°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡72¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡73¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡STORIES¡¡
be£»¡¡do¡¡not¡¡kill¡¡women£»¡¡though¡¡your¡¡traducers¡¡say¡¡you¡¡do£»¡¡do¡¡not¡¡give¡¡them¡¡
cause¡¡to¡¡speak¡¡truth¡£¡¡I¡¡will¡¡be¡¡responsible¡¡for¡¡this¡¡woman's¡¡safety¡£¡¡Here£»¡¡to¡¡
make¡¡it¡¡sure¡¡you¡¡had¡¡better¡¡strap¡¡us¡¡together¡£¡¨¡¡I¡¡piqued¡¡myself¡¡exceedingly¡¡
on¡¡¡¡¡¡this¡¡¡¡¡¡happy¡¡¡¡¡¡inspiration£»¡¡¡¡¡¡whereby¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡secured¡¡¡¡¡¡an¡¡¡¡¡¡arm¡in¡arm¡¡¡¡¡¡walk£»¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡
peculiar¡¡kind£»¡¡it¡¡is¡¡true£»¡¡with¡¡Valeria£»¡¡and¡¡indeed¡¡my¡¡readiness¡¡to¡¡sacrifice¡¡
myself¡¡seemed¡¡rather¡¡to¡¡astonish¡¡the¡¡soldier£»¡¡who¡¡hesitated¡£¡¡However£»¡¡his¡¡
comrade£»¡¡¡¡¡¡whose¡¡¡¡¡¡horse¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡been¡¡¡¡¡¡shot¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡ditch£»¡¡¡¡¡¡now¡¡¡¡¡¡came¡¡¡¡¡¡up£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡
seconded¡¡my¡¡proposal¡¡as¡¡I¡¡offered¡¡him¡¡a¡¡mount¡¡on¡¡mine¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨How¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡¡¡earth¡¡¡¡¡¡am¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡let¡¡¡¡¡¡you¡¡¡¡¡¡escape£»¡¡¡¡¡¡dear¡¡¡¡¡¡Valeria£¿¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡whispered£»¡¡
giving¡¡her¡¡a¡¡sort¡¡of¡¡affectionate¡¡nudge£»¡¡the¡¡position¡¡of¡¡our¡¡arms¡¡prevented¡¡
my¡¡¡¡¡¡squeezing¡¡¡¡¡¡hers¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡could¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡wished£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡two¡¡¡¡¡¡troopers¡¡¡¡¡¡kept¡¡
behind¡¡us£»¡¡watching¡¡us£»¡¡I¡¡thought£»¡¡suspiciously¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨It¡¡is¡¡quite¡¡impossible¡¡nowdon't¡¡attempt¡¡it£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡answered£»¡¡¡¨perhaps¡¡
there¡¡may¡¡be¡¡an¡¡opportunity¡¡later¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Was¡¡that¡¡Croppo¡¡who¡¡got¡¡away£¿¡¨¡¡I¡¡asked¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Yes¡£¡¡He¡¡could¡¡not¡¡get¡¡his¡¡cowardly¡¡men¡¡to¡¡stand¡¡on¡¡that¡¡hill¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨What¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡bother¡¡¡¡¡¡those¡¡¡¡¡¡men¡¡¡¡¡¡are¡¡¡¡¡¡behind£»¡¡¡¡¡¡dearest£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Let¡¡¡¡¡¡me¡¡¡¡¡¡pretend¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡
scratch¡¡my¡¡nose¡¡with¡¡this¡¡hand¡¡that¡¡is¡¡tied¡¡to¡¡yours£»¡¡which¡¡I¡¡can¡¡thus¡¡bring¡¡
to¡¡my¡¡lips¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡accomplished¡¡¡¡¡¡this¡¡¡¡¡¡manoeuvre¡¡¡¡¡¡rather¡¡¡¡¡¡neatly£»¡¡¡¡¡¡but¡¡¡¡¡¡parties¡¡¡¡¡¡now¡¡¡¡¡¡came¡¡
straggling¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡from¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡other¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡directions£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡obliged¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡give¡¡¡¡¡¡up¡¡
whispering¡¡and¡¡become¡¡circumspect¡£¡¡They¡¡all¡¡seemed¡¡rather¡¡astonished¡¡at¡¡
our¡¡group£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡captain¡¡laughed¡¡heartily¡¡as¡¡he¡¡rode¡¡up¡¡and¡¡called¡¡out£»¡¡
¡¨Who¡¡have¡¡you¡¡got¡¡tied¡¡to¡¡you¡¡there£»¡¡/caro¡¡mio/£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Croppo's¡¡wife¡£¡¡I¡¡had¡¡her¡¡tied¡¡to¡¡me¡¡for¡¡fear¡¡she¡¡should¡¡escape£»¡¡besides£»¡¡
she¡¡is¡¡not¡¡bad¡looking¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨What¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡prize£¡¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡exclaimed¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨We¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡made¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡tolerable¡¡¡¡¡¡haul¡¡¡¡¡¡this¡¡
