desirous of keeping up the dignity of the capital of the Christian3 world in the eyes of his guest, "that there are no carriages to be had from Sunday to Tuesday evening, but from now till Sunday you can have fifty if you please."
"Ah, that is something," said Albert; "to-day is Thursday, and who knows what may arrive between this and Sunday?"
"Ten or twelve thousand travellers will arrive," replied Franz, "which will make it still more difficult."
"My friend," said Morcerf, "let us enjoy the present without gloomy forebodings for the future."
"At least we can have a window?"
"Where?"
"In the Corso."
"Ah, a window!" exclaimed Signor Pastrini,--"utterly impossible; there was only one left on the fifth floor of the Doria Palace, and that has been let to a Russian prince for twenty sequins a day."
The two young men looked at each other with an air of stupefaction.
"Well," said Franz to Albert, "do you know what is the best thing we can do? It is to pass the Carnival at Venice; there we are sure of obtaining gondolas4 if we cannot have carriages."
"Ah, the devil, no," cried Albert; "I came to Rome to see the Carnival, and I will, though I see it on stilts5."
"Bravo! an excellent idea. We will disguise ourselves as monster pulchinellos or shepherds of the Landes, and we shall have complete success."
"Do your excellencies still wish for a carriage from now to Sunday morning?"
"Parbleu!" said Albert, "do you think we are going to run about on foot in the streets of Rome, like lawyer's clerks?"
"I hasten to comply with your excellencies' wishes; only, I tell you beforehand, the carriage will cost you six piastres a day."
"And, as I am not a millionaire, like the gentleman in the next apartments," said Franz, "I warn you, that as I have been four times before at Rome, I know the prices of all the carriages; we will give you twelve piastres for to-day, tomorrow, and the day after, and then you will make a good profit."
"But, excellency"--said Pastrini, still striving to gain his point.
"Now go," returned Franz, "or I shall go myself and bargain with your affettatore, who is mine also; he is an old friend of mine, who has plundered6 me pretty well already, and, in the hope of making more out of me, he will take a less price than the one I offer you; you will lose the preference, and that will be your fault."
"Do not give yourselves the trouble, excellency," returned Signor Pastrini, with the smile peculiar7 to the Italian speculator when he confesses defeat; "I will do all I can, and I hope you will be satisfied."
"And now we understand each other."
"When do you wish the carriage to be here?"
"In an hour."
"In an hour it will be at the door."
An hour after the vehicle was at the door; it was a hack9 conveyance10 which was elevated to the rank of a private carriage in honor of the occasion, but, in spite of its humble11 exterior12, the young men would have thought themselves happy to have secured it for the last three days of the Carnival. "Excellency," cried the cicerone, seeing Franz approach the window, "shall I bring the carriage nearer to the palace?"
Accustomed as Franz was to the Italian phraseology, his first impulse was to look round him, but these words were addressed to him. Franz was the "excellency," the vehicle was the "carriage," and the H?tel de Londres was the "palace." The genius for laudation characteristic of the race was in that phrase.
Franz and Albert descended13, the carriage approached the palace; their excellencies stretched their legs along the seats; the cicerone sprang into the seat behind. "Where do your excellencics wish to go?" asked he.
"To Saint Peter's first, and then to the Colosseum," returned Albert. But Albert did not know that it takes a day to see Saint Peter's, and a month to study it. The day was passed at Saint Peter's alone. Suddenly the daylight began to fade away; Franz took out his watch--it was half-past four. They returned to the hotel; at the door Franz ordered the coachman to be ready at eight. He wished to show Albert the Colosseum by moonlight, as he had shown him Saint Peter's by daylight. When we show a friend a city one has already visited, we feel the same pride as when we point out a woman whose lover we have been. He was to leave the city by the Porta del Popolo, skirt the outer wall, and re-enter by the Porta San Giovanni; thus they would behold15 the Colosseum without finding their impressions dulled by first looking on the Capitol, the Forum16, the Arch of Septimus Severus, the Temple of Antoninus and Faustina, and the Via Sacra. They sat down to dinner. Signor Pastrini had promised them a banquet; he gave them a tolerable repast. At the end of the dinner he entered in person. Franz thought that he came to hear his dinner praised, and began accordingly, but at the first words he was interrupted. "Excellency," said Pastrini, "I am delighted to have your approbation17, but it was not for that I came."
"Did you come to tell us you have procured19 a carriage?" asked Albert, lighting20 his cigar.
"No; and your excellencies will do well not to think of that any longer; at Rome things can or cannot be done; when you are told anything cannot he done, there is an end of it."
"It is much more convenient at Paris,--when anything cannot be done, you pay double, and it is done directly."
"That is what all the French say," returned Signor Pastrini, somewhat piqued21; "for that reason, I do not understand why they travel."
"But," said Albert, emitting a volume of smoke and balancing his chair on its hind14 legs, "only madmen, or blockheads like us, ever do travel. Men in their senses do not quit their hotel in the Rue22 du Helder, their walk on the Boulevard de Gand, and the Café de Paris."
It is of course understood that Albert resided in the aforesaid street, appeared every day on the fashionable walk, and dined frequently at the only restaurant where you can really dine, that is, if you are on good terms with its frequenters. Signor Pastrini remained silent a short time; it was evident that he was musing23 over this answer, which did not seem very clear. "But," said Franz, in his turn interrupting his host's meditations24, "you had some motive25 for coming here, may I beg to know what it was?"
"Ah, yes; you have ordered your carriage at eight o'clock precisely26?"
"I have."
"You intend visiting Il Colosseo."
"You mean the Colosseum?"
"It is the same thing. You have told your coachman to leave the city by the Porta del Popolo, to drive round the walls, and re-enter by the Porta San Giovanni?"
"These are my words exactly."
"Well, this route is impossible."
"Impossible!"
"Very dangerous, to say the least."
"Dangerous!--and why?"
"On account of the famous Luigi Vampa."
"Pray, who may this famous Luigi Vampa be?" inquired Albert; "he may be very famous at Rome, but I can assure you he is quite unknown at Paris."
"What! do you not know him?"
"I have not that honor."
"You have never heard his name?"
"Never."
"Well, then, he is a bandit, compared to whom the Decesaris and the Gasparones were mere27 children."
"Now then, Albert," cried Franz, "here is a bandit for you at last."
"I forewarn you, Signor Pastrini, that I shall not believe one word of what you are going to tell us; having told you this, begin."
"Once upon a time"--
"Well, go on." Signor Pastrini turned toward Franz, who seemed to him the more reasonable of the two; we must do him justice,--he had had a great many Frenchmen in his house, but had never been able to comprehend them. "Excellency," said he gravely, addressing Franz, "if you look upon me as a liar8, it is useless for me to say anything; it was for your interest I"--
"Albert does not say you are a liar, Signor Pastrini," said Franz, "but that he will not believe what you are going to tell us,--but I will believe all you say; so proceed."
"But if your excellency doubt my veracity"--
"Signor Pastrini," returned Franz, "you are more susceptible28 than Cassandra, who was a prophetess, and yet no one believed her; while you, at least, are sure of the credence29 of half your audience. Come, sit down, and tell us all about this Signor Vampa."
"I had told your excellency he is the most famous bandit we have had since the days of Mastrilla."
"Well, what has this bandit to do with the order I have given the coachman to leave the city by the Porta del Popolo, and to re-enter by the Porta San Giovanni?"
"This," replied Signor Pastrini, "that you will go out by one, but I very much doubt your returning by the other."
"Why?" asked Franz.
"Because, after nightfall, you are not safe fifty yards from the gates."
"On your honor is that true?" cried Albert.
"Count," returned Signor Pastrini, hurt at Albert's repeated doubts of the truth of his assertions, "I do not say this to you, but to your companion, who knows Rome, and knows, too, that these things are not to be laughed at."
"My dear fellow," said Albert, turning to Franz, "here is an admirable adventure; we will fill our carriage with pistols, blunderbusses, and double-barrelled guns. Luigi Vampa comes to take us, and we take him--we bring him back to Rome, and present him to his holiness the Pope, who asks how he can repay so great a service; then we merely ask for a carriage and a pair of horses, and we see the Carnival in the carriage, and doubtless the Roman people will crown us at the Capitol, and proclaim us, like Curtius and the veiled Horatius, the preservers of their country." Whilst Albert proposed this scheme, Signor Pastrini's face assumed an expression impossible to describe.
"And pray," asked Franz, "where are these pistols, blunderbusses, and other deadly weapons with which you intend filling the carriage?"
