whom had appropriated my fowling-piece, and the other my game-bag. As to my diamond ring and my hundred crowns, they had become perfectly invisible.
"Presently somebody shouted from above, and my guards, taking me by the collar, pushed me up stairs, and into a room on the first floor.
"Seated at a table, upon which was a capital supper and numerous array of bottles, was the captain of the robbers, a fine-looking man of thirty-five or forty years of age. He was dressed exactly like a theatrical robber, in blue velvet, with a red sash and silver buckles. His arm was passed round the waist of a very pretty girl in the costume of a Roman peasant; that is to say, an embroidered boddice, short bright-coloured petticoat, and red stockings. Her feet attracted my attention, they were so beautifully small. On one of her fingers I saw my diamond ring—a circumstance which, as well as the company in which I found her, gave me a very indifferent idea of the young lady's morality.
"'What countryman are you?' asked the captain.
"'I am a Frenchman, your excellency.'
"'So much the better!' cried the young girl.
"I saw with pleasure that, at any rate, I was amongst people who spoke my own language.
"'You are a musician?'
"'I am fourth bass at the Marseilles theatre.'
"'Bring this gentleman's bass,' said the captain to one of his men. 'Now, my little Rina,' said he, turning to his mistress, 'I hope you are ready to dance."
"'I always was,' answered she, 'but how could I without music?'
"'Non ho trovato l'instrumento,' said the robber, reappearing at the door.
"'What!' cried the captain in a voice of thunder; 'no instrument?'
"'Captain,' interposed his lieutenant, 'I searched every where, but could not find even the smallest violoncello.'
"'Bestia!' cried the captain.
"'Excellency,' I ventured to observe, 'it is not his fault. I had no bass with me.'
"'Very well,' said the captain, 'send off five men immediately to Sienna, Volterra, Grossetto—all over the country. I must have a bass by to-morrow night.'
"I could not help thinking I had seen Mademoiselle Rina's face somewhere before, and I was cudgeling my memory to remember where, when she addressed the captain.
"'Tonino,' said she, 'you have not even asked the poor man if he is hungry.'
"I was touched by this little attention, and, on the captain's invitation, I drew a chair to the table, in fear and trembling I acknowledge; but it was nearly twelve hours since I had eaten any thing, and my hunger was perfectly canine. Mademoiselle Rina herself had the kindness to pass me the dishes and fill my glass; so that I had abundant opportunities of admiring my own ring, which sparkled upon her finger. I began to perceive, however, that I should not be so badly off as I had expected, and that the captain was disposed to treat me well.
"Supper over, I was allowed to retire to a room and a bed that had been prepared for me. I slept fifteen hours without waking. The robbers had the politeness not to disturb me till I awakened of my own accord. Then, however, five of them entered my room, each carrying a bass. I chose the best, and they made firewood of the others.
"When I had made my choice, they told me the captain was waiting dinner for me; and accordingly, on entering the principal room of the inn, I found a table spread for the captain, Mademoiselle Rina, the lieutenant, and myself. There were several other tables for the rest of the banditti. The room was lighted up with at least three hundred wax candles.
"The dinner was a merry one. The robbers were really very good sort of people, and the captain was in an excellent humour. When the feasting was over,
"'You have not forgotten your promise, Rina, I hope?' said he.
"'Certainly not,' was the reply. 'In a quarter of an hour I am ready.'
"So saying, she skipped out of the room.
"'And you, Signor Musico,' said the captain, 'I hope you are going to distinguish yourself.'
"'I will do my best, captain.'
"'If I am satisfied, you shall have back your hundred crowns.'
"'And my diamond ring, captain?'
"'Oh! as to that, no. Besides, you see Rina has got it, and you are too gallant to wish to take it from her.'
"At this moment Mademoiselle Rina made her appearance in the costume of a shepherdess—a boddice of silver, short silk petticoats, and a large Cashmere shawl twisted round her waist. She was really charming in this dress. I seized my bass. I fancied myself in the orchestra at Marseilles.
"'What would you like me to play, Mademoiselle?'
"'Do you know the shawl-dance in the ballet of Clary?'
"'Certainly; it is my favourite.'
"I began to play, Rina to dance, and the banditti to applaud. She danced admirably. The more I looked at her, the more convinced I became that I had seen her before.
"She was in the middle of a pirouette when the door opened, and the innkeeper entering, whispered something in the captain's ear.
"'Ove sono?' said the latter, quietly. 'Where are they?'
"'A San Dalmazio.'
"'No nearer? Then there is no hurry.'
"'What is the matter?' said Rina, executing a magnificent entrechat.
"'Nothing. Only those rascally travellers have given the alarm at Florence, and the hussars of the Grand-duchess Eliza are looking for us.'
"'They are too late for the performance,' said Rina, laughing. 'I have finished my dance.'
"It was lucky, for the bow had fallen from my hands at the news I had just heard. Rina made one bound to the door, and then turning, as if she had been on the stage, curtsied to the audience, and kissed her hand to the captain. The applause was deafening; I doubt if she had ever had such a triumph.
"'And now, to arms!' cried the captain. 'Prepare a horse for Rina and another for the musician. We will go on foot. The road to Romagna, remember! Stragglers to rejoin at Chianciano.'
"For a few minutes all was bustle and preparation.
"'Here I am,' cried Rina, running in, attired in her Roman peasant's dress.
"'Usseri, Usseri!' said the innkeeper.
"'Off with you!' cried the captain, and every one hurried towards the stairs.
"'The devil!' said the captain, turning to me, 'you are forgetting your bass, I think.'
"I took the bass. I would willingly have crept into it. Two horses stood ready saddled at the house door.
"'Well,