time¡¡¡¡¡¡twenty¡¡¡¡¡¡prisoners¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡all£»¡¡¡¡¡¡among¡¡¡¡¡¡them¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡priest¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡band¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Our¡¡
colonel¡¡¡¡¡¡has¡¡¡¡¡¡just¡¡¡¡¡¡arrived£»¡¡¡¡¡¡so¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡am¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡luck£»¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡will¡¡¡¡¡¡be¡¡¡¡¡¡delighted¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡See¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
prisoners¡¡¡¡¡¡are¡¡¡¡¡¡being¡¡brought¡¡¡¡¡¡up¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡him¡¡¡¡now£»¡¡¡¡¡¡but¡¡¡¡¡¡you¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡better¡¡¡¡¡¡remount¡¡
and¡¡present¡¡yours¡¡in¡¡a¡¡less¡¡singular¡¡fashion¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡When¡¡we¡¡reached¡¡the¡¡colonel¡¡we¡¡found¡¡him¡¡examining¡¡the¡¡priest¡£¡¡His¡¡
breviary¡¡¡¡¡¡contained¡¡¡¡¡¡various¡¡¡¡¡¡interesting¡¡¡¡¡¡notes¡¡¡¡¡¡written¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡¡¡some¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡fly¡¡¡
leaves¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡73¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡74¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡STORIES¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡For¡¡instance£º¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Administered¡¡¡¡¡¡extreme¡¡¡¡¡¡unction¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡A£»¡¡¡¡shot¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡Croppo's¡¡¡¡¡¡order£»¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡
share¡¡ten¡¡scudi¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Ditto£»¡¡ditto£»¡¡to¡¡R£»¡¡hung¡¡by¡¡Croppo's¡¡order£»¡¡my¡¡share¡¡two¡¡scudi¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Ditto£»¡¡ditto£»¡¡to¡¡S£»¡¡roasted¡¡by¡¡Croppo's¡¡order¡¡to¡¡make¡¡him¡¡name¡¡an¡¡
agent¡¡to¡¡bring¡¡his¡¡ransom£»¡¡overdone¡¡by¡¡mistake£»¡¡and¡¡died£»¡¡so¡¡got¡¡nothing¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Ditto£»¡¡¡¡¡¡ditto£»¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡P£»¡¡¡¡¡¡executed¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡knife¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡¡¡Croppo's¡¡¡¡¡¡order¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡
disobedience¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨M¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡F¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡D£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡three¡¡¡¡¡¡new¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡members£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡joined¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡day£»¡¡
confessed¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡received¡¡the¡¡usual¡¡fees¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡was¡¡a¡¡dark£»¡¡beetle¡browed¡looking¡¡ruffian£»¡¡this¡¡holy¡¡man£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡
colonel£»¡¡¡¡¡¡when¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡finished¡¡¡¡¡¡examining¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡book¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡prayer¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡crime£»¡¡
tossed¡¡it¡¡to¡¡me£»¡¡saying£»¡¡¡¨There£¡¡¡that¡¡will¡¡show¡¡your¡¡friends¡¡in¡¡England¡¡the¡¡
kind¡¡of¡¡politicians¡¡we¡¡make¡¡war¡¡against¡£¡¡Ha£¡¡¡what¡¡have¡¡we¡¡here£¿¡¡This¡¡is¡¡
more¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡serious¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡And¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡unfolded¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡piece¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡paper¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡which¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡been¡¡
concealed¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡breast¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡priest¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨This¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡contains¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡little¡¡¡¡valuable¡¡
information£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡added£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡grim¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡smile¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Nobody¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡like¡¡¡¡priests¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡
women¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡carrying¡¡¡¡¡¡about¡¡¡¡¡¡political¡¡¡¡¡¡secrets£»¡¡¡¡¡¡so¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡you¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡may¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡made¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡
valuable¡¡capture£»¡¨¡¡and¡¡he¡¡turned¡¡to¡¡where¡¡I¡¡stood¡¡with¡¡Valeria£»¡¡¡¨let¡¡her¡¡be¡¡
carefully¡¡searched¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Now¡¡the¡¡colonel¡¡was¡¡a¡¡very¡¡pompous¡¡man£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡document¡¡he¡¡had¡¡
just¡¡discovered¡¡on¡¡the¡¡priest¡¡added¡¡to¡¡his¡¡sense¡¡of¡¡self¡importance¡£¡¡When£»¡¡
therefore£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡large£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡carefully¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡folded¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡paper¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡produced¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡from¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
neighbourhood¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡Valeria's¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡lovely¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡bosom¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡eyes¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡sparkled¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡
admiration¡£¡¡¡¨Ho£»¡¡ho£¡¡¨¡¡he¡¡exclaimed£»¡¡as¡¡he¡¡clutched¡¡it¡¡eagerly£»¡¡¡¨the¡¡plot¡¡is¡¡
thickening£¡¡¨¡¡And¡¡he¡¡spread¡¡out¡¡triumphantly£»¡¡before¡¡he¡¡had¡¡himself¡¡seen¡¡
what¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡was£»¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡exquisitely¡¡¡¡¡¡drawn¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡portrait¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡donkey¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡There¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡
suppressed¡¡titter£»¡¡which¡¡exploded¡¡into¡¡a¡¡shout¡¡when¡¡the¡¡bystanders¡¡looked¡¡
into¡¡the¡¡colonel's¡¡indignant¡¡face¡£¡¡I¡¡only¡¡was¡¡affected¡¡differently¡¡as¡¡my¡¡gaze¡¡
fell¡¡¡¡¡¡upon¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡this¡¡¡¡touching¡¡¡¡¡¡evidence¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡dear¡¡¡¡¡¡Valeria's¡¡¡¡¡¡love¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡me£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡
glanced¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡tenderly¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨This¡¡¡¡¡¡has¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡deeper¡¡¡¡¡¡significance¡¡¡¡¡¡than¡¡¡¡¡¡you¡¡¡¡¡¡think¡¡