"Not out of my armory31, for at Terracina I was plundered even of my hunting-knife."
"I shared the same fate at Aquapendente."
"Do you know, Signor Pastrini," said Albert, lighting a second cigar at the first, "that this practice is very convenient for bandits, and that it seems to be due to an arrangement of their own." Doubtless Signor Pastrini found this pleasantry compromising, for he only answered half the question, and then he spoke33 to Franz, as the only one likely to listen with attention. "Your excellency knows that it is not customary to defend yourself when attacked by bandits."
"What!" cried Albert, whose courage revolted at the idea of being plundered tamely, "not make any resistance!"
"No, for it would be useless. What could you do against a dozen bandits who spring out of some pit, ruin, or aqueduct, and level their pieces at you?"
"Eh, parbleu!--they should kill me."
The inn-keeper turned to Franz with an air that seemed to say, "Your friend is decidedly mad."
"My dear Albert," returned Franz, "your answer is sublime34, and worthy35 the 'Let him die,' of Corneille, only, when Horace made that answer, the safety of Rome was concerned; but, as for us, it is only to gratify a whim36, and it would be ridiculous to risk our lives for so foolish a motive." Albert poured himself out a glass of lacryma Christi, which he sipped37 at intervals38, muttering some unintelligible39 words.
"Well, Signor Pastrini," said Franz, "now that my companion is quieted, and you have seen how peaceful my intentions are, tell me who is this Luigi Vampa. Is he a shepherd or a nobleman?--young or old?--tall or short? Describe him, in order that, if we meet him by chance, like Bugaboo John or Lara, we may recognize him."
"You could not apply to any one better able to inform you on all these points, for I knew him when he was a child, and one day that I fell into his hands, going from Ferentino to Alatri, he, fortunately for me, recollected40 me, and set me free, not only without ransom41, but made me a present of a very splendid watch, and related his history to me."
"Let us see the watch," said Albert.
Signor Pastrini drew from his fob a magnificent Breguet, bearing the name of its maker42, of Parisian manufacture, and a count's coronet.
"Here it is," said he.
"Peste!" returned Albert, "I compliment you on it; I have its fellow"--he took his watch from his waistcoat pocket--"and it cost me 3,000 francs."
"Let us hear the history," said Franz, motioning Signor Pastrini to seat himself.
"Your excellencies permit it?" asked the host.
"" cried Albert, "you are not a preacher, to remain standing43!"
The host sat down, after having made each of them a respectful bow, which meant that he was ready to tell them all they wished to know concerning Luigi Vampa. "You tell me," said Franz, at the moment Signor Pastrini was about to open his mouth, "that you knew Luigi Vampa when he was a child--he is still a young man, then?"
"A young man? he is only two and twenty;--he will gain himself a reputation."
"What do you think of that, Albert?--at two and twenty to be thus famous?"
"Yes, and at his age, Alexander, C?sar, and Napoleon, who have all made some noise in the world, were quite behind him."
"So," continued Franz, "the hero of this history is only two and twenty?"
"Scarcely so much."
"Is he tall or short?"
"Of the middle height--about the same stature44 as his excellency," returned the host, pointing to Albert.
"Thanks for the comparison," said Albert, with a bow.
"Go on, Signor Pastrini," continued Franz, smiling at his friend's susceptibility. "To what class of society does he belong?"
"He was a shepherd-boy attached to the farm of the Count of San-Felice, situated45 between Palestrina and the lake of Gabri; he was born at Pampinara, and entered the count's service when he was five years old; his father was also a shepherd, who owned a small flock, and lived by the wool and the milk, which he sold at Rome. When quite a child, the little Vampa displayed a most extraordinary precocity46. One day, when he was seven years old, he came to the curate of Palestrina, and asked to be taught to read; it was somewhat difficult, for he could not quit his flock; but the good curate went every day to say mass at a little hamlet too poor to pay a priest and which, having no other name, was called Borgo; he told Luigi that he might meet him on his return, and that then he would give him a lesson, warning him that it would be short, and that he must profit as much as possible by it. The child accepted joyfully47. Every day Luigi led his flock to graze on the road that leads from Palestrina to Borgo; every day, at nine o'clock in the morning, the priest and the boy sat down on a bank by the wayside, and the little shepherd took his lesson out of the priest's breviary. At the end of three months he had learned to read. This was not enough--he must now learn to write. The priest had a writing teacher at Rome make three alphabets--one large, one middling, and one small; and pointed50 out to him that by the help of a sharp instrument he could trace the letters on a slate51, and thus learn to write. The same evening, when the flock was safe at the farm, the little Luigi hastened to the smith at Palestrina, took a large nail, heated and sharpened it, and formed a sort of stylus. The next morning he gathered an armful of pieces of slate and began. At the end of three months he had learned to write. The curate, astonished at his quickness and intelligence, made him a present of pens, paper, and a penknife. This demanded new effort, but nothing compared to the first; at the end of a week he wrote as well with this pen as with the stylus. The curate related the incident to the Count of San-Felice, who sent for the little shepherd, made him read and write before him, ordered his attendant to let him eat with the domestics, and to give him two piastres a month. With this, Luigi purchased books and pencils. He applied52 his imitative powers to everything, and, like Giotto, when young, he drew on his slate sheep, houses, and trees. Then, with his knife, he began to carve all sorts of objects in wood; it was thus that Pinelli, the famous sculptor53, had commenced.
"A girl of six or seven--that is, a little younger than Vampa--tended sheep on a farm near Palestrina; she was an orphan54, born at Valmontone and was named Teresa. The two children met, sat down near each other, let their flocks mingle55 together, played, laughed, and conversed56 together; in the evening they separated the Count of San-Felice's flock from those of Baron57 Cervetri, and the children returned to their respective farms, promising32 to meet the next morning. The next day they kept their word, and thus they grew up together. Vampa was twelve, and Teresa eleven. And yet their natural disposition58 revealed itself. Beside his taste for the fine arts, which Luigi had carried as far as he could in his solitude59, he was given to alternating fits of sadness and enthusiasm, was often angry and capricious, and always sarcastic60. None of the lads of Pampinara, Palestrina, or Valmontone had been able to gain any influence over him or even to become his companion. His disposition (always inclined to exact concessions61 rather than to make them) kept him aloof62 from all friendships. Teresa alone ruled by a look, a word, a gesture, this impetuous character, which yielded beneath the hand of a woman, and which beneath the hand of a man might have broken, but could never have been bended. Teresa was lively and gay, but coquettish to excess. The two piastres that Luigi received every month from the Count of San-Felice's steward63, and the price of all the little carvings64 in wood he sold at Rome, were expended65 in ear-rings, necklaces, and gold hairpins66. So that, thanks to her friend's generosity67, Teresa was the most beautiful and the best-attired68 peasant near Rome. The two children grew up together, passing all their time with each other, and giving themselves up to the wild ideas of their different characters. Thus, in all their dreams, their wishes, and their conversations, Vampa saw himself the captain of a vessel70, general of an army, or governor of a province. Teresa saw herself rich, superbly attired, and attended by a train of liveried domestics. Then, when they had thus passed the day in building castles in the air, they separated their flocks, and descended from the elevation71 of their dreams to the reality of their humble position.
"One day the young shepherd told the count's steward that he had seen a wolf come out of the Sabine mountains, and prowl around his flock. The steward gave him a gun; this was what Vampa longed for. This gun had an excellent barrel, made at Breschia, and carrying a ball with the precision of an English rifle; but one day the count broke the stock, and had then cast the gun aside. This, however, was nothing to a sculptor like Vampa; he examined the broken stock, calculated what change it would require to adapt the gun to his shoulder, and made a fresh stock, so beautifully carved that it would have fetched fifteen or twenty piastres, had he chosen to sell it. But nothing could be farther from his thoughts. For a long time a gun had been the young man's greatest ambition. In every country where independence has taken the place of liberty, the first desire of a manly72 heart is to possess a weapon, which at once renders him capable of defence or attack, and, by rendering74 its owner terrible, often makes him feared. From this moment Vampa devoted75 all his leisure time to perfecting himself in the use of his precious weapon; he purchased powder and ball, and everything served him for a mark--the trunk of some old and moss-grown olive-tree, that grew on the Sabine mountains; the fox, as he quitted his earth on some marauding excursion; the eagle that soared above their heads: and thus he soon became so expert, that Teresa overcame the terror she at first felt at the report, and amused herself by watching him direct the ball wherever he pleased, with as much accuracy as if he placed it by hand.