for£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡said¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡colonel£»¡¡¡¡¡¡looking¡¡¡¡¡¡round¡¡¡¡¡¡angrily¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Croppo's¡¡¡¡¡¡wife¡¡¡¡¡¡does¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡
carefully¡¡secrete¡¡a¡¡drawing¡¡like¡¡that¡¡on¡¡her¡¡person¡¡for¡¡nothing¡£¡¡See£»¡¡it¡¡is¡¡
done¡¡by¡¡no¡¡common¡¡artist¡£¡¡It¡¡means¡¡something£»¡¡and¡¡must¡¡be¡¡preserved¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡74¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡75¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡STORIES¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨It¡¡may¡¡have¡¡a¡¡biblical¡¡reference¡¡to¡¡the¡¡state¡¡of¡¡Italy¡£¡¡You¡¡remember¡¡
Issachar¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡likened¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡an¡¡¡¡¡¡ass¡¡¡¡between¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡two¡¡¡¡¡¡burdens¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡In¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡case¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡
probably¡¡¡¡emanated¡¡¡¡¡¡from¡¡¡¡Rome£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡remarked£»¡¡¡¡¡¡but¡¡¡¡¡¡nobody¡¡¡¡seemed¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡see¡¡
the¡¡point¡¡of¡¡the¡¡allusion£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡observation¡¡fell¡¡flat¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡That¡¡night¡¡I¡¡dined¡¡
with¡¡the¡¡colonel£»¡¡and¡¡after¡¡dinner¡¡I¡¡persuaded¡¡him¡¡to¡¡let¡¡me¡¡visit¡¡Valeria¡¡in¡¡
prison£»¡¡as¡¡I¡¡wished¡¡to¡¡take¡¡the¡¡portrait¡¡of¡¡the¡¡wife¡¡of¡¡the¡¡celebrated¡¡brigand¡¡
chief¡£¡¡I¡¡thanked¡¡my¡¡stars¡¡that¡¡my¡¡friend¡¡who¡¡had¡¡seen¡¡her¡¡when¡¡we¡¡met¡¡in¡¡
the¡¡glen¡¡was¡¡away¡¡on¡¡duty¡¡with¡¡his¡¡detachment¡¡and¡¡could¡¡not¡¡testify¡¡to¡¡our¡¡
former¡¡acquaintance¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡My¡¡meeting¡¡with¡¡Valeria¡¡on¡¡this¡¡occasion¡¡was¡¡too¡¡touching¡¡and¡¡full¡¡of¡¡
tender¡¡passages¡¡to¡¡be¡¡of¡¡any¡¡general¡¡interest¡£¡¡Valeria¡¡told¡¡me¡¡that¡¡she¡¡was¡¡
still¡¡a¡¡bride£»¡¡that¡¡she¡¡had¡¡only¡¡been¡¡married¡¡a¡¡few¡¡months£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡she¡¡had¡¡
been¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡compelled¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡become¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Croppo's¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡wife¡¡¡¡¡¡against¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡choice£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡the¡¡
brigand's¡¡¡¡¡¡will¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡too¡¡¡¡¡¡powerful¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡be¡¡¡¡¡¡resisted£»¡¡¡¡¡¡but¡¡¡¡¡¡that£»¡¡¡¡¡¡though¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡
jealous¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡attached¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡her£»¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡stern¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡cruel£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and£»¡¡¡¡¡¡so¡¡¡¡¡¡far¡¡¡¡¡¡from¡¡
winning¡¡her¡¡love¡¡since¡¡her¡¡marriage£»¡¡he¡¡had¡¡rather¡¡estranged¡¡it¡¡by¡¡his¡¡fits¡¡
of¡¡passion¡¡and¡¡ferocity¡£¡¡As¡¡may¡¡be¡¡imagined£»¡¡the¡¡portrait£»¡¡which¡¡was¡¡really¡¡
very¡¡successful£»¡¡took¡¡some¡¡time¡¡in¡¡execution£»¡¡the¡¡more¡¡especially¡¡as¡¡we¡¡
had¡¡to¡¡discuss¡¡the¡¡possibilities¡¡of¡¡Valeria's¡¡escape¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨We¡¡¡¡¡¡are¡¡¡¡¡¡going¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡be¡¡¡¡¡¡transferred¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡morrow¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡prison¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡Foggia£»¡¨¡¡
she¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨If¡¡while¡¡we¡¡were¡¡passing¡¡through¡¡the¡¡market¡place¡¡a¡¡disturbance¡¡