"One evening a wolf emerged from a pine-wood hear which they were usually stationed, but the wolf had scarcely advanced ten yards ere he was dead. Proud of this exploit, Vampa took the dead animal on his shoulders, and carried him to the farm. These exploits had gained Luigi considerable reputation. The man of superior abilities always finds admirers, go where he will. He was spoken of as the most adroit76, the strongest, and the most courageous77 contadino for ten leagues around; and although Teresa was universally allowed to be the most beautiful girl of the Sabines, no one had ever spoken to her of love, because it was known that she was beloved by Vampa. And yet the two young people had never declared their affection; they had grown together like two trees whose roots are mingled78, whose branches intertwined, and whose intermingled perfume rises to the heavens. Only their wish to see each other had become a necessity, and they would have preferred death to a day's separation. Teresa was sixteen, and Vampa seventeen. About this time, a band of brigands80 that had established itself in the Lepini mountains began to be much spoken of. The brigands have never been really extirpated81 from the neighborhood of Rome. Sometimes a chief is wanted, but when a chief presents himself he rarely has to wait long for a band of followers82.
"The celebrated83 Cucumetto, pursued in the Abruzzo, driven out of the kingdom of Naples, where he had carried on a regular war, had crossed the Garigliano, like Manfred, and had taken refuge on the banks of the Amasine between Sonnino and Juperno. He strove to collect a band of followers, and followed the footsteps of Decesaris and Gasperone, whom he hoped to surpass. Many young men of Palestrina, Frascati, and Pampinara had disappeared. Their disappearance84 at first caused much disquietude; but it was soon known that they had joined Cucumetto. After some time Cucumetto became the object of universal attention; the most extraordinary traits of ferocious85 daring and brutality86 were related of him. One day he carried off a young girl, the daughter of a surveyor of Frosinone. The bandit's laws are positive; a young girl belongs first to him who carries her off, then the rest draw lots for her, and she is abandoned to their brutality until death relieves her sufferings. When their parents are sufficiently87 rich to pay a ransom, a messenger is sent to negotiate; the prisoner is hostage for the security of the messenger; should the ransom be refused, the prisoner is irrevocably lost. The young girl's lover was in Cucumetto's troop; his name was Carlini. When she recognized her lover, the poor girl extended her arms to him, and believed herself safe; but Carlini felt his heart sink, for he but too well knew the fate that awaited her. However, as he was a favorite with Cucumetto, as he had for three years faithfully served him, and as he had saved his life by shooting a dragoon who was about to cut him down, he hoped the chief would have pity on him. He took Cucumetto one side, while the young girl, seated at the foot of a huge pine that stood in the centre of the forest, made a veil of her picturesque88 head-dress to hide her face from the lascivious89 gaze of the bandits. There he told the chief all--his affection for the prisoner, their promises of mutual90 fidelity91, and how every night, since he had been near, they had met in some neighboring ruins.
"It so happened that night that Cucumetto had sent Carlini to a village, so that he had been unable to go to the place of meeting. Cucumetto had been there, however, by accident, as he said, and had carried the maiden93 off. Carlini besought94 his chief to make an exception in Rita's favor, as her father was rich, and could pay a large ransom. Cucumetto seemed to yield to his friend's entreaties95, and bade him find a shepherd to send to Rita's father at Frosinone. Carlini flew joyfully to Rita, telling her she was saved, and bidding her write to her father, to inform him what had occurred, and that her ransom was fixed96 at three hundred piastres. Twelve hours' delay was all that was granted--that is, until nine the next morning. The instant the letter was written, Carlini seized it, and hastened to the plain to find a messenger. He found a young shepherd watching his flock. The natural messengers of the bandits are the shepherds who live between the city and the mountains, between civilized97 and savage98 life. The boy undertook the commission, promising to be in Frosinone in less than an hour. Carlini returned, anxious to see his mistress, and announce the joyful48 intelligence. He found the troop in the glade99, supping off the provisions exacted as contributions from the peasants; but his eye vainly sought Rita and Cucumetto among them. He inquired where they were, and was answered by a burst of laughter. A cold perspiration100 burst from every pore, and his hair stood on end. He repeated his question. One of the bandits rose, and offered him a glass filled with Orvietto, saying, 'To the health of the brave Cucumetto and the fair Rita.' At this moment Carlini heard a woman's cry; he divined the truth, seized the glass, broke it across the face of him who presented it, and rushed towards the spot whence the cry came. After a hundred yards he turned the corner of the thicket101; he found Rita senseless in the arms of Cucumetto. At the sight of Carlini, Cucumetto rose, a pistol in each hand. The two brigands looked at each other for a moment--the one with a smile of lasciviousness102 on his lips, the other with the pallor of death on his brow. A terrible battle between the two men seemed imminent103; but by degrees Carlini's features relaxed, his hand, which had grasped one of the pistols in his belt, fell to his side. Rita lay between them. The moon lighted the group.
"'Well,' said Cucumetto, 'have you executed your commission?'
"'Yes, captain,' returned Carlini. 'At nine o'clock to-morrow Rita's father will be here with the money.'--'It is well; in the meantime, we will have a merry night; this young girl is charming, and does credit to your taste. Now, as I am not egotistical, we will return to our comrades and draw lots for her.'--'You have determined104, then, to abandon her to the common law?" said Carlini.
"'Why should an exception be made in her favor?'
"'I thought that my entreaties'--
"'What right have you, any more than the rest, to ask for an exception?'--'It is true.'--'But never mind,' continued Cucumetto, laughing, 'sooner or later your turn will come.' Carlini's teeth clinched105 convulsively.
"'Now, then,' said Cucumetto, advancing towards the other bandits, 'are you coming?'--'I follow you.'
"Cucumetto departed, without losing sight of Carlini, for, doubtless, he feared lest he should strike him unawares; but nothing betrayed a hostile design on Carlini's part. He was standing, his arms folded, near Rita, who was still insensible. Cucumetto fancied for a moment the young man was about to take her in his arms and fly; but this mattered little to him now Rita had been his; and as for the money, three hundred piastres distributed among the band was so small a sum that he cared little about it. He continued to follow the path to the glade; but, to his great surprise, Carlini arrived almost as soon as himself. 'Let us draw lots! let us draw lots!' cried all the brigands, when they saw the chief.
"Their demand was fair, and the chief inclined his head in sign of acquiescence106. The eyes of all shone fiercely as they made their demand, and the red light of the fire made them look like demons107. The names of all, including Carlini, were placed in a hat, and the youngest of the band drew forth108 a ticket; the ticket bore the name of Diovolaccio. He was the man who had proposed to Carlini the health of their chief, and to whom Carlini replied by breaking the glass across his face. A large wound, extending from the temple to the mouth, was bleeding profusely109. Diovalaccio, seeing himself thus favored by fortune, burst into a loud laugh. 'Captain,' said he, 'just now Carlini would not drink your health when I proposed it to him; propose mine to him, and let us see if he will be more condescending110 to you than to me.' Every one expected an explosion on Carlini's part; but to their great surprise, he took a glass in one hand and a flask111 in the other, and filling it,--'Your health, Diavolaccio,' said he calmly, and he drank it off, without his hand trembling in the least. Then sitting down by the fire, 'My supper,' said he; 'my expedition has given me an appetite.'--'Well done, Carlini!' cried the brigands; 'that is acting112 like a good fellow;' and they all formed a circle round the fire, while Diavolaccio disappeared. Carlini ate and drank as if nothing had happened. The bandits looked on with astonishment113 at this singular conduct until they heard footsteps. They turned round, and saw Diavolaccio bearing the young girl in his arms. Her head hung back, and her long hair swept the ground. As they entered the circle, the bandits could perceive, by the firelight, the unearthly pallor of the young girl and of Diavolaccio. This apparition114 was so strange and so solemn, that every one rose, with the exception of Carlini, who remained seated, and ate and drank calmly. Diavolaccio advanced amidst the most profound silence, and laid Rita at the captain's feet. Then every one could understand the cause of the unearthly pallor in the young girl and the bandit. A knife was plunged115 up to the hilt in Rita's left breast. Every one looked at Carlini; the sheath at his belt was empty. 'Ah, ah,' said the chief, 'I now understand why Carlini stayed behind.' All savage natures appreciate a desperate deed. No other of the bandits would, perhaps, have done the same; but they all understood what Carlini had done. 'Now, then,' cried Carlini, rising in his turn, and approaching the corpse116, his hand on the butt117 of one of his pistols, 'does any one dispute the possession of this woman with me?'--'No,' returned the chief, 'she is thine.' Carlini raised her in his arms, and carried her out of the circle of firelight. Cucumetto placed his sentinels for the night, and the bandits wrapped themselves in their cloaks, and lay down before the fire. At midnight the sentinel gave the alarm, and in an instant all were on the alert. It was Rita's father, who brought his daughter's ransom in person. 'Here,' said he, to Cucumetto, 'here are three hundred piastres; give me back my child. But the chief, without taking the money, made a sign to him to follow. The old man obeyed. They both advanced beneath the trees, through whose branches streamed the moonlight. Cucumetto stopped at last, and pointed to two persons grouped at the foot of a tree.
"'There,' said he, 'demand thy child of Carlini; he will tell thee what has become of her;' and he returned to his companions. The old man remained motionless; he felt that some great and unforeseen misfortune hung over his head. At length he advanced toward the group, the meaning of which he could not comprehend. As he approached, Carlini raised his head, and the forms of two persons became visible to the old man's eyes. A woman lay on the ground, her head resting on the knees of a man, who was seated by her; as he raised his head, the woman's face became visible. The old man recognized his child, and Carlini recognized the old man. 'I expected thee,' said the bandit to Rita's father.--'Wretch!' returned the old man, 'what hast thou done?' and he gazed with terror on Rita, pale and bloody118, a knife buried in her bosom119. A ray of moonlight poured through the trees, and lighted up the face of the dead.--'Cucumetto had violated thy daughter,' said the bandit; 'I loved her, therefore I slew120 her; for she would have served as the sport of the whole band.' The old man spoke not, and grew pale as death. 'Now,' continued Carlini, 'if I have done wrongly, avenge121 her;' and withdrawing the knife from the wound in Rita's bosom, he held it out to the old man with one hand, while with the other he tore open his vest.--'Thou hast done well!' returned the old man in a hoarse122 voice; 'embrace me, my son.' Carlini threw himself, sobbing123 like a child, into the arms of his mistress's father. These were the first tears the man of blood had ever wept. 'Now,' said the old man, 'aid me to bury my child.' Carlini fetched two pickaxes; and the father and the lover began to dig at the foot of a huge oak, beneath which the young girl was to repose124. When the grave was formed, the father kissed her first, and then the lover; afterwards, one taking the head, the other the feet, they placed her in the grave. Then they knelt on each side of the grave, and said the prayers of the dead. Then, when they had finished, they cast the earth over the corpse, until the grave was filled. Then, extending his hand, the old man said; 'I thank you, my son; and now leave me alone.'--'Yet'--replied Carlini.--'Leave me, I command you.' Carlini obeyed, rejoined his comrades, folded himself in his cloak, and soon appeared to sleep as soundly as the rest. It had been resolved the night before to change their encampment. An hour before daybreak, Cucumetto aroused his men, and gave the word to march. But Carlini would not quit the forest, without knowing what had become of Rita's father. He went toward the place where he had left him. He found the old man suspended from one of the branches of the oak which shaded his daughter's grave. He then took an oath of bitter vengeance125 over the dead body of the one and the tomb of the other. But he was unable to complete this oath, for two days afterwards, in an encounter with the Roman carbineers, Carlini was killed. There was some surprise, however, that, as he was with his face to the enemy, he should have received a ball between his shoulders. That astonishment ceased when one of the brigands remarked to his comrades that Cucumetto was stationed ten paces in Carlini's rear when he fell. On the morning of the departure from the forest of Frosinone he had followed Carlini in the darkness, and heard this oath of vengeance, and, like a wise man, anticipated it. They told ten other stories of this bandit chief, each more singular than the other. Thus, from Fondi to Perusia, every one trembles at the name of Cucumetto.
"These narratives126 were frequently the theme of conversation between Luigi and Teresa. The young girl trembled very much at hearing the stories; but Vampa reassured127 her with a smile, tapping the butt of his good fowling-piece, which threw its ball so well; and if that did not restore her courage, he pointed to a crow, perched on some dead branch, took aim, touched the trigger, and the bird fell dead at the foot of the tree. Time passed on, and the two young people had agreed to be married when Vampa should be twenty and Teresa nineteen years of age. They were both orphans128, and had only their employers' leave to ask, which had been already sought and obtained. One day when they were talking over their plans for the future, they heard two or three reports of firearms, and then suddenly a man came out of the wood, near which the two young persons used to graze their flocks, and hurried towards them. When he came within hearing, he exclaimed. 'I am pursued; can you conceal129 me?' They knew full well that this fugitive130 must be a bandit; but there is an innate131 sympathy between the Roman brigand79 and the Roman peasant and the latter is always ready to aid the former. Vampa, without saying a word, hastened to the stone that closed up the entrance to their grotto132, drew it away, made a sign to the fugitive to take refuge there, in a retreat unknown to every one, closed the stone upon him, and then went and resumed his seat by Teresa. Instantly afterwards four carbineers, on horseback, appeared on the edge of the wood; three of them appeared to be looking for the fugitive, while the fourth dragged a brigand prisoner by the neck. The three carbineers looked about carefully on every side, saw the young peasants, and galloping133 up, began to question them. They had seen no one. 'That is very annoying,' said the brigadier; for the man we are looking for is the chief.'--'Cucumetto?' cried Luigi and Teresa at the same moment.
"'Yes,' replied the brigadier; 'and as his head is valued at a thousand Roman crowns, there would have been five hundred for you, if you had helped us to catch him.' The two young persons exchanged looks. The brigadier had a moment's hope. Five hundred Roman crowns are three thousand lire, and three thousand lire are a fortune for two poor orphans who are going to be married.
"'Yes, it is very annoying,' said Vampa; 'but we have not seen him.'
"Then the carbineers scoured135 the country in different directions, but in vain; then, after a time, they disappeared. Vampa then removed the stone, and Cucumetto came out. Through the crevices136 in the granite137 he had seen the two young peasants talking with the carbineers, and guessed the subject of their parley138. He had read in the countenances140 of Luigi and Teresa their steadfast141 resolution not to surrender him, and he drew from his pocket a purse full of gold, which he offered to them. But Vampa raised his head proudly; as to Teresa, her eyes sparkled when she thought of all the fine gowns and gay jewellery she could buy with this purse of gold.
"Cucumetto was a cunning fiend, and had assumed the form of a brigand instead of a serpent, and this look from Teresa showed to him that she was a worthy daughter of Eve, and he returned to the forest, pausing several times on his way, under the pretext142 of saluting143 his protectors. Several days elapsed, and they neither saw nor heard of Cucumetto. The time of the Carnival was at hand. The Count of San-Felice announced a grand masked ball, to which all that were distinguished144 in Rome were invited. Teresa had a great desire to see this ball. Luigi asked permission of his protector, the steward, that she and he might be present amongst the servants of the house. This was granted. The ball was given by the Count for the particular pleasure of his daughter Carmela, whom he adored. Carmela was precisely the age and figure of Teresa, and Teresa was as handsome as Carmela. On the evening of the ball Teresa was attired in her best, her most brilliant ornaments145 in her hair, and gayest glass beads,--she was in the costume of the women of Frascati. Luigi wore the very picturesque garb146 of the Roman peasant at holiday time. They both mingled, as they had leave to do, with the servants and peasants.
"The festa was magnificent; not only was the villa92 brilliantly illuminated147, but thousands of colored lanterns were suspended from the trees in the garden; and very soon the palace overflowed148 to the terraces, and the terraces to the garden-walks. At each cross-path was an orchestra, and tables spread with refreshments149; the guests stopped, formed quadrilles, and danced in any part of the grounds they pleased. Carmela was attired like a woman of Sonnino. Her cap was embroidered150 with pearls, the pins in her hair were of gold and diamonds, her girdle was of Turkey silk, with large embroidered flowers, her bodice and skirt were of cashmere, her apron151 of Indian muslin, and the buttons of her corset were of jewels. Two of her companions were dressed, the one as a woman of Nettuno, and the other as a woman of La Riccia. Four young men of the richest and noblest families of Rome accompanied them with that Italian freedom which has not its parallel in any other country in the world. They were attired as peasants of Albano, Velletri, Civita-Castellana, and Sora. We need hardly add that these peasant costumes, like those of the young women, were brilliant with gold and jewels.