of¡¡¡¡¡¡some¡¡¡¡¡¡sort¡¡¡¡¡¡could¡¡¡¡¡¡be¡¡¡¡¡¡created£»¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡is¡¡¡¡¡¡market¡day¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡all¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡country¡¡
people¡¡know¡¡me¡¡and¡¡are¡¡my¡¡friends£»¡¡a¡¡rescue¡¡might¡¡be¡¡attempted¡£¡¡I¡¡know¡¡
how¡¡to¡¡arrange¡¡for¡¡that£»¡¡only¡¡they¡¡must¡¡see¡¡some¡¡chance¡¡of¡¡success¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡A¡¡bright¡¡thought¡¡suddenly¡¡struck¡¡me£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡suggested¡¡by¡¡a¡¡trick¡¡I¡¡had¡¡
played¡¡shortly¡¡after¡¡my¡¡arrival¡¡in¡¡Italy¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨You¡¡know¡¡I¡¡am¡¡something¡¡of¡¡a¡¡magician£»¡¡Valeria£»¡¡you¡¡have¡¡had¡¡proof¡¡
of¡¡that¡£¡¡If¡¡I¡¡create¡¡a¡¡disturbance¡¡by¡¡magic¡¡to¡morrow¡¡when¡¡you¡¡are¡¡passing¡¡
through¡¡the¡¡market¡place£»¡¡you¡¡won't¡¡stay¡¡to¡¡wonder¡¡what¡¡is¡¡the¡¡cause¡¡of¡¡
the¡¡confusion£»¡¡but¡¡instantly¡¡take¡¡advantage¡¡of¡¡it¡¡to¡¡escape¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Trust¡¡me¡¡for¡¡that£»¡¡/caro¡¡mio/¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨And¡¡if¡¡you¡¡escape¡¡when¡¡shall¡¡we¡¡meet¡¡again£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡am¡¡known¡¡too¡¡well¡¡now¡¡to¡¡risk¡¡another¡¡meeting¡£¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡be¡¡in¡¡hiding¡¡
with¡¡Croppo£»¡¡where¡¡it¡¡will¡¡be¡¡impossible¡¡for¡¡you¡¡to¡¡find¡¡me£»¡¡nor¡¡while¡¡he¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡75¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡76¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡STORIES¡¡
lives¡¡¡¡¡¡could¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡ever¡¡¡¡¡¡dare¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡think¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡leaving¡¡¡¡¡¡him£»¡¡¡¡¡¡but¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡shall¡¡¡¡¡¡never¡¡¡¡¡¡forget¡¡
you£»¡¨and¡¡¡¡¡¡she¡¡¡¡¡¡pressed¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡hands¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡lips£»¡¨though¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡shall¡¡¡¡¡¡no¡¡¡¡¡¡longer¡¡
have¡¡the¡¡picture¡¡of¡¡the¡¡donkey¡¡to¡¡remember¡¡you¡¡by¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨See£»¡¡here's¡¡my¡¡photograph£»¡¡that¡¡will¡¡be¡¡better£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡I£»¡¡feeling¡¡a¡¡little¡¡
annoyedfoolishly£»¡¡I¡¡admit¡£¡¡Then¡¡we¡¡strained¡¡each¡¡other¡¡to¡¡our¡¡respective¡¡
hearts¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡parted¡£¡¡¡¡Now¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡so¡¡¡¡¡¡happened¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡room¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡/lacanda/¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡
which¡¡I¡¡was¡¡lodging¡¡overlooked¡¡the¡¡market¡place¡£¡¡Here¡¡at¡¡ten¡¡o'clock¡¡in¡¡
the¡¡morning¡¡I¡¡posted¡¡myself£»¡¡for¡¡that¡¡was¡¡the¡¡hour£»¡¡as¡¡I¡¡had¡¡been¡¡careful¡¡to¡¡
ascertain£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡when¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡prisoners¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡were¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡start¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡Foggia¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡opened¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
window¡¡about¡¡three¡¡inches¡¡and¡¡fixed¡¡it¡¡there£»¡¡I¡¡took¡¡out¡¡my¡¡gun£»¡¡put¡¡eight¡¡
balls¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡it£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡looked¡¡¡¡¡¡down¡¡¡¡¡¡upon¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡square¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡crowded¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