"Carmela wished to form a quadrille, but there was one lady wanting. Carmela looked all around her, but not one of the guests had a costume similar to her own, or those of her companions. The Count of San-Felice pointed out Teresa, who was hanging on Luigi's arm in a group of peasants. 'Will you allow me, father?' said Carmela.--'Certainly,' replied the count, 'are we not in Carnival time?'--Carmela turned towards the young man who was talking with her, and saying a few words to him, pointed with her finger to Teresa. The young man looked, bowed in obedience152, and then went to Teresa, and invited her to dance in a quadrille directed by the count's daughter. Teresa felt a flush pass over her face; she looked at Luigi, who could not refuse his assent153. Luigi slowly relinquished154 Teresa's arm, which he had held beneath his own, and Teresa, accompanied by her elegant cavalier, took her appointed place with much agitation155 in the aristocratic quadrille. Certainly, in the eyes of an artist, the exact and strict costume of Teresa had a very different character from that of Carmela and her companions; and Teresa was frivolous156 and coquettish, and thus the embroidery157 and muslins, the cashmere waist-girdles, all dazzled her, and the reflection of sapphires158 and diamonds almost turned her giddy brain.
"Luigi felt a sensation hitherto unknown arising in his mind. It was like an acute pain which gnawed159 at his heart, and then thrilled through his whole body. He followed with his eye each movement of Teresa and her cavalier; when their hands touched, he felt as though he should swoon; every pulse beat with violence, and it seemed as though a bell were ringing in his ears. When they spoke, although Teresa listened timidly and with downcast eyes to the conversation of her cavalier, as Luigi could read in the ardent160 looks of the good-looking young man that his language was that of praise, it seemed as if the whole world was turning round with him, and all the voices of hell were whispering in his ears ideas of murder and assassination161. Then fearing that his paroxysm might get the better of him, he clutched with one hand the branch of a tree against which he was leaning, and with the other convulsively grasped the dagger162 with a carved handle which was in his belt, and which, unwittingly, he drew from the scabbard from time to time. Luigi was jealous! He felt that, influenced by her ambitions and coquettish disposition, Teresa might escape him.
"The young peasant girl, at first timid and scared, soon recovered herself. We have said that Teresa was handsome, but this is not all; Teresa was endowed with all those wild graces which are so much more potent163 than our affected164 and studied elegancies. She had almost all the honors of the quadrille, and if she were envious165 of the Count of San-Felice's daughter, we will not undertake to say that Carmela was not jealous of her. And with overpowering compliments her handsome cavalier led her back to the place whence he had taken her, and where Luigi awaited her. Twice or thrice during the dance the young girl had glanced at Luigi, and each time she saw that he was pale and that his features were agitated166, once even the blade of his knife, half drawn167 from its sheath, had dazzled her eyes with its sinister168 glare. Thus, it was almost tremblingly that she resumed her lover's arm. The quadrille had been most perfect, and it was evident there was a great demand for a repetition, Carmela alone objecting to it, but the Count of San-Felice besought his daughter so earnestly, that she acceded169. One of the cavaliers then hastened to invite Teresa, without whom it was impossible for the quadrille to be formed, but the young girl had disappeared. The truth was, that Luigi had not felt the strength to support another such trial, and, half by persuasion170 and half by force, he had removed Teresa toward another part of the garden. Teresa had yielded in spite of herself, but when she looked at the agitated countenance139 of the young man, she understood by his silence and trembling voice that something strange was passing within him. She herself was not exempt171 from internal emotion, and without having done anything wrong, yet fully49 comprehended that Luigi was right in reproaching her. Why, she did not know, but yet she did not the less feel that these reproaches were merited. However, to Teresa's great astonishment, Luigi remained mute, and not a word escaped his lips the rest of the evening. When the chill of the night had driven away the guests from the gardens, and the gates of the villa were closed on them for the festa in-doors, he took Teresa quite away, and as he left her at her home, he said,--
"'Teresa, what were you thinking of as you danced opposite the young Countess of San-Felice?'--'I thought,' replied the young girl, with all the frankness of her nature, 'that I would give half my life for a costume such as she wore.'
"'And what said your cavalier to you?'--'He said it only depended on myself to have it, and I had only one word to say.'
"'He was right,' said Luigi. 'Do you desire it as ardently172 as you say?'--'Yes.'--'Well, then, you shall have it!'
"The young girl, much astonished, raised her head to look at him, but his face was so gloomy and terrible that her words froze to her lips. As Luigi spoke thus, he left her. Teresa followed him with her eyes into the darkness as long as she could, and when he had quite disappeared, she went into the house with a sigh.
"That night a memorable173 event occurred, due, no doubt, to the imprudence of some servant who had neglected to extinguish the lights. The Villa of San-Felice took fire in the rooms adjoining the very apartment of the lovely Carmela. Awakened174 in the night by the light of the flames, she sprang out of bed, wrapped herself in a dressing-gown, and attempted to escape by the door, but the corridor by which she hoped to fly was already a prey175 to the flames. She then returned to her room, calling for help as loudly as she could, when suddenly her window, which was twenty feet from the ground, was opened, a young peasant jumped into the chamber176, seized her in his arms, and with superhuman skill and strength conveyed her to the turf of the grass-plot, where she fainted. When she recovered, her father was by her side. All the servants surrounded her, offering her assistance. An entire wing of the villa was burnt down; but what of that, as long as Carmela was safe and uninjured? Her preserver was everywhere sought for, but he did not appear; he was inquired after, but no one had seen him. Carmela was greatly troubled that she had not recognized him. As the count was immensely rich, excepting the danger Carmela had run,--and the marvellous manner in which she had escaped, made that appear to him rather a favor of providence177 than a real misfortune,--the loss occasioned by the conflagration178 was to him but a trifle.
"The next day, at the usual hour, the two young peasants were on the borders of the forest. Luigi arrived first. He came toward Teresa in high spirits, and seemed to have completely forgotten the events of the previous evening. The young girl was very pensive179, but seeing Luigi so cheerful, she on her part assumed a smiling air, which was natural to her when she was not excited or in a passion. Luigi took her arm beneath his own, and led her to the door of the grotto. Then he paused. The young girl, perceiving that there was something extraordinary, looked at him steadfastly180. 'Teresa,' said Luigi, 'yesterday evening you told me you would give all the world to have a costume similar to that of the count's daughter.'--'Yes,' replied Teresa with astonishment; 'but I was mad to utter such a wish.'--'And I replied, "Very well, you shall have it."'--'Yes,' replied the young girl, whose astonishment increased at every word uttered by Luigi, 'but of course your reply was only to please me.'
"'I have promised no more than I have given you, Teresa,' said Luigi proudly. 'Go into the grotto and dress yourself.' At these words he drew away the stone, and showed Teresa the grotto, lighted up by two wax lights, which burnt on each side of a splendid mirror; on a rustic181 table, made by Luigi, were spread out the pearl necklace and the diamond pins, and on a chair at the side was laid the rest of the costume.
"Teresa uttered a cry of joy, and, without inquiring whence this attire69 came, or even thanking Luigi, darted182 into the grotto, transformed into a dressing-room. Luigi pushed the stone behind her, for on the crest183 of a small adjacent hill which cut off the view toward Palestrina, he saw a traveller on horseback, stopping a moment, as if uncertain of his road, and thus presenting against the blue sky that perfect outline which is peculiar to distant objects in southern climes. When he saw Luigi, he put his horse into a gallop134 and advanced toward him. Luigi was not mistaken. The traveller, who was going from Palestrina to Tivoli, had mistaken his way; the young man directed him; but as at a distance of a quarter of a mile the road again divided into three ways, and on reaching these the traveller might again stray from his route, he begged Luigi to be his guide. Luigi threw his cloak on the ground, placed his carbine on his shoulder, and freed from his heavy covering, preceded the traveller with the rapid step of a mountaineer, which a horse can scarcely keep up with. In ten minutes Luigi and the traveller reached the cross-roads. On arriving there, with an air as majestic184 as that of an emperor, he stretched his hand towards that one of the roads which the traveller was to follow.--"That is your road, excellency, and now you cannot again mistake.'--'And here is your recompense,' said the traveller, offering the young herdsman some small pieces of money.
"'Thank you,' said Luigi, drawing back his hand; 'I render a service, I do not sell it.'--'Well,' replied the traveller, who seemed used to this difference between the servility of a man of the cities and the pride of the mountaineer, 'if you refuse wages, you will, perhaps, accept a gift.'--'Ah, yes, that is another thing.'--'Then,' said the traveller, 'take these two Venetian sequins and give them to your bride, to make herself a pair of earrings185.'
"'And then do you take this poniard,' said the young herdsman; 'you will not find one better carved between Albano and Civita-Castellana.'
"'I accept it,' answered the traveller, 'but then the obligation will be on my side, for this poniard is worth more than two sequins.'--'For a dealer186 perhaps; but for me, who engraved187 it myself, it is hardly worth a piastre.'
"'What is your name?' inquired the traveller.--'Luigi Vampa,' replied the shepherd, with the same air as he would have replied, Alexander, King of Macedon.--'And yours?'--'I,' said the traveller, 'am called Sinbad the Sailor.'" Franz d'Epinay started with surprise.
"Sinbad the Sailor." he said.
"Yes," replied the narrator; "that was the name which the traveller gave to Vampa as his own."
"Well, and what may you have to say against this name?" inquired Albert; "it is a very pretty name, and the adventures of the gentleman of that name amused me very much in my youth, I must confess."--Franz said no more. The name of Sinbad the Sailor, as may well be supposed, awakened in him a world of recollections, as had the name of the Count of Monte Cristo on the previous evening.
"Proceed!" said he to the host.
"Vampa put the two sequins haughtily188 into his pocket, and slowly returned by the way he had gone. As he came within two or three hundred paces of the grotto, he thought he heard a cry. He listened to know whence this sound could proceed. A moment afterwards he thought he heard his own name pronounced distinctly. The cry proceeded from the grotto. He bounded like a chamois, cocking his carbine as he went, and in a moment reached the summit of a hill opposite to that on which he had perceived the traveller. Three cries for help came more distinctly to his ear. He cast his eyes around him and saw a man carrying off Teresa, as Nessus, the centaur189, carried Dejanira. This man, who was hastening towards the wood, was already three-quarters of the way on the road from the grotto to the forest. Vampa measured the distance; the man was at least two hundred paces in advance of him, and there was not a chance of overtaking him. The young shepherd stopped, as if his feet had been rooted to the ground; then he put the butt of his carbine to his shoulder, took aim at the ravisher, followed him for a second in his track, and then fired. The ravisher stopped suddenly, his knees bent190 under him, and he fell with Teresa in his arms. The young girl rose instantly, but the man lay on the earth struggling in the agonies of death. Vampa then rushed towards Teresa; for at ten paces from the dying man her legs had failed her, and she had dropped on her knees, so that the young man feared that the ball that had brought down his enemy, had also wounded his betrothed191. Fortunately, she was unscathed, and it was fright alone that had overcome Teresa. When Luigi had assured himself that she was safe and unharmed, he turned towards the wounded man. He had just expired, with clinched hands, his mouth in a spasm192 of agony, and his hair on end in the sweat of death. His eyes remained open and menacing. Vampa approached the corpse, and recognized Cucumetto. From the day on which the bandit had been saved by the two young peasants, he had been enamoured of Teresa, and had sworn she should be his. From that time he had watched them, and profiting by the moment when her lover had left her alone, had carried her off, and believed he at length had her in his power, when the ball, directed by the unerring skill of the young herdsman, had pierced his heart. Vampa gazed on him for a moment without betraying the slightest emotion; while, on the contrary, Teresa, shuddering193 in every limb, dared not approach the slain194 ruffian but by degrees, and threw a hesitating glance at the dead body over the shoulder of her lover. Suddenly Vampa turned toward his mistress:--'Ah,' said he--'good, good! You are dressed; it is now my turn to dress myself.'
"Teresa was clothed from head to foot in the garb of the Count of San-Felice's daughter. Vampa took Cucumetto's body in his arms and conveyed it to the grotto, while in her turn Teresa remained outside. If a second traveller had passed, he would have seen a strange thing,--a shepherdess watching her flock, clad in a cashmere grown, with ear-rings and necklace of pearls, diamond pins, and buttons of sapphires, emeralds, and rubies195. He would, no doubt, have believed that he had returned to the times of Florian, and would have declared, on reaching Paris, that he had met an Alpine196 shepherdess seated at the foot of the Sabine Hill. At the end of a quarter of an hour Vampa quitted the grotto; his costume was no less elegant than that of Teresa. He wore a vest of garnet-colored velvet197, with buttons of cut gold; a silk waistcoat covered with embroidery; a Roman scarf tied round his neck; a cartridge-box worked with gold, and red and green silk; sky-blue velvet breeches, fastened above the knee with diamond buckles198; garters of deerskin, worked with a thousand arabesques199, and a hat whereon hung ribbons of all colors; two watches hung from his girdle, and a splendid poniard was in his belt. Teresa uttered a cry of admiration200. Vampa in this attire resembled a painting by Leopold Robert, or Schnetz. He had assumed the entire costume of Cucumetto. The young man saw the effect produced on his betrothed, and a smile of pride passed over his lips.--'Now,' he said to Teresa, 'are you ready to share my fortune, whatever it may be?'--'Oh, yes!' exclaimed the young girl enthusiastically.--'And follow me wherever I go?'--'To the world's end.'--'Then take my arm, and let us on; we have no time to lose.'--The young girl did so without questioning her lover as to where he was conducting her, for he appeared to her at this moment as handsome, proud, and powerful as a god. They went towards the forest, and soon entered it. We need scarcely say that all the paths of the mountain were known to Vampa; he therefore went forward without a moment's hesitation201, although there was no beaten track, but he knew his path by looking at the trees and bushes, and thus they kept on advancing for nearly an hour and a half. At the end of this time they had reached the thickest of the forest. A torrent202, whose bed was dry, led into a deep gorge203. Vampa took this wild road, which, enclosed between two ridges204, and shadowed by the tufted umbrage205 of the pines, seemed, but for the difficulties of its descent, that path to Avernus of which Virgil speaks. Teresa had become alarmed at the wild and deserted206 look of the plain around her, and pressed closely against her guide, not uttering a syllable207; but as she saw him advance with even step and composed countenance, she endeavored to repress her emotion. Suddenly, about ten paces from them, a man advanced from behind a tree and aimed at Vampa.--'Not another step,' he said, 'or you are a dead man.'--'What, then,' said Vampa, raising his hand with a gesture of disdain208, while Teresa, no longer able to restrain her alarm, clung closely to him, 'do wolves rend73 each other?'--'Who are you?' inquired the sentinel.--'I am Luigi Vampa, shepherd of the San-Felice farm.'--'What do you want?'--'I would speak with your companions who are in the glade at Rocca Bianca.'--'Follow me, then,' said the sentinel; 'or, as you know your way, go first.'--Vampa smiled disdainfully at this precaution on the part of the bandit, went before Teresa, and continued to advance with the same firm and easy step as before. At the end of ten minutes the bandit made them a sign to stop. The two young persons obeyed. Then the bandit thrice imitated the cry of a crow; a croak209 answered this signal.--'Good!' said the sentry210, 'you may now go on.'--Luigi and Teresa again set forward; as they went on Teresa clung tremblingly to her lover at the sight of weapons and the glistening211 of carbines through the trees. The retreat of Rocca Bianca was at the top of a small mountain, which no doubt in former days had been a volcano--an extinct volcano before the days when Remus and Romulus had deserted Alba to come and found the city of Rome. Teresa and Luigi reached the summit, and all at once found themselves in the presence of twenty bandits. 'Here is a young man who seeks and wishes to speak to you,' said the sentinel.--'What has he to say?' inquired the young man who was in command in the chief's absence.--'I wish to say that I am tired of a shepherd's life,' was Vampa's reply.--'Ah, I understand,' said the lieutenant212; 'and you seek admittance into our ranks?'--'Welcome!' cried several bandits from Ferrusino, Pampinara, and Anagni, who had recognized Luigi Vampa.--'Yes, but I came to ask something more than to be your companion.'--'And what may that be?' inquired the bandits with astonishment.--'I come to ask to be your captain,' said the young man. The bandits shouted with laughter. 'And what have you done to aspire213 to this honor?' demanded the lieutenant.--'I have killed your chief, Cucumetto, whose dress I now wear; and I set fire to the villa San-Felice to procure18 a wedding-dress for my betrothed.' An hour afterwards Luigi Vampa was chosen captain, vice30 Cucumetto deceased."
"Well, my dear Albert," said Franz, turning towards his friend; "what think you of citizen Luigi Vampa?"
"I say he is a myth," replied Albert, "and never had an existence."
"And what may a myth be?" inquired Pastrini.
"The explanation would be too long, my dear landlord," replied Franz.
"And you say that Signor Vampa exercises his profession at this moment in the environs of Rome?"
"And with a boldness of which no bandit before him ever gave an example."
"Then the police have vainly tried to lay hands on him?"
"Why, you see, he has a good understanding with the shepherds in the plains, the fishermen of the Tiber, and the smugglers of the coast. They seek for him in the mountains, and he is on the waters; they follow him on the waters, and he is on the open sea; then they pursue him, and he has suddenly taken refuge in the islands, at Giglio, Guanouti, or Monte Cristo; and when they hunt for him there, he reappears suddenly at Albano, Tivoli, or La Riccia."
"And how does he behave towards travellers?"
"Alas214! his plan is very simple. It depends on the distance he may be from the city, whether he gives eight hours, twelve hours, or a day wherein to pay their ransom; and when that time has elapsed he allows another hour's grace. At the sixtieth minute of this hour, if the money is not forthcoming, he blows out the prisoner's brains with a pistol-shot, or plants his dagger in his heart, and that settles the account."
"Well, Albert," inquired Franz of his companion, "are you still disposed to go to the Colosseum by the outer wall?"
"Quite so," said Albert, "if the way be picturesque." The clock struck nine as the door opened, and a coachman appeared. "Excellencies," said he, "the coach is ready."
"Well, then," said Franz, "let us to the Colosseum."
"By the Porta del Popolo or by the streets, your excellencies?"
"By the streets, morbleu, by the streets!" cried Franz.
"Ah, my dear fellow," said Albert, rising, and lighting his third cigar, "really, I thought you had more courage." So saying, the two young men went down the staircase, and got into the carriage.
第二天早晨，弗兰兹先醒了，他一醒来就拉铃叫人。铃声未绝，派里尼老板就亲自进来了。
“啊，阁下，”店主不等弗兰兹问他，就得意地说，“昨天我不敢答应你们，因为你们来得太晚了，马车一辆都雇不到了，就是说，在狂欢节的最后三天里。”
“是的，”弗兰兹答道，“就是在那最最关键的几天里。”
“什么事？”阿尔贝进来问道，“雇不到马车吗？”
“一点不错，我的好人，”弗兰兹说道，“你是第一遭碰到这样的事吧。”
“好吧！你们这座名垂千古的大城真是一个呱呱叫的好城市。”
“我是说，先生，”派里尼很想在他的客人面前保持基督世界首都的尊严，就回答说，“从星期天到星期二晚上没有车，但从现在到星期天，您要五十辆都有。”
“啊！那还有点想头，”阿尔贝说道，“今天是星期二，谁能料到从现在到星期天之间会发生什么事呢？”
“会有一万个或一万二千个旅客到来，”弗兰兹答道，“那找车子就会更困难。”
“我的朋友，”马尔塞夫说道，“让我们尽情享受现在吧，别去担心将来了。”
“至少，”弗兰兹问道，“我们可以租到一个窗口吧？”
“哪儿的？
“当然要望得到高碌街的呀。”
“啊，一个窗口！”派里尼老板大声说道，“绝对不可能。杜丽亚宫的六层楼上本来还剩一个，但已经以每天二十威尼斯金洋的租金租给一位俄国亲王了。”
两个青年人瞠目结舌地互相望了一下。
“喂，”弗兰兹对阿尔贝说，“你知道我们最好的办法是什么？是到威尼斯去度狂欢节，那儿我们即使雇不到马车，一定可以弄到一只小艇的。”
“啊，见鬼！不，”阿尔贝大声说道。“我到罗马就是来看狂欢节的，我非看到它不可，就是叫我踩着高跷也要看。”
“这个念头妙极了，那样对吹灭蜡烛头再方便不过了。我们可以扮成滑稽鬼怪或是兰德斯牧童，就可以大获全胜了。”
“从现在到星期天早晨，两位阁下还要雇马车吗？”
“咦！”阿尔贝说，“你以为我们准备象律师的小伙计那样用两只脚在罗马的街上跑吗？”
“我
收听单词发音 |
1
triumphantly
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| ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地 | |
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carnival
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| n.嘉年华会，狂欢，狂欢节，巡回表演 | |
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Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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gondolas
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| n.狭长小船( gondola的名词复数 )；货架（一般指商店，例如化妆品店）；吊船工作台 | |
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stilts
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| n.（支撑建筑物高出地面或水面的）桩子，支柱( stilt的名词复数 )；高跷 | |
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plundered
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| 掠夺，抢劫( plunder的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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liar
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| n.说谎的人 | |
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hack
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| n.劈，砍，出租马车；v.劈，砍，干咳 | |
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conveyance
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| n.(不动产等的)转让，让与；转让证书；传送；运送；表达；（正）运输工具 | |
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11
humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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exterior
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| adj.外部的，外在的；表面的 | |
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descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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hind
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| adj.后面的，后部的 | |
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behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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forum
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| n.论坛，讨论会 | |
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approbation
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| n.称赞；认可 | |
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18
procure
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| vt.获得，取得，促成；vi.拉皮条 | |
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procured
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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20
lighting
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| n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光 | |
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piqued
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| v.伤害…的自尊心( pique的过去式和过去分词 )；激起（好奇心） | |
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rue
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| n.懊悔，芸香，后悔；v.后悔，悲伤，懊悔 | |
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musing
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| n. 沉思，冥想 adj. 沉思的, 冥想的 动词muse的现在分词形式 | |
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meditations
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| 默想( meditation的名词复数 )； 默念； 沉思； 冥想 | |
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25
motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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susceptible
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| adj.过敏的，敏感的；易动感情的，易受感动的 | |
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29
credence
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| n.信用，祭器台，供桌，凭证 | |
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vice
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| n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的 | |
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armory
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| n.纹章，兵工厂，军械库 | |
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32
promising
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| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
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33
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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sublime
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| adj.崇高的，伟大的；极度的，不顾后果的 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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whim
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| n.一时的兴致，突然的念头；奇想，幻想 | |
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sipped
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| v.小口喝，呷，抿( sip的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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38
intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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unintelligible
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| adj.无法了解的，难解的，莫明其妙的 | |
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recollected
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| adj.冷静的；镇定的；被回忆起的；沉思默想的v.记起，想起( recollect的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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41
ransom
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| n.赎金，赎身；v.赎回，解救 | |
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maker
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| n.制造者，制造商 | |
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43
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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stature
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| n.（高度）水平，（高度）境界，身高，身材 | |
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situated
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| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
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46
precocity
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| n.早熟，早成 | |
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47
joyfully
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| adv. 喜悦地, 高兴地 | |
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48
joyful
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| adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的 | |
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49
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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50
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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51
slate
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| n.板岩，石板，石片，石板色，候选人名单；adj.暗蓝灰色的，含板岩的；vt.用石板覆盖，痛打，提名，预订 | |
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52
applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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53
sculptor
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| n.雕刻家，雕刻家 | |
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54
orphan
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| n.孤儿；adj.无父母的 | |
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55
mingle
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| vt.使混合，使相混；vi.混合起来；相交往 | |
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56
conversed
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| v.交谈，谈话( converse的过去式 ) | |
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57
baron
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| n.男爵；(商业界等)巨头，大王 | |
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58
disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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59
solitude
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| n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
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60
sarcastic
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| adj.讥讽的，讽刺的，嘲弄的 | |
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61
concessions
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| n.（尤指由政府或雇主给予的）特许权( concession的名词复数 )；承认；减价；（在某地的）特许经营权 | |
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62
aloof
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| adj.远离的；冷淡的，漠不关心的 | |
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63
steward
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| n.乘务员，服务员；看管人；膳食管理员 | |
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64
carvings
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| n.雕刻( carving的名词复数 )；雕刻术；雕刻品；雕刻物 | |
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65
expended
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| v.花费( expend的过去式和过去分词 )；使用（钱等）做某事；用光；耗尽 | |
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66
hairpins
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| n.发夹( hairpin的名词复数 ) | |
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67
generosity
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| n.大度，慷慨，慷慨的行为 | |
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68
attired
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| adj.穿着整齐的v.使穿上衣服，使穿上盛装( attire的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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69
attire
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| v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装 | |
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70
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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71
elevation
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| n.高度；海拔；高地；上升；提高 | |
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72
manly
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| adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地 | |
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73
rend
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| vt.把…撕开，割裂；把…揪下来，强行夺取 | |
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74
rendering
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| n.表现，描写 | |
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75
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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76
adroit
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| adj.熟练的，灵巧的 | |
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77
courageous
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| adj.勇敢的，有胆量的 | |
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78
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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79
brigand
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| n.土匪，强盗 | |
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80
brigands
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| n.土匪，强盗( brigand的名词复数 ) | |
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81
extirpated
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| v.消灭，灭绝( extirpate的过去式和过去分词 )；根除 | |
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82
followers
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| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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83
celebrated
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| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
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84
disappearance
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| n.消失，消散，失踪 | |
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85
ferocious
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| adj.凶猛的，残暴的，极度的，十分强烈的 | |
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86
brutality
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| n.野蛮的行为，残忍，野蛮 | |
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87
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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88
picturesque
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| adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的 | |
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89
lascivious
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| adj.淫荡的，好色的 | |
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90
mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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91
fidelity
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| n.忠诚，忠实；精确 | |
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92
villa
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| n.别墅，城郊小屋 | |
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93
maiden
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| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
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94
besought
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| v.恳求，乞求（某事物）( beseech的过去式和过去分词 )；(beseech的过去式与过去分词) | |
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95
entreaties
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| n.恳求，乞求( entreaty的名词复数 ) | |
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96
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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97
civilized
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| a.有教养的，文雅的 | |
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98
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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99
glade
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| n.林间空地，一片表面有草的沼泽低地 | |
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100
perspiration
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| n.汗水；出汗 | |
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101
thicket
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| n.灌木丛，树林 | |
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102
lasciviousness
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103
imminent
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| adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的 | |
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104
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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105
clinched
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| v.（尤指两人）互相紧紧抱[扭]住( clinch的过去式和过去分词 )；解决（争端、交易），达成（协议） | |
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106
acquiescence
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| n.默许；顺从 | |
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107
demons
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| n.恶人( demon的名词复数 )；恶魔；精力过人的人；邪念 | |
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108
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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109
profusely
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| ad.abundantly | |
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110
condescending
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| adj.谦逊的,故意屈尊的 | |
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111
flask
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| n.瓶，火药筒，砂箱 | |
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112
acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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113
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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114
apparition
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| n.幽灵，神奇的现象 | |
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115
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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116
corpse
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| n.尸体，死尸 | |
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117
butt
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| n.笑柄；烟蒂；枪托；臀部；v.用头撞或顶 | |
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118
bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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119
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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120
slew
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| v.（使）旋转；n.大量，许多 | |
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121
avenge
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| v.为...复仇，为...报仇 | |
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122
hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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123
sobbing
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| <主方>Ⅰ adj.湿透的 | |
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124
repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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125
vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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126
narratives
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| 记叙文( narrative的名词复数 )； 故事； 叙述； 叙述部分 | |
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127
reassured
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| adj.使消除疑虑的；使放心的v.再保证，恢复信心( reassure的过去式和过去分词) | |
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128
orphans
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| 孤儿( orphan的名词复数 ) | |
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129
conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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130
fugitive
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| adj.逃亡的，易逝的；n.逃犯，逃亡者 | |
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131
innate
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| adj.天生的，固有的，天赋的 | |
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132
grotto
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| n.洞穴 | |
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133
galloping
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| adj. 飞驰的, 急性的 动词gallop的现在分词形式 | |
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134
gallop
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| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
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135
scoured
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| 走遍（某地）搜寻（人或物）( scour的过去式和过去分词 )； （用力）刷； 擦净； 擦亮 | |
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136
crevices
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| n.（尤指岩石的）裂缝，缺口( crevice的名词复数 ) | |
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137
granite
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| adj.花岗岩，花岗石 | |
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138
parley
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| n.谈判 | |
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139
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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140
countenances
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| n.面容( countenance的名词复数 )；表情；镇静；道义支持 | |
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141
steadfast
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| adj.固定的，不变的，不动摇的；忠实的；坚贞不移的 | |
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142
pretext
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| n.借口，托词 | |
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143
saluting
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的现在分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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144
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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145
ornaments
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| n.装饰( ornament的名词复数 )；点缀；装饰品；首饰v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的第三人称单数 ) | |
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146
garb
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| n.服装，装束 | |
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147
illuminated
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| adj.被照明的；受启迪的 | |
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148
overflowed
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| 溢出的 | |
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149
refreshments
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| n.点心,便餐;(会议后的)简单茶点招 待 | |
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150
embroidered
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| adj．绣花的 | |
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151
apron
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| n.围裙；工作裙 | |
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152
obedience
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| n.服从，顺从 | |
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153
assent
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| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
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154
relinquished
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| 交出，让给( relinquish的过去式和过去分词 )； 放弃 | |
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155
agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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156
frivolous
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| adj.轻薄的；轻率的 | |
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157
embroidery
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| n.绣花，刺绣；绣制品 | |
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158
sapphires
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| n.蓝宝石，钢玉宝石( sapphire的名词复数 )；蔚蓝色 | |
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159
gnawed
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| 咬( gnaw的过去式和过去分词 )； （长时间） 折磨某人； （使）苦恼； （长时间）危害某事物 | |
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160
ardent
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，强烈的，烈性的 | |
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161
assassination
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| n.暗杀；暗杀事件 | |
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162
dagger
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| n.匕首，短剑，剑号 | |
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163
potent
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| adj.强有力的，有权势的；有效力的 | |
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164
affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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165
envious
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| adj.嫉妒的，羡慕的 | |
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166
agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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167
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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168
sinister
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| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
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169
acceded
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| v.（正式）加入( accede的过去式和过去分词 )；答应；（通过财产的添附而）增加；开始任职 | |
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170
persuasion
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| n.劝说；说服；持有某种信仰的宗派 | |
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171
exempt
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| adj.免除的；v.使免除；n.免税者，被免除义务者 | |
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172
ardently
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| adv.热心地，热烈地 | |
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173
memorable
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| adj.值得回忆的，难忘的，特别的，显著的 | |
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174
awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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175
prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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176
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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177
providence
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| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
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178
conflagration
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| n.建筑物或森林大火 | |
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179
pensive
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| a.沉思的,哀思的,忧沉的 | |
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180
steadfastly
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| adv.踏实地，不变地；岿然；坚定不渝 | |
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181
rustic
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| adj.乡村的，有乡村特色的；n.乡下人，乡巴佬 | |
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182
darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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183
crest
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| n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖 | |
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184
majestic
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| adj.雄伟的，壮丽的，庄严的，威严的，崇高的 | |
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185
earrings
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| n.耳环( earring的名词复数 )；耳坠子 | |
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186
dealer
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| n.商人，贩子 | |
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187
engraved
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| v.在（硬物）上雕刻（字，画等）( engrave的过去式和过去分词 )；将某事物深深印在（记忆或头脑中） | |
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188
haughtily
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| adv. 傲慢地, 高傲地 | |
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189
centaur
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| n.人首马身的怪物 | |
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190
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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191
betrothed
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| n. 已订婚者 动词betroth的过去式和过去分词 | |
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192
spasm
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| n.痉挛，抽搐；一阵发作 | |
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193
shuddering
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| v.战栗( shudder的现在分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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194
slain
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| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
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195
rubies
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| 红宝石( ruby的名词复数 )； 红宝石色，深红色 | |
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196
alpine
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| adj.高山的；n.高山植物 | |
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197
velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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198
buckles
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| 搭扣，扣环( buckle的名词复数 ) | |
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199
arabesques
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| n.阿拉伯式花饰( arabesque的名词复数 )；错综图饰；阿拉伯图案；阿拉贝斯克芭蕾舞姿（独脚站立，手前伸，另一脚一手向后伸） | |
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200
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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201
hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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202
torrent
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| n.激流，洪流；爆发，(话语等的)连发 | |
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203
gorge
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| n.咽喉，胃，暴食，山峡；v.塞饱，狼吞虎咽地吃 | |
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204
ridges
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| n.脊( ridge的名词复数 )；山脊；脊状突起；大气层的)高压脊 | |
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205
umbrage
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| n.不快；树荫 | |
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206
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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207
syllable
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| n.音节；vt.分音节 | |
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208
disdain
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| n.鄙视，轻视；v.轻视，鄙视，不屑 | |
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209
croak
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| vi.嘎嘎叫，发牢骚 | |
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210
sentry
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| n.哨兵，警卫 | |
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211
glistening
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| adj.闪耀的，反光的v.湿物闪耀，闪亮( glisten的现在分词 ) | |
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212
lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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213
aspire
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| vi.(to，after)渴望，追求，有志于 | |
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214
alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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